Smoothies Take Over as Growing Beverage Trend

Everyone loves to customize their food and beverages. Case in point: A few years ago, the only ways you could order your coffee were black or with cream. Today, coffee bars serve every flavor under the sun to meet the demand of individual tastes. Salad bars allow you to pick and choose favorite foods, while chain restaurants boast a “make it your way” mantra. The same concept can be seen with one of the hottest beverage trends sweeping the country -- smoothies. By varying your ingredients, you can mix and match flavors to appeal to the many tastes of your palate.

SMOOTHIE HISTORY

The term “smoothie” encompasses various beverages, but generally refers to fruit drinks made in a blender. These beverages have been around for decades -- once only available at health food stores. However, only recently has the smoothie seen such a tremendous popularity growth, as they’re now readily available in shopping malls, in your grocer’s refrigerated section or by creating them in the comfort of your home.

BENEFITS ABOUND

Smoothies appeal to the entire family. They easily meet the demands of a quick snack or a “meal-on-the-go” for busy adults. Kids love them because they’re frothy, delicious fun, reminiscent of a milkshake. However, parents know that smoothies are the perfect way to encourage youngsters to consume nutrients through a healthy snack. They are a refreshing alternative to sugary, carbonated beverages.

Since they are chock-full of fruits, juices and often dairy products, smoothies pack a healthy punch. They’re an ideal way to load up on vitamin C and vitamin D, as well as calcium. Smoothies can be thickened with frozen fruits, ice, yogurt and milk. You can even create dairy-free smoothies with fruit juices or by substituting soy or rice milk for other thickening agents.

“Juice drinks, like those available from Tampico(R), are an excellent, yet often overlooked, ingredient to add to smoothies,” says Richard Ross, brand director for Tampico Fruit Punches, America’s No. 1 selling brand of refrigerated juice drinks. “They are perfect for these types of beverages because they really help make the drink smooth. Plus, they’re easy to keep on hand to flavor both smoothies and other fruit-based drinks.” Using Tampico in place of other fruit juices can expand your smoothie flavor possibilities. The punches are available in the United States in nine flavors: Citrus Punch, Mango Punch, Tropical Punch (cherry, orange and pineapple), Island Punch (pineapple, banana and orange), Peach Punch, Berry Punch, Grape Punch, Apple Punch and Lemonade.

“Tampico contains 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C in each 8-ounce serving,” Ross says. “Keep your refrigerator stocked with these punches, as well as fresh fruit, and you’ll be able to create innumerable smoothie flavors.”

SMOOTHIE TIPS

FROM THE PROS

To ensure a delicious smoothie, try some of these easy tips:

* For creamier smoothies, use two scoops of ice cream or low-fat vanilla yogurt in place of ice.

* Frozen fruit will also thicken a smoothie and is handy when fresh fruit is not available.

* A lighter smoothie can be achieved with orange sorbet or sherbet.

* Make your smoothie look like a culinary masterpiece. Garnish its glass with fresh strawberries or pineapple wedges for a tropical flair.

If you’re ready for a smoothie adventure, fire up the blender and start experimenting with your ingredients. Remember, there’s no limit to your creativity and no “wrong” flavor. You can also add protein powders or nutritional supplements like bee pollen or ginseng to give a healthy kick to your smoothie.