Healthy Fruit Smoothies
My kids like smoothies so I make them often. They're just right for breakfast, a dessert or an afternoon snack. It's fun to experiment with different fruits and berries. —Susan McCartney, Onalaska, Wisconsin
Ingredients
- 1 cup fat-free milk
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-1/2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries, thawed
- 1/2 cup canned unsweetened pineapple chunks
- 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder
- 4 ice cubes
- 2 tablespoons sugar
Reviews
This was very good. I substituted Stevia sweetener for the sugar. Will be making this again!
I do not use sugar in any of my fruit drinks, just honey, but not the processed kind, and I substitute Almond Milk/Coconut Milk (a 50-50 mix). Not bad at all.
This is good as is, but I like to add a scoop or 2 of ice cream to it (I know this doesn't make it as healthy)
Try adding some Chia seeds, you'll have to adjust the nutritional count but its well worth it. If you add the Chia seeds to your milk and let absord before adding to the smoothie they blend better without sticking to the sides of the blender.
This is an excellent start to the morning. For those who don't want it sweet...don't add the sugar. I sometimes add Splenda if mine needs it. I've never used the powered milk. I don't usually have that in the cupboard the plain yogurt is enough for me. I use what ever fruit I have on hand..fresh frozen or canned. I've sometimes added psyllium husk to the drink. This drink is my breakfast and it gives me lot's of energy.
I agree with the reviews about the sugar...fruit has its own, why add more? The banana would also make it creamy without adding dairy if someone has a problem with that. We owned a smoothie bar in the local YMCA and never used dairy in our smoothies and the customers appreciated that!
I think that the sugar is necessary because the yogurt, strawberries, and pineapple are all unsweetened. If you don't want to use sugar, use Splenda or honey instead. Or use a fruit that has more natural sugar or flavored yogurt.
For a nutritional impact, try adding a handful of aronia berries in each smoothie. They are high in antioxidants and help balance blood sugar. We use them all the time.
Just an idea for you - if you use a banana in it you don't have to add sugar.
Why the added sugar the fruit has it's own natural sugars