Strawberry-Banana Smoothie

I love smoothies. They are quick and easy, kid-friendly, nutritious, really satisfying on a hot summer morning, portable, and extremely versatile when it comes to ingredients. However, smoothie recipes are ones for which most do not have a precise recipe. They fall more along the lines of “a little bit of this and a little bit of that”. I hope this recipe can provide a trunk of sorts that can support many different limbs and branches of ingredients that one might choose for his or her own personalized smoothie.

I like to use yogurt and frozen fruit instead of ice (which can water a smoothie down) to achieve that frosty-like feel. This time of year when berries are at their peak in the markets, I buy them in bulk and freeze them for future smoothies. For the berries– I wash and dry them, then lay them in a single, even layer on a parchment or waxed paper lined baking sheet. I freeze them until solid and then place them in large one gallon freezer bags. For the bananas– I peel them first before placing them on the baking sheet to freeze. When I am ready to ready to use one, I simply remove it from the bag and slice it with a sharp knife to make for easier blending.

Whether you are sipping leisurely while reading the morning paper (yes, we still read tree bark in lieu of social media first thing in the am), drinking on the go, or trying to get your children (who are still adjusting to the early morning back to school start) out the door to catch the bus, smoothies are a quick and easy way to provide delicious and nutritious fuel for the body.

Strawberry-Banana Smoothie

By Nicole Prep: 5 minsTotal: 5 mins Servings: 2 With just 4 ingredients, you'll have a quick, healthy, and delicious breakfast on the go!

Equipment

• High-speed blender

Ingredients 

• ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• ½ cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
• 1 cup frozen sliced strawberries
• 1 medium banana, frozen and sliced (about 1 cup)

Instructions 

1. In a blender, combine the orange juice, yogurt, strawberries, and banana. Blend until completely smooth. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 156kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 3mg, Sodium: 42mg, Potassium: 580mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 24g, Vitamin A: 197IU, Vitamin C: 79mg, Calcium: 126mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.