We have a new love at our house. Smoothies. My husband has always liked them, but I have just recently gotten into making them for my little boy and me. They are a miracle food, as far as I am concerned.
1) Healthy
They are a healthy snack and/or meal. And the nutritional content is up to you. You control the amount of fruit, yogurt, milk, wheat germ, whatever else, you want in your smoothie.
2) Taste Good
They are taste good and they are healthy. You really can't beat it. It's almost like having desert for breakfast.
3) Easy
They are easy to make. A scoop here, a handful there, and you're done. You can folow a recipe if you'd like, but really, if you have frozen yogurt and some fruit on hand, that's all you need. (The only negative I have found that takes away from the easiness quotient is the clean-up because you do have to get your blender out and if you don't rinse it immediately, you will need to soak it in warm water, but otherwise, they're simple to make.)
4) Make Ahead
You can make them the night before and have them ready for breakfast in the morning.
5) Snacks or Meals
My son is not what I consider to be a truly picky eater, but he will go on what I call hunger strikes for days at a time. Smoothies are one thing he will usually eat, even if he is on one of his "I don't really need food" days. And I use them for both snacks and meals.
6) They Keep Well
I usually make much more than we can eat and refrigerate or freeze the remainder. I have found that if I pour the extra into a thermos and put it in the fridge, it tastes just fine for about 24 hours. That way if my son or I needs a quick snack, I just pour it straight into a cup. No thawing required. If I plan on keeping it any longer, I stick it in the freezer.
7) Frozen or Fresh Fruits
You can use fresh or frozen fruit; both taste great.
What Moms Want To Know Smoothie Recipe
1-2 spoonfuls of vanilla frozen yogurt
About 1/2 c. milk
Handful of frozen peaches
1/4-1/2 sliced banana (Word of Warning, I've discovered that a little banana goes a looong way)
Handful of frozen blueberries
Blend until smooth
How easy is that? I know the recipe is far from exact, but that's why they are such a neat treat. You don't have to worry about getting everything exactly right and they're really hard to mess up.