Healthy Delicious Smoothies

Smoothies are not only cool and delicious, they're also economical, healthy and easy to make and serve to your family. And with all the recipes floating around online it doesn't matter if you love fruits in your smoothies or vegetables, you're sure to find a wonderful, delicious shake that'll hit just the right spot in your food craving. For one serving, blend a 6 ounce container of plain yogurt and your choice of ingredients for a smoothie, pour into a glass; and add your favorite toppings. My family loves smoothies, for dinner or lunch they're a perfect ending to any meal or just to have as a quick healthy snack during the day or after school. In my quest for the perfect smoothie I've come up with many new and slightly different variations on an old favorite.

My daughter loves a recipe I developed called the Orange Flower Power smoothie; this is carrot juice, sliced celery and grated fresh ginger root combined with 6 ounces of plain low fat yogurt, and; to add a little pizzazz, ill top it with a tropical flower and a swizzle stick. Another one of her favorites is something I call my Purple Passion Fever, which is basically just blueberries and pomegranate seeds with a few cranberries and 8 ounces of low fat plain yogurt, ill top it off with a few cranberries and blueberries. And of course for my 6 year nieces, they love the Kids Choice Smoothie or the Dream sickle Tangerine smoothie. The Kids Choice is creamy peanut butter, ripe bananas and chocolate syrup combined with plain low fat yogurt and topped with additional banana slices and crushed vanilla wafers, this one is a little more calorie filled than the other healthier smoothie, but you can cut the calories by using low fat or fat free items. The Dream sickle smoothie is orange sherbet, fresh tangerine segments, vanilla wafers and whipped cream combined with fresh, low fat yogurt and topped with crushed vanilla wafers and cherries. For a tropical variation on a smoothie add rice milk, caramel sauce, ground cinnamon and nutmeg to plain yogurt and top with shredded coconut. Smoothies are a wonderful snack or as a meal in themselves try one of these delicious recipes or visit www.bhg.com for other new and delicious ideas for smoothies.