Is your smoothie a little less tasty than you would like? Certain healthy ingredients may lead to a taste you don’t enjoy, or leave an aftertaste. Some ingredients may give your smoothie a texture you don’t love.

Here are five common complaints about smoothies and what you can do about them.

1. It tastes too sweet!

When your smoothie comes out tasting too sweet, you can fix the problem right away by adding a little lemon or lime juice. A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar can also help the problem. By adding some acidic flavours, you will counteract the sweet taste. Next time you make your smoothie, steer clear of the major sweeteners like maple syrup, honey, or stevia.

Also pay attention to the fruits that you are using, some are much sweeter than others. For example, bananas, grapes and pineapple will make your smoothie very sweet, but blackberries, strawberries and blueberries are less sugary. If you are used to using sweetened milk, then this could make the smoothie sweeter than you want, too. Even the soy milk that claims to be “original flavour” often has some added sweeteners.

2. Your smoothie tastes like dirt!

To get rid of the earthy flavour that you are not enjoying, add a teaspoon of vanilla extract, which will mask the flavour and only add about 12 calories. Next time you make your smoothie, remember that there are certain greens that are just naturally bitter and don’t make for good smoothie ingredients.

Greens like mustard greens, dandelion greens, and broccoli rabe can give your smoothie a “dirt-like” flavour. Choose greens with milder flavours, like spinach, swiss chard, or curly kale. Beet greens also work well, and bring the sweetness of beets along. If you don’t like too many greens, try adding baked sweet potato, pumpkin puree, cucumber, carrots, or cooked beets.

3. Your smoothie is too thin!

If your smoothie seems unappealing because it is too thin and watery, you can easily thicken it up without adding many calories. Using 3-4 ice cubes will often do the trick, with no added calories. Bananas, especially some you may have frozen, also work great, but they do add about 100 calories and about 15 grams of sugar.

Other options include tossing in ¼ cup rolled oats, half of an avocado, one teaspoon of chia seeds, half of a baked sweet potato, or a half cup of Greek yoghurt. To keep the problem from happening again, use less liquid or fruit with less water content. Pick bananas, dates, mango or avocado, instead of apples, pears, oranges and grapes.

4. Your smoothie has a stringy texture!

If your smoothie is stringy but has a thinner texture, then you can use a strainer. Otherwise, try using a fork to drag out most of the stringy content. In the future, make sure that you choose ingredients that are less stringy, and avoid certain fruits and vegetables like celery, kale, and swiss chard.

When you do use these ingredients, be sure to tear off the leaves and use the rib elsewhere (this is a delicious part and great for salads). Another option is buying a more powerful blender that can really pulverize everything well.

5. Your smoothie is boring!

Are you starting to feel like you are in a smoothie rut? It’s okay to liven things up a bit with some changes. Simple changes, like adding a little salt can make things more interesting.

Try adding certain herbs and spices that are already in your pantry, like parsley and cilantro, which add some great flavours and nutrients. Red pepper or curry will give your taste buds a bit of a shock, while also boosting your metabolism. Check out new recipes for a change!

Smoothies are a great way to boost your intake of fruits and veggies, and get the nutrients your body needs for healthy function. If your smoothies are not thrilling you, then try these suggestions!