Archive for November 5th, 2009

The Versatile, Healthy Smoothie

As we strive to become more aware of our health and nutrition levels, we have become increasingly inventive on different ways to enhance our quality food intake while keeping our calories down. One of the best examples of this phenomenon is the varied and creative use of the healthy beverages called the smoothie.

Smoothies are a fast and easy way to deliciously get our fruits and vegetables, together with other items, such as yogurt, in for the day. Smoothies are blended and chilled beverages made from crushed ice and other foods such as fruits, vegetables and sometimes yogurt or milk. Depending on your taste preference and nutritional needs, you can pick and choose from hundreds of recipes online and elsewhere to create your own smoothies at home.

In addition to helping you meet your fruit, vegetable and dairy requirements for the day, you can blend in vitamin and herbal supplements as desired. For dining out, there are smoothie restaurants such as the Tropical Smoothie Cafes and Planet Smoothie. The Tropical Smoothie Cafe also features wraps, salads, sandwiches and catering. These low fat smoothies help you to maintain a body that accelerates fat loss by adding low fat dairy, which has been shown to accelerate weight loss and help with your overall weight maintenance.

Some of the most popular ingredients for smoothies include strawberries, bananas, orange juice, milk, yogurt and ice cubes. There are variations of the strawberry-banana flavored smoothie that add in oatmeal or wheat germ for even more nutrition. Berries of all kinds are well liked in smoothies. Many of the recipes include rasberries and blueberries as well as strawberries.

One recipe for a blueberry smoothie calls for vanilla yogurt, orange juice, lemon juice and vanilla extract in addition to the berries. You can mix these ingredients together with crushed ice and even add flax seed or wheat germ if you like. Smoothies can be made for breakfast in the morning if you find it easier to drink a beverage than to stop and eat because of time constraints.

A healthy smoothie can help you stay alert and focused until lunchtime while you are at work. In hot weather when your appetite may be suppressed, an ice cold smoothie is likely to appeal to you. For parents of children who are finicky eaters, you can give them smoothies to boost their nutrition and even call it a “milkshake”. Smoothies will probably appeal to children because of their naturally sweet fruity flavors.