Fruit Smoothie Recipes

2008-04-24T07:53:00.000-07:00

Shake up your morning with these delicious and long-lasting fruit smoothie recipes.

For families on the go and folks who just aren't hungry when they wake up, taking advantage of these fruit smoothie recipes are an easy ways to benefit from the most important meal of the day.

Fruit smoothies are also a boon for people who may have diminished appetites for medical reasons (such as chemotherapy), and athletes with special nutritional requirements.

Nutritionists have been telling us for years about the importance of breakfast. Research shows that people who skip breakfast are more likely to be overweight and lack essential nutrients like calcium, vitamins and protein.

Children who don't eat before school score lower on tests of memory, concentration, math and language skills.

Another advantage of these fruit smoothie recipes is that you can sneak in healthy ingredients that most kids won't eat, like wheat germ, tofu, plain yogurt, soy milk and flaxseed.

A protein-rich fruit smoothie provides sustained energy unlike most grab-and-go breakfasts, such as starchy muffins and pastries.

Here are two of my favorite fruit smoothie recipes.

To make these delicious fruit drinks even more nutritious, I add yogurt, wheat germ and oat meal. Soy milk or tofu can be substituted for yogurt. These recipes call for frozen fruit, but do not hesitate to use fresh when available.

Recipe 1
Serves 2

11/4 cups (300 mL) fresh orange Juice
1/2 cup (125 mL) frozen strawberries
1/2 cup (125 mL) frozen mango, cubed
1 teaspoon (5 mL) raw rolled oats
1 tablespoon (15 mL) wheat germ
3/4 cup (175 mL) fruit-flavored or vanilla yogurt
Put all ingredients except yogurt in blender and whiz until smooth .
Add yogurt and blend until mixed.
For thicker texture, add more fruit or reduce amount of juice. For a slushy texture, add 1/2 cup (125 mL) of ice cubes.

Recipe 2
serves 2
11/4 cups (300 mL) apple Juice
1/4 cup (60 mL) frozen strawberries
1/4 cup (60 mL) frozen raspberries
1/4 cup (60 mL) frozen blueberries
One ripe banana
Puree all ingredients in blender.
For a complete breakfast, serve Smoothie with a homemade muffin or a slice of whole-grain toast.

Suggestions for mixing and matching to create your own power breakfast

Flavors:
Fresh or frozen berries, such as strawberries, blueberries, rasp. berries or blackberries
Fresh or frozen fruit, such as banana, mango, peach, apricot, kiwi, apple, pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew or watermelon
Raw vegetables, such as carrot or celery
Cocoa or chocolate syrup Coconut milk
Ovaltine or malted milk powder Vanilla extract
Coffee or coffee substitute
Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg or ginger (fresh or powdered) Mint extract or fresh mint leaves

Sweeteners:
Honey Maple syrup Juice Flavored yogurt

Bases:
Juice, such as apple, orange, cranberry or white cranberry Milk (two or one per cent, or skim) Buttermilk Soy milk Yogurt

Thickeners:
Frozen fruit Ice cubes Frozen yogurt

For extra nutrition:
Ground raw almonds Skim milk powder. Tofu Wheat germ Flaxseed (ground in a spice mill or coffee grinder), rolled oats, unsweetened breakfast cereal or granola (ground), liquid egg or egg white

I hope you enjoy these fruit smoothie recipes!