Smoothies can be a nutritious and convenient meal replacement or refreshing snack. With just a few ingredients, you'll be on your way to creating a light and healthy drink (or a decadent dessert beverage).

Ingredients

• fruit juice(or a non-dairy drink(not soda!!))
• Fruit (fresh or frozen)
• Ice (optional if you have frozen fruit)

if you want a strawberry one you should use about 5 strawberries

• about 5 bannans

Steps

1. Take out your blender. Lacking a blender, you can make do with a shaker - a cup with a secure lid. Be prepared to do a lot of shaking for that ideal smooth consistency when using a shaker.
2. Put your favorite fresh or frozen fruit in the blender to add flavor. Fruits that work well are peaches, strawberries, bananas, kiwi, and pomegranate. Experiment with different fruit combinations to find your favorite flavor!
   • "Juicy fruits" like watermelons and oranges do not work as well. Watermelons are the most difficult to add to smoothies.
   • The more parts fruit you add to each part milk or juice will strengthen the fruity flavor of your mixture.
   • If you're using a shaker, you will have to cut the fruit into small pieces and make do with a slight chunky texture.
3. Add 12-16 oz. of your liquid or yogurt. Fruit juice can be used as well; this adds tang or can impart even more fruity goodness to your drink.
4. Drop the ice cubes into your mixture. Four to six cubes should be enough. If you are worried about thinning the drink too much, add only a few of the cubes. You can always stop the blender and add more.
5. Turn on the blender. If there isn't a "smoothie" or "shake" function, "puree" works well.
   • If you're using a shaker, simply begin shaking until all ingredients are well mixed and then add the ice to chill.
6. Turn off the blender once the ice cubes are done blending, and pour your cool concoction into a large glass.
7. Make your drink sweeter with sugar or honey. This step makes your drink have a more "commercial" taste. If this is a diet or "lite" drink, you can use an artificial sweetener (or nothing at all!).
8. Enjoy!

 

Tips

• try Adding greens to your smoothie for health - or, if you're feeling adventurous, try tea! Chai works well.
• When lacking enough fresh fruit, or you have none at all, using milk, fruit juice, and ice works well.
• If you're using your smoothie as a meal replacement, adding a green plant powder (available at most health food stores) is a great way to add nutrients and boost your energy.
• Add a straw and a little umbrella if you're feeling tropical!
• Frozen fruit can be substituted for some or all of the ice, making for a brighter flavor. You can freeze your own, or buy them pre-frozen. Trader Joe's sells a variety of frozen fruit that taste great in smoothies.
• Adding 1/2 cup of yogurt or a banana will thicken your smoothie, but don't add both unless you have another watery fruit
• Balance tart, sweet and savory flavors. For example sesame seed paste makes an interesting counterpoint to kiwi, peanut butter to banana, etc.
• If you want to make the smoothie healthier include a scoop of whey or soy protein powder, too much will make it chalky.

Warnings

• Put the cap on the blender!
• Watch out for the blender's blade.
• If you are not an adult, have an adult help you cut the fruit.
• When washing, always put on rubber gloves.

Things You'll Need

• Blender
• Fruit: Fresh or Frozen
• 4-8 ice cubes in the mixture
• Milk, juice or yogurt