Do Panera Smoothies Have Real Fruit
PanerasmoothiesfruitThe healthiest things to eat at Panera Bread
- Avocado, Egg White & Spinach. This sandwich would make a filling and nutritious start to your day.
- Steel Cut Oatmeal with Almonds, Quinoa and Honey.
- Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich.
- Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken.
- Strawberry Poppyseed Salad with Chicken.
- Black Bean Soup.
The Birth And Quickie Rise To Fame Of The Smoothie
In case youre a child of the 70s and you think a smoothie is just the opposite of a boogie, let us explain
The concept of the smoothie actually first appeared around the 1930s when health food stores on the West Coast began adapting Brazilian recipes and selling these pureed fruit drinks. Recipes for a banana smoothie and a pineapple smoothee first appeared in the 1940s Waring Blendor cookbooks. The smoothie was popularized in the 60s and became main stream in the 1990s when they were sold in coffee shops, cafés and grocery stores as pre-bottled drinks.
A smoothie is a chilled, blended, sweet beverage most often made from predominantly from fresh fruit. Now and then, youll find folks making smoothies from vegetables or with chocolate. Smoothies include crushed ice, frozen fruit and honey. They also often contain yogurt or milk and sometimes even ice cream. They have the consistency of a milkshake.At Tryst Café, our smoothies have a base of the traditional plain , organic yogurt which gives them a thick, creamy texture. We like to use this Greek style yogurt because it improves lactose intolerance, enhances immunity, promotes intestinal and vaginal health, builds stronger bones, lowers blood pressure, and may even have weight-loss and anticancer benefits. An added benefit of Greek yogurt is that it has less sugar than standard yogurt.
The Best And Worst Smoothies
And now for my list of the best and worst smoothies, from a nutritional standpoint. To be considered for the list, the item had to be called a âsmoothieâ or something very similar. The serving sizes range from 10 ounces to 24 ounces, so I ranked them by calories per ounce.
All of the smoothies in the âbestâ list are free of saturated fat, contain no more than 61 grams of carbohydrate and at least 4 grams of fiber, and have 17 calories or less per ounce.
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How To Make A Smoothie Without Bananas:
Bananas are the backbone of my simple smoothie recipes. They add so much creaminess, and natural sweetness while being inexpensive. That being said, I know not everyone likes/eats bananas. If you arent into bananas, you can add some Greek yogurt + sweetener + ice OR a half of an avocado + sweetener + ice. Those two combos will replace a banana nicely in a smoothie and still give you a nice rich and smooth texture.
Whats The Best Liquid For Making Smoothies
We like to use milk of choice. If youre a fan of coconut milk, use it. Like cows milk? Go for it. A fan of almond milk? Cool. Use whatever milk you like in your smoothiesyou cant go wrong. I just recommend you stick to unsweetened and unflavored versions. That gives you the most control over the smoothie.
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How Often Should You Drink Smoothies
Smoothies may form part of a balanced diet, but be sure to focus on lower sugar fruits, emphasising fresh or frozen produce. Include one or more sources of protein like yogurt, kefir or milk, as well as healthy fats from nuts, seeds or avocado. Both adults and children should consume smoothies no more than one portion per day.
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This article was reviewed on 4th November 2021 by Registered Nutritionist Kerry Torrens.
Kerry Torrens BSc. PgCert MBANT is a registered nutritionist with a postgraduate diploma in personalised nutrition & nutritional therapy. She is a member of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine and a member of the Guild of Food Writers. Over the last 15 years she has been a contributing author to a number of nutritional and cookery publications including BBC Good Food.
All health content on bbcgoodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our terms and conditions for more information.
Top 10 Essential Smoothies For Beginners
McKenzie Jones | August 20, 2019
If youre just hopping on board the smoothie bandwagon but have no intention of rocking a kale yeah t-shirt anytime soon , youve come to the right place. The last thing we want to do is deter you from embracing a healthy lifestyle or make the process so intimidating that you kick off your shoes and run to the nearest hot dog stand.
We certainly dont believe that you have to give up your love of French fries or strike daily yoga poses to be the best version of you. Baby steps starting with a simple smoothie each day are all it takes to make positive changes towards a healthier lifestyle.
These ten smoothies listed below are our introductory blends, and theyre perfect for first-timers who are just getting their feet wet. They call for no more than six readily available ingredients that you can whip up in your nutribullet® of choice, like our nutribullet® Blender Combo, in 60 seconds !
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Is There A Difference Between Homemade And Shop
Many shop-bought smoothies are made from cheaper, more processed ingredients such as fruit purées and juices. These purées concentrate sugars whilst removing many of the nutritional benefits of the whole fruit such as the fibre, phyto-nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Some shop-bought smoothies are also sold in sizes larger than the recommended 150ml portion size and have added nutrients such as B vitamins as well as vitamins C and E.Homemade smoothies, on the other hand, contain all of the fibre and will be naturally vitamin-rich because theyre freshly made and ideally consumed straight away.
Great Sweet Smoothie Ingredients
- Liquids: Water, dairy or non-dairy milks*, coffee, brewed teas and tisanes, kefir, coconut water, coconut milk with the fat skimmed , fresh juices that you’ve just made, lemonade
- Fruits: Berries, cherries, bananas, melons, mangoes, peaches, nectarines, apricots, cooked pumpkin and other winter squash
- Herbs and Spices: Vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, cardamom, anise, mint, basil, cilantro
*If you have a high-speed blender, a great substitute for nut milk is 1/4 cup of raw nuts and 1 to 2 cups of water. If you have a regular blender, a tablespoon of nut butter per cup of water works too.
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Best Healthy Smoothie Recipes
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
From green smoothie recipes to a basic strawberry smoothie, weve got all the smoothie inspiration you need right here!
Check out 100+ healthy smoothie recipes and learn how to make your own unique healthy smoothies at home with our basic smoothie equation.
Say hello to the most beautiful smoothies on the internet! Smoothies are such a great healthy breakfast idea, snack, or even dinner! In less than 5 minutes you can enjoy multiple servings of fruit, veggies, healthy fats, and more!
PS: Check out our best Protein Shake Recipes, too!
More Smoothie Blender Recommendations
I did want to share some other great blenders that I have personally owned and recommend depending on your price point.
Low cost:Ninja BL480D Blender$99 this is a great single serve blender for those that want to conserve space. Plus you cant beat the price point.
Medium cost:Ninja Kitchen System $229 Ive owned the Ninja Kitchen System for about 5 years and I love that its interchangeable between a blender, food processor, and single-serve smoothie blender. For $229, you really do get it all!
High cost:Vitamix 5200$429 at the highest price point, the Vitamix is THE BEST kitchen appliance Ive ever owned. It will literally crush, pulverize, mix, or puree anything and everything because its so powerful! I highly recommend, 10/10!
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Basic Steps For How To Make A Fruit Smoothie
1. Add your frozen fruit of choice
In this case, we used blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries. However, any type of frozen fruit will work great!
2. Add a yogurt or banana base to thicken
Plain greek yogurt and/or bananas are great for thickening smoothies.
3. Add protein powder
Adding protein powder helps sweeten the smoothie and, of course, adds protein. This is always an optional step!
4. Add your milk of choice
Our favorite is unsweetened almond milk, but cashew milk, coconut milk, oat milk, and regular dairy milk are all great options as well.
To make the smoothie: Simply blend everything in a single serving blender and enjoy! Another option is to pour the smoothie into mason jars and freeze for quick smoothies throughout the week. Simply thaw in the refrigerator a few hours before youre ready to drink it !
Are Smoothies Healthy For You
Before we dive into the quest of how to make a fruit smoothie, lets dive into the why. Our philosophy here at Wholefully is that smoothies can be an incredibly nourishing part of your diet. Just like with our juicing recipes, we say its always better to eat whole fruits and veggies where possible. But its not always possible! Smoothies do make it easy to pack in all the nutrients of your favorite produce into one drinkable cupwhich is great when youre on the go or short on time.
And lets be honest, smoothies are just freaking delicious! We are big believers that you also need to nourish your soul with your food, and if drinking a perfectly tangy and sweet smoothie brings a smile to your face, then thats healthy as healthy can be.
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How To Freeze Fruit For Smoothies
To make smoothies even easier, freeze fresh fruit into portions. You can even prepare smoothie packs and freeze them for a grab-and-blend smoothie option.
To freeze fruit for smoothies, rinse and chop fresh fruit into small pieces. Pat them dry then arrange, in one layer, on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Slide the baking sheet into the freezer and freeze until hard .
When the fruit is hard, divide it between freezer-safe bags and keep it in the freezer for your next smoothie.
Sweeteners: The Mighty Medjool Date The Insanely Ripe Banana And More
As far as I’m concerned, the queen of smoothie sweeteners is the Medjool date. It’s super-sweet and caramel-like, and I’ve yet to find a smoothie in need of sweetness whose flavors were incompatible with the queen’s.
If you’re working with a high-speed blenderâour reviews of the best ones are hereâjust remove the pit and drop in the whole date, no questions asked. Otherwise, it pays to know your blender. Some regular blenders can handle a chopped date just fine, but others will never get it completely smooth. If yours falls into the latter category, try soaking a finely chopped date in a little warm water or a bit of the liquid called for in the smoothie recipe, then blending it into a loose date paste before adding the rest of the smoothie ingredients.
Another great sweetening method for smoothies with bananas in them is simply to use really, really ripe bananas. This sounds sort of ridiculous but is actually an important part of my smoothie-making regime. Once every couple of months I’ll buy a large quantity of bananas and let them ripen almost to oblivion, which is the perfect point of sweetness. Then I’ll peel them and freeze them whole or halved in zip-top bags.
I don’t typically sweeten smoothies outside of these methods, but if you want to, liquid sweeteners are your friends and will help you avoid a gritty texture. Try maple syrup if you think it will add a complementary flavor, honey, agave if you’re into that, or even simple syrup.
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Why You Should Make This Banana Smoothie
Ive made a version of this easy banana smoothie recipe more times than I can count. Its perfect on its own and is the best base recipe for adding more ingredients like fruit, nut butter, and veggies.
Here are a few more reasons we love it:
- You need less than 5 minutes to make it.
- You can use fresh or frozen bananas.
- Its easy to adapt to what you have in the kitchen.
- This smoothie is perfect for breakfast or a snack.
- Kids love it!
- You can even make the smoothie ahead of time, freeze it, and save it for later.
What Are The Steps For Making Homemade Smoothies
Homemade smoothies are one of the easiest things to make in the kitchen. In fact, there are only 5 simple steps.
Out of all of those steps, the last one is the most important. When using fresh fruits and vegetables their flavor may not always be uniform. Todays strawberry smoothie may be sweeter than yesterdays. The best time to fix it is before its in your glass and youve cleaned up the mess.
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More Info On Each Easy Smoothie Recipe:
Strawberry Banana Smoothie: This is a pretty, light pink, sweet, and creamy cold drink thats perfect all year long. Its forever one of my classic favorites, and I make sure to stock up on strawberries when theyre in season so I can freeze them for year-round enjoyment. My kids ask for this one all the time, so you can say its a household requirement around here!
Simple Tropical Smoothie: This has a sweet flavor and reminds you of summer, no matter what month it is. My sunshiny Henry loves this one its summer in a glass. The color is a lovely cream-orange, and its always a hit at our house. Costco sells frozen mango and pineapple cubed and ready to go for a great price.
Very Berry Simply Smoothie: This is made with mixed frozen berries that you can get in the freezer section, including blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. I mean, who doesnt love berries?! It almost tastes like ice cream, and it hits the spot any time of day. I make it on movie nights and call it a milkshake. Meanwhile, my kids have no idea it doesnt actually include ice cream!
Peanut Butter Simple Smoothie: This one is a whole big glass of peanut buttery goodness that tastes like dessert but is packed with protein. I cant get over it. Its probably one of my very favorites because I love, love, love peanut butter.
What Do I Use To Sweeten A Smoothie
All of these smoothies here use frozen fruit as a base, which adds a nice baseline of sweetness that you can build on if your tastebuds would like. My recommendation is to blend up your smoothie without any added sweetener, then taste. Add in honey or maple syrup to taste. Many times, I dont need to add anything! Another great natural option for sweetening: pitted Medjool dates. Throw in one or two of those bad boys and let the blender do its thing. Youd be amazed at how sweet your smoothie will be!
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Should Children Drink Smoothies
Water and milk are the best drinks for young children, but smoothies are an option and offer an opportunity for you to include foods that your child might otherwise not eat. Theyre also useful for children who have a poor appetite, as well as teenagers who are always on-the-go. Unlike juices, smoothies retain the whole fruit, including the fibre, but dont forget they are a source of free sugars, which should make up no more than 5% of our energy intake.
Another thing to consider is that because we drink smoothies rather than eat them, we do tend to consume them more quickly. This means the sugars they contain may flood the bloodstream and, because no chewing is involved, the body doesnt get the same messages that help us regulate how much we eat.
For these reasons, what you use to make your smoothie is important ideally choose a combo of vegetables, dairy or nut butters and some fruit. This will ensure your smoothie contributes vitamins, minerals, protein and fibre. As adults we often add protein powders and other supplements to our own smoothies these should never be added to a childs smoothie.
Its important to remember that whole fruit and vegetables should always be included as part of a balanced diet this is especially important for young children who are learning to eat and are forming their own food preferences.
What Are Some Great Smoothie Recipes
Alright, now that youre fully versed on how to make a great smoothie, let me share with you some of our absolute favorite combos! Click on any image to jump over to that specific smoothie recipe.
Classic Simple Smoothies
These smoothies are a great place to start. No weird ingredients that you have to special order, just fresh, real food that you can find at any typical supermarket.
Wild Blueberry Lemon No Banana Smoothie
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How To Make Smoothies More Interesting
You don’t have to stick to the basic smoothie recipe for all of your smoothies. There are lots of ways to jazz up smoothies. Consider adding nuts, honey, flaxseeds, coconut, oatmeal, dried fruits, chocolate chips, cookies, and spices to make your smoothies more interesting. For example, if you want to make a smoothie taste like a certain dessert, such as pumpkin smoothies, you might add graham crackers and cinnamon.