[LLV]

I'm buying some strawberries and bananas today and I'm anticipating the arrival of my new single-serve blender. It's a small blender that's supposed to be great for smoothies, and because it's single-serve, the blender cup also acts as the serving cup. You blend it up, pull it off the base, stick in a straw and you're good to go.

I love the strawberry-banana taste combination and I also have a bag of frozen berries (a mix of blackberries, blueberries and raspberries) but I'm a serious amateur when it comes to making smoothies.

What do you add in with the fruit to smooth it up? I've heard you can use yogurt? And milk? I've even heard of some people using a tablespoon or two of sugar-free vanilla instant pudding mix? Or vanilla-flavored breakfast powder?

Okay, you can see my confusion, help!

[LLV]

Oooo, found one where you can use fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt.

Anyone use that for smoothies?

[alinnell]

Use non-fat artificially sweetened yogurt (vanilla) and a little non-fat milk to get it up that straw! I've never used the frozen yogurt. This is much easier. My latest recipe made 2 smoothies--1 cup frozen strawberries, 2 ripe bananas, 8 oz yogurt and about 1/2 cup of milk. I just add enough of the milk to get the "thick" out of the smoothie. Cut it in half for one serving.

[srmb60]

I've said this so many times, forgive me Linda if you've already read it. I use plain old whey protein powder from a bulk food store and water. It kinda froths like a milkshake. I blend the living daylights out of it so that it'll go up a straw.

[LLV]

Great suggestions so far, thanks!

Does anybody ever REALLY use the ice cubes? I don't particularly like ice cubes in my blended drinks, but a few of the recipes I've found call for them. You don't have to use them, right?

[AnnieFannie]

I don't use ice cubes in my smoothies. I am new to the smoothie experience. I find that if I use frozen fruit it adds the texture of ice without actually using ice cubes.

[LLV]

Originally Posted by AnnieFannie

I don't use ice cubes in my smoothies. I am new to the smoothie experience. I find that if I use frozen fruit it adds the texture of ice without actually using ice cubes.

Good, thank you, because I hate using ice cubes.

I'm going to pick up fat-free/sugar-free vanilla yogurt today. I'm not a yogurt fan, but I don't imagine it can be all that bad blended with other ingredients.

[srmb60]

Not me either. They're cold enough without ice.

[LLV]

Excellent.

I looked for the vanilla yogurt, but they didn't have any small containers, only the great big ones. And I didn't want one that big. So I bought some reduced-fat/no-sugar-added vanilla frozen yogurt and I'm going to try that instead. 1/2 cup is 90 calories, so that's not too bad. I'll just use the 1/2 cup of that and the rest skim milk.

[LLV]

Here's the smoothie I'm going to try tomorrow for breakfast.

1/2 cup lowfat/no-sugar-added vanilla frozen yogurt
1/2 cup skim milk (may need more, but I'll wait and see)
1/2 of a medium banana
1 cup of sliced strawberries

238 calories
Lots of vitamin C, calcium, potassium, folate, magnesium, phosphorus and even a little bit of vitamin A.

Again, I may need to add more milk, but I'm going to let the frozen yogurt soften for a bit before I try and blend it up.

Found another recipe that calls for banana plus add a packet of sugar-free chocolate flavored instant breakfast drink. Gotta try that one next!

[LLV]

Or for extra vitamins, I could also add like a half of a scoop of my Slimfast powder. Wouldn't want a whole scoop, that would add an extra 100 calories and I keep breakfast calories very low.

[AnnieFannie]

Let us know how it turns out. I'm always looking for a new smoothie recipe.

[Misti in Seattle]

I agree.... I like the frozen stuff but freeze the fruit instead of ice. But have to admit, now I just get most of my smoothies at our healthy smoothie place, Emerald City Smoothie! Soooooo good and healthy.

[LLV]

My smoothie was pretty good, but even after adding the frozen yogurt, it still could have been colder. So I think I'll take that suggestion of freezing the fruit!

[Misti in Seattle]

Mmmmmm... MUCH better if you freeze the fruit!! Let us know how you like it!