Gourmet Coffee Chatter

I tend to favor strawberry and banana smoothies. Just a preference and I enjoy the combination. Lately I’ve been experimenting with blackberries and finding them an enjoyable change of pace.

Blackberries rank high in antioxidant content, high dietary fiber (up to 20% by weight), polyunsaturated fats in the chewable seeds, high mineral and vitamin content. They are a good source for vitamin A, potassium, and calcium.

So shake up your habits every once in a while. There are lots of fruit varieties that can be used in smoothies that are both tasty and nutritious.

Smoothies are a great addition to summer activities. They are tasty and provide necessary hydration during the hot summer days. Prepared right they are a healthy option as well. Here are some suggested items you may want to include in your smoothies to add variety to this wonderful summer drink.

Consider the fruit possibilities for your smoothies. Squeezed fruit and smoothie drinks deliver all the good vitamin benefits of eating raw fruit. Strawberries, bananas, citrus fruits, blueberries, and kiwis are excellent choices to ensure a delicious and healthy smoothie.

Some less obvious choices would include lemons or lime (add some honey to offset the tart taste). Avocados and coconut milk also make for an unusual smoothie. Figs are another possibility. I even saw a recipe call for instant oatmeal.

So experiment. The possibilities are greater than you imagined.

It can be a real struggle to eat healthy. Making sure you get the proper portions of each food group can be difficult in our hectic lives and often unhealthy food choices.

One aid in getting your appropriate fruit portions is drinking fruit smoothies. Squeezed fruit and smoothie drinks deliver all the good vitamin benefits of eating raw fruit. Carefully choosing your fruit choices will also stretch the health benefit of your smoothies. Strawberries, bananas, citrus fruits, blueberries, and kiwis are excellent choices to ensure a healthy smoothie.

With summer here you also get the hydration and energy boost benefits of a smoothie. Enjoy in good health.

A friend held a yard sale today. I got invited to bring along a few items to see if I could get some spring decluttering accomplished.

I didn’t sell very much but I enjoyed the company. The heat was another issue and as I baked in the sun I couldn’t help but wonder when someone would arrive with a banana smoothie. I can’t explain the craving, but it was a craving nonetheless.

I never did get that smoothie, but I was reminded how certain cool summer drinks can enhance your summer events. So whether it’s a yard sale or a poolside barbecue don’t forget the smoothies.

Here’s another fruit smoothie recipe. Enjoy.

Apple Mango Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 oz. Mango Fruit Smoothie Mix
• 1 oz. Granny Smith Apple Syrup
• 4 oz. frozen lemonade concentrate
• 2 cups ice

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in blender in the order listed.
2. Blend until smooth and pour into serving glass.
3. Garnish.

Serving Size: 16 oz.
How Served: Frozen
Glass Recommended: Hurricane

The weather is getting warmer and it’s only a matter of time before you’re holding poolside barbecues. Here’s a drink recipe to consider for these gatherings.

Pina Colada

• 5.5 oz. Maui pina colada smoothie mix.
• 1.5 oz. Rum
• 8 oz. Ice/Blend
• Add any Maui Fruit flavor

For a non-alcohol drinking crowd, remove the rum and blend the smoothie mix with ice. Don’t forget the sunblock.

At last, the weather is getting warmer and, for some of us at least, the sun is going down later. Grills are being cleaned and plans are being made for early evening gatherings in the back yard.

Don’t forget to include smoothies on the menu. Smoothie drinks, with or without alcohol, are an outstanding addition to your back yard luau. And with the right choice of ingredients smoothies can be a healthy drink alternative for your gathering as well.

Experiment, there are lots of possibilities to be enjoyed.

Looking for a quick pick me up, try a banana smoothie. The banana has long been favored by both exercisers and athletes as a source of energy. Combined into a smoothie you get a tasty drink that both hydrates and gives a natural energy boost.

Bananas are an almost ideal fruit. They contain three natural sugars to give you maximum energy. They are also one of the few fruits that contain both complex and simple carbohydrates. Complex carbs give you endurance energy and simple carbs give you quick energy.

And, this is a smoothie after all, they taste great. They are also very complimentary with other fruit flavors, such as raspberry and strawberry making for a variety of smoothies.

So whether it’s a great way to start the day, a quick hydration right before a workout or just because . . . enjoy, you deserve it.

Many nutritional experts recommend starting your day with fruit. The natural sugars found in fruits like bananas, strawberries and melons are easily broken down into energy by the body. Simple sugars, like the kind found in fruits, offer far more nutrition and energy than a granola bar or muffin. When you’re in a hurry one of the best ways to get a good breakfast is to make yourself a fruit smoothie to go. Here is a quick and easy recipe:

1 ripe banana
½ cup raspberries
½ cup blueberries
¾ cup orange juice
¼ cup vanilla yogurt

Blend all ingredients on high until mixture is smooth. Pour into a portable mug and enjoy!

Over the past few months, I’ve been packing on a few extra pounds. Although my steady exercise schedule hasn’t wavered, I have been indulging in more tasty treats than I perhaps should. It’s a tough temptation to overcome given that I’ve had a sugar tooth for as long as I can remember. In the end, I decided to look on the Internet for healthy snacks that don’t sacrifice delicious taste.

It was immediately clear that the answer would lie somewhere in the realm of fruit. After all, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and the like are already sweetened by nature and they almost taste like dessert in their own right. I found supplies for a strawberry smoothie made from all natural ingredients and sweetened with sugar cane rather than corn syrup. Every once in a while, I’ll be soothing my sweet tooth with a delectable smoothie.