Smoothies - A Healthy & Sweet Morning Treat

Smoothies are a great and healthy way to start your day. Best of all, there are a ton of short cuts you can take to make them quickly and easily! I make my smoothies in a number of different ways. Feel free to add other ingredients to make your smoothie just the way you like it. I use a wide variety of ingredients that when combine, create the atomic bomb of healthiness that can rival many "one a day" vitamin ads. Furthermore, many health experts recommend getting your vitamins from your daily food/drinks as they are more easily absorbed than the vitamin pills (sorry flintstones!)

Tips to keep smoothies a quick and simple breakfast meal:
1) Use frozen fruits. Many people add ice to their smoothies to make them a frosty treat. I don't like my smoothies watered down, I like them full of flavor and packed full of vitamins, minerals, and protein! Besides, the fruit already has a ton of water in them. Not to mention chopping ice is one of the hardest things on your blender. So, simply use frozen fruits. I go to the freezer section of my grocer and pick up frozen mango, strawberries, pineapple, and other fruits. By directly adding these fruits when they are frozen, it creates the frosty consistency that I am looking for in my breakfast smoothie.

2) You can prep a smoothie in the mornings, or to save time, you can prepare it the night before. If the majority of your fruit is frozen, create your frosty concoction the night before and stick it in the refrigerator. Then, all you have to do is spin it up in the morning in your blender, and you'll be good to go. It's not quite as thick as a smoothie you would make straight from the freezer, but save a bit of time if your mornings are rushed, and its easier on your blender.

3) You can buy the fruit medley. Dole offers a bag of frozen fruits for around $8-10 that has about 2-3 lbs of fruit in the freezer section of your grocer that includes bananas, mangos, strawberries, and other fruits. Having all your fruits in one bag makes things quick and easy.

4) Blender selection. If you plan on making a lot of smoothies, and want your blender to last for more than a year, you'll need to buy a blender with a serious power plant. I just moved up to the kitchen aid model with the .9 hp motor on it. You'll need that power to blend your frozen fruit (or crush ice if you so choose). Other considerations if you are looking for a blender are the size & shape of the container. A short, fat, and square jar is ideal, though square jars are often difficult to find. You also want a blender that has variable speeds.


How to make a smoothie:
Ingredients:
1/2 to 2/3 cup frozen strawberries
1/3 to 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 to 2/3 cup frozen mangos
1 banana
1/2 cup light vanilla soy milk
1/3 to 1/2 cup orange or grapefruit juice

Simply combine the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth (about 30 seconds to a minute)

Smoothie Variations & Substitutions:

There are a number of variations you can do to the above recipe to create your own personal smoothie. For instance, for a more robust (and by robust, I mean fattening smoothie), you can substitute 2% or whole milk for the light vanilla soy milk. I personally prefer the soy milk because it is less fat, is a great source of protein, and you can't really tell a difference in the taste. Using milk makes your concoction a bit more creamy, especially if you use whole milk. You can also experiment with a number of different juices. If orange or grapefruit isn't your thing, you can try apple, acai, pomegranate, or pineapple juice. All can create a frosty treat quickly and easily for you to enjoy anywhere. I enjoy mine on my 30 minute commute to work. Feel free to suggest other ingredients that you use to make your smoothie your own!

Enjoy!