An easy way to use up less-than-perfect fruit. Kids readily drink more fruit than they would normally eat.
Ingredients
- Banana, preferably very ripe (1 banana works with 2-4 cups other fruit)
- Fruit, peeled if necessary and cut (strawberries, peaches, pineapple, oranges, grapes, mangoes, etc)
- Orange juice (about 1/2 cup for every 2 cups fruit)
- Milk (about 1/4 cup for every 2 cups fruit)
- Ice (3-4 cubes for every 2 cups fruit)
- Maple syrup or other sweetener (optional)
- Vanilla extract (few drops optional)
Directions
- Add fruit to blender jar, putting juiciest fruit in first. Add juice, milk and ice. Blend well.
- Taste and add a touch of maple syrup or vanilla if desired.
Notes
- Liquid substitutes: other milks (soy, coconut, nut), other juices or yogurt.
- If you don’t like the taste of bananas, mango, pear or avocado add a similar smoothness.
- If I’m using a lot of acidic fruit, such as orange or pineapple, I’ll use more milk and less juice.
- If you use frozen fruit, you’ll want to use less ice or maybe none at all. Frozen fruit may also require additional liquid.
- Protein powders, commonly made of whey protein, are a popular add. I’m not a fan of the taste – most have significant amounts of artificial sweetener – and am skeptical about the processing involved and the quality of the whey that goes into it.
Here’s a link back to the post and pictures.
