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Simple Seasonal Smoothies
August 9, 2007

I am always amazed at how the school year sneaks up on me towards the end of summer vacation. I feel like I am finally getting into the groove of lazy mornings and afternoon play dates. But, the time has come for me to start gearing up for the chaos of the morning routine that is right around the corner. When my son refuses to put his shoes on the right feet and the cat is leaving me a hairball in the middle of the hallway, I always wish for something to go smoothly.

Stage left: enter a blender, some delicious seasonal fruit, a little yogurt and voila, a Smoothie saves the morning! Kids will love to place their orders with you, so that you can create their special faux-ice cream breakfast. Instead of trying to please the troops by taking out 4 boxes of cereal and 2 kinds of frozen waffles, try these simple, healthy ideas instead.

Smoothie Basics:

1. Pour the liquid ingredients (juice, milk or yogurt) into the blender first.
2. Dump in your fruit. Frozen fruit makes the smoothie thicker, so it feels more like a milkshake.
   1. With summer fruit at its peak, now is the time to buy extra from your local farmer’s market and put it in the freezer. This trick allows you to eat locally even when your favorite strawberries aren’t in season anymore!
   2. If you have some bananas that are turning brown, peel them, bag them, and then throw them into the freezer—they will be the perfect addition to your smoothies!
   3. Feel free to add extra stuff to your smoothie, like flax seed meal, which is high in Omega-3’s. The smoothie will taste so good, they won’t even notice!
3. Blend until smooth. (You can use a hand-held “stick” or “immersion blender”, which is a little easier to clean than your larger margarita/daiquiri blender.)

Wish We Were in Hawaii
½ cup lowfat vanilla yogurt
Splash: orange juice or milk, if desired
¼ cup frozen pineapple chunks
½ mango
1/3 frozen banana

Berry Delicious
¼ cup lowfat milk
½ cup vanilla yogurt
½ nectarine
4 strawberries

(These make 1 kid-sized smoothie. To be more efficient, double this recipe and drink some, yourself…It is better for you than your usual coffee-only breakfast!)

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Michelle Stern owns What’s Cooking, a business that offers cooking classes and gifts to children of all ages. (www.whatscooking.info) . Don’t miss What’s Cooking Weekly, an online menu subscription service for families that offers recipes, grocery lists, nutrition information and tips on getting your kids into the kitchen for 5 healthy, seasonal and simple meals every week!

Copyright 2007 Organicpicks