You'll be amazed that a smoothie can be so easy to make and still be healthy!

Smoothies are taking America by storm as one of the healthiest energy drinks that are both simple to make and packed with nutrients!

What could be better than cooling down with an ice-cold fruit smoothie? These creamy shakes are perfect for a quick breakfast, a healthy lunch, or a refreshing mid-afternoon snack. At any time of day, a smoothie can help you meet your fruit quota for the day!

Smoothies can also provide protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals plus cancer-protective phytochemicals and antioxidants! What a great way to get nutrition into your family.

So here's to drinking for energy and health with a list of smoothie recipes you "just gotta try" on your family.

Creative Smoothie Recipes Here

Whole Food Smoothie Mix

Many nutritionists recommend smoothies as an easy way to boost intake of particular nutrients, by offering sip-able servings of the food groups for strong bones and good health.

As your family dietitian, my top pick and favorite whole foods powder mix is Juice Plus+ Complete which can be used as an ingredient in your favorite smoothie recipe or as a meal replacement beverage.

Fruit and vegetable juice powders!

Complete is a juice powder concentrate with whole food based nutritional ingredients made from 17 different fresh, raw fruits, vegetables, and grains (apple, orange, pineapple, cranberry, peach, acerola cherry, papaya, carrot, parsley, beet, broccoli, kale, cabbage, spinach, tomato, rice bran and oat bran)!

A unique blend of extra vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates, and proteins!

Complete contains a synergistic blend of important foods and nutrients typically lacking in today's diet, including vegetable proteins, dietary fiber, complex carbohydrates, and extra vitamins and minerals.

Provides balanced nutrition!

Complete provides a healthful balance of nutrients you should get from any nutritious meal.....at 110 calories per serving.

Natural and non-dairy!

Complete is sweetened only with natural fructose. It contains no sucrose, no caffeine, not saturated fat, no cholesterol, and no artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors or preservatives. It contains no corn, yeast, egg, or milk products.

Mix with milk or milk substitutes, juice and water!

Complete comes in two delicious flavors: Dutch Chocolate and French Vanilla. You can even get creative by adding your favorite fruits or other healthy ingredients.

It's versatile!

Complete can be used in many ways! It's great for pre-exercise energy or post-workout recovery or as a foundation of a sensible, healthy weight management program.

It's economical!

Complete provides good nutrition at a reasonable price. You'd be hard pressed to buy or prepare any meal - especially one with the same healthful balance of nutrition - for as little as it costs for one serving of Complete.

It comes in your choice of two delicious flavors: French Vanilla and Dutch Chocolate.

Try it today by stopping by my online store, click on the banner below:

Juice Plus+ Complete Smoothie Recipes Here

Smoothie Basics 101

Start with: 1 cup milk or 1 cup yogurt

Fruit: How about creating your own "cool smoothie" using 2 or 3 of your favorite fruits: try banana chunks, strawberries, raspberries, melon cubes, oranges, sliced peaches, pineapples, kiwi, papayas or mangoes....any combination of fresh, frozen or canned fruit. Frozen fruits add a nice, thick consistency.

Flavorings: Vanilla extract, nutmeg, cinnamon, cocoa, malt powder like Ovaltine

Sweetners: Honey, brown sugar, maple syrup, fruit spread

Protein: Powered milk, cottage cheese, peanut butter or add a splash of yogurt, milk, soy milk, or silken tofu. Blend until smooth and enjoy!

OR MORE TIPS TO TRY: *You can replace fresh fruit with unsweetened frozen fruit or canned fruit (packed in juice).

*When using ice, crush cubes so they are smaller than fruit pieces.

*A blender will provide a smoother consistency than a food processor.

And even more wholesome additions:

1. Wheat germ is an excellent source of fiber, folate and the antioxidant vitamin E. Top smoothie with one to two tablespoons.

2. Roasted or toasted nuts can provide extra protein. Add one tablespoon.

3. Soy milk is rich in isoflavones, phytochemicals that may protect against certain cancers. Soy provides your body with top quality protein, and includes all the essential amino acids. In fact, soy protein is equivalent to the protein in meat, milk, and eggs. Soy protein has been show to decrease risk of heart disease.

Soybeans and many foods made with soy, contain a number of naturally occurring compounds that are beneficial to our health. These include antioxidants known as isoflavones. Isoflavones may provide long-term benefits such as maintaining and even improving lifelong bone health and helping to protect us against certain forms of cancer.Use in place of yogurt or milk.

4. Nonfat dry milk powder is an excellent source of fat-free, high-quality protein. Add two to four tablespoons.

5. Ground flaxseed is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that promote heart and artery health and may protect against cancer. Add one to two tablespoons.

More Daring Drink Recipes......

Juicer vs. Blender

The difference between a juicer and a blender is that with a juicer you retain all the juice from a fruit or vegetable without all the fiber.

This enables you to get a more concentrated number of vitamins. For example, you can juice five apples and get just the concentrated amount of vitamins from them, where if you were to blend five apples, you would get all the fiber too.

The average price of juicers is between $200 and $300 while blenders range from $20 to $200.

Spring & Summer Sizzle With Smoothies

There's a smoothie for every season and every reason according to Beth Meyer, from the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council.

A takeoff on the classic milkshake, these trendy drinks generally feature a combination of milk or yogurt with fresh or frozen fruits blended together.

"In fact, it's hard to find a smoothie that isn't good for you," says registered dietitian, Barbara Baron. "Just look at the ingredients, milk, fruit, and yogurt. Especially in the spring and summer when temperatures climb and appetites wane, making smoothies an easy and light meal replacement."

Get your blender spinnning with the following recipe provided from the 3 A Day website.

Berry Blast Smoothie

Makes 2 servings.

Recipe courtesy of the American Dairy Association.

Ingredients:

1 cup of frozen raspberries

2 (6 ounces) containers fat-free blueberry yogurt

1/2 cup fat-free milk

1 Tablespoon unsalted, natural almond butter

1 Tablespoon honey

In a blender, add frozen raspberries, yogurt, milk, almond butter and honey. Cover and puree until smooth. Pour into two tall glasses and serve.

Since store-bought smoothies are so pricey......

You are going to find out how to save five bucks and make one at home that you can take to go.

Back to Basics makes a Blender Express Back to Basics #BPE3BR 350 Watt Blender Express that allows you to blend ingredients right into a dishwasher-safe mug, making clean-up a breeze.

A mom's take on it: "It's quick and makes a really smooth smoothie -- no chunks." Celine Gribbon, Mom of three kids, Chelmsford, MA

Designed for today’s busy lifestyle, the Blender Express from Back to Basics combines functionality with ultimate convenience to provide refreshment on the go. The blending container easily detaches to become a convenient travel mug.

Or mix smoothies, soups and sauces in a powerful blender -- RETRO STYLE for your whole family not just individual servings!

Classic Waring brand - inside and out. This is the blender that the professionals use. The Waring Professional Kitchen Blender - PARENT commercial grade 2-speed motor is more power than most home kitchens need, but it makes even heavy tasks like ice crushing effortless. With a self-cleaning blade assembly, this blender cleans up after itself!

Don't Forget to Check Out The Juice Plus Complete Smoothie Recipes Here

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