Smoothie Recipes

Cynthia

Smoothies and smoothie bowls are taking center stage in the health and wellness specter. Smoothies incorporate multiple servings of fruits and/or vegetables in one serving as they reduce the ingredients nearly to liquid form. Having a smoothie is a satisfying way to ensure you get your daily dose.

Last year, I gave my aunt a smoothie basket for her birthday. Included were two books and the alternate ingredients needed for the recipes. The two books, The Art of the Smoothie Bowl by Nicole Gaffney, and Healthy Smoothie Recipe Book by Jennifer Koslo, appeared to be colorful and easy to follow. Of course as I do whenever I buy a cookbook for someone else, I bought myself copies so I could scrutinize the recipes.

Perusing each book, I made an ingredient list by category – pantry, fresh, frozen, nuts-seeds-spices, toppings, juices, milks, refrigerator. My purpose was to discover which ingredients are used only once and which are used multiple times. My aunt, being a smoothie novice, may not have all the ingredients in her pantry. Items such as blue spirulina, psyllium husk, bee pollen, and maca powder probably are not everyday staples in many kitchens.

Of the two recipe books, I found the Art of the Smoothie Bowl to lean more towards the occasional smoothie chef due to the ingredients included. Pictures are included for each recipe with suggestions for toppings. Most of the recipes include ingredients you are likely to have on hand.

Healthy Smoothie Recipe Book provides mix and match smoothie recipes categorized by the health issue the recipe supports. Issues such as detox and cleanse; inflammation fighters; weight loss and diabetes; and more. The author provides ten reasons smoothies support good health and an ingredient list to “spice things up”. She provides a mix-and-match flavors and texture chart to help you try out your creative side. While this book does not include pictures of the actual smoothies, Koslo does include a color swatch that indicates the primary benefit of the recipe – high protein, high fiber, meal replacement, veggie lover, and others.

Using both books as the foundation for my smoothie basket, I bought the unique items and separated them into small jars and labeled each appropriately. Because some of the ingredients can be quite expensive and only a teaspoon or tablespoon is used in a recipe, I thought sharing the items among family members made sense. The basket was quite full of goodies with a few extras like reusable straws, bowls, glasses, and spoons. A healthy and fun gift for someone who has almost everything!

Meanwhile, I am having fun trying new smoothies and smoothie bowls using the recipes in these books. Many books are available which have equally delicious options. Smoothies and smoothie bowls are easy ways to pack a lot of nutrition into a small space! They are delicious, nutritious, and make you feel ambitious (or so the saying goes!). Enjoy!