Now that the weather is warmer and I’m trying to get bikini ready for a Labor Day trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, I have been on a huge smoothie kick!
Smoothies appeal to a wide range of age groups because of their sweetness, fresh fruit flavor, and nutritional value. Most are high in dietary fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants and can be used as a meal replacement, as part of a detox diet or yummy snack.
Have you ever thought about the history of the smoothie? No? Well lucky for you, I did a little research and it is quite interesting:
Smoothie Fun Facts:
- West Coast health food stores in U.S. began selling pureed fruit drinks as early as the 1930′s.
- The 1940′s Waring blender cookbooks published recipes for a “banana smoothie” and a “pineapple smoothee.”
- The name “smoothee” or “smoothie” was used in books, magazines, and newspapers for a product made in a blender.
- The first trademark for a fruit slush drink was in the mid-1970′s with the name, “California Smoothie”.
- In the early 1970′s, the co-founder of Smoothie King, Stephen Kuhnau, began selling blended fruit drinks under the name “smoothie”.
- In the 1980′s, the increasing popularity of sports and fitness led to the marketing of supplement-fortified health food products. This is also when the first specialized juice and smoothie bars opened.
- By 2000, the smoothie industry was a multi-billion dollar industry.
Now for three of my favorite tried and true recipes:
Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie
This is a fast vegan smoothie with a deep pink color and a rich, creamy texture. VERY filling, and perfect for people in a rush in the morning. You don’t have to give up a good breakfast when it’s this fast to make! I use vitamin fortified soy milk.
Click on image for more information.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup soy milk
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 banana, broken into chunks
- 14 frozen strawberries
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 teaspoons white sugar
Directions:
In a blender, combine soy milk, oats, banana and strawberries. Add vanilla and sugar if desired. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.
Click on image for more information.
If you love chocolate, and who doesn’t, here’s a delicious and nutritious smoothie sure to make you smile!
Chocolate Bliss
Ingredients:
- 3 cups frozen bananas
- 2 cups almond milk (try with FRESH almond milk, but any milk will work)
- 2T raw carob powder or cocoa powder (adjust to taste…cocoa tends to have a stronger flavor than carob)
- 1 t vanilla (non-alcohol)
- 1/4 cup agave nectar or 2 packets stevia
- Pinch of sea salt
- (For an extra kick, you can add a bit of cinnamon)
Directions:
Everything goes in the blender and voila! Yum.
Berries of all kinds make for tasty smoothies and are a great (albeit clever) way to help your kids get their daily servings of fruits. A good smoothie recipe, like this one for berry smoothies, packs in two to three servings of fruits per glass. So drink up!
Click on image for more information.
Berr-i-licious Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 1 handful of raspberries
- 1 handful of blueberries
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup yogurt (your favorite flavor)
Directions:
Add banana, raspberries, blueberries, milk and yogurt to blender. Blend well. Enjoy.
Photo credits: talkoftomatoes, allrecipes.com, happy foody
