Whip Up A Smoothie And Drink To Your Health

One of the quickest ways to refuel is with a drink made from vegetables and fruits. These drinks supplement any food regimen well. If time is limited and you need a little boost, a great-tasting smoothie made from fruits or vegetables will curb those cravings and boost your stamina with little chance of gaining pounds. And, since the smoothie is a liquid, all the good stuff is absorbed into your system faster.

There is a smoothie using the favorite vegetable or fruit of just about everybody. If you are looking for a few drinks to add to your repertoire, here are a few suggestions. Each recipe serves about four.

Banana and pineapple: Cut up 1 banana and 1 cup of pineapple. Add low-fat or skim milk (4 cups or at least enough for the fruit to be soaked in it), vanilla extract (1/2 teaspoon), and sugar (4 tablespoons). Mix with a blender until drinkable and pour into large glasses. If preferred, put a garnishment of pineapple on the lip of the cup and serve.

Cucumber cooler: Cut up an unpeeled cucumber, add skim milk (two cups) and low fat plain yogurt (two cups) then blend. Add pepper and salt to suit your needs then place in the refrigerator to cool. Basil leaves are the best garnishment.

Cucumber and pineapple: Combined diced and cored pineapple slices (3 slices), with milk (1 cup) and cut up cucumber. Puree until drinkable and serve.

Beetroot: Take raw beetroot (1 pound) and a little onion and grate together. Add low fat yogurt (1 cup), lemon juice (1 tablespoon), cut up parsley leaves (1 tablespoon), pepper and salt. Mix in the blender. Lemon peel is the garnishment of choice.

Orange and basil: Use 6 peeled, seedless oranges, ice cold water (2 cups), sugar (2 tablespoons) and freshly cut up basil (2 tablespoons). Mix in the blender. Drain then place in the refrigerator before drinking. Basil leaves are the preferred garnishment. Substitute honey (1 tablespoon) for the sugar if desired.

Lemon and basil: Use the same recipe from the orange and basil smoothie. Increase the honey or sugar to suit your taste.

Tropical: Take melon (1 pound), pineapple pieces (1 pound), and peeled, de-seeded lemon (half of one) and extract the juice from them. Add sugar to the juice to your preferred taste.

Mint lemonade: Blend a bundle of spearmint with the juice of peeled, de-seeded lemons.

With a little imagination, smoothies are an easy and delicious way to add some nutrition and variety to your diet. They're also a great option for sneaking in veggies without your kids knowing (or tasting them)!


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