Delicious Reading: Summer Smoothies

Summer school weeks and the regular school year have decidedly different morning routines. During the summer, my husband and I aren’t rushing to get ready so we can get to school as well, there is no bus to catch and since the older two kids are doing P.E. for summer school, there’s no need to shower: they basically roll out of bed and put their tennis shoes on. To fit this pace, I make smoothies, a low-key breakfast, but one that has a little more cleanup than I would want to do during the school year. These cool, creamy drinks are the perfect fuel for a hot day, and the kids can also take them with them on the drive to school.

Brooke Clubbs

There are a lot of different recipes and varieties of smoothies, but ours have four basic elements: frozen fruit, fresh fruit, yogurt and a liquid, such as almond milk. They may also get an add-in, such as a sprinkle of dry flavored gelatin or powdered peanut butter, depending on the flavor. I also sometimes leave out the yogurt in the combinations I make for myself after a long, hot summer run.

The only one who doesn’t love smoothies is our dog, Violet, who is scared of the blender. I think she’s looking forward to the 2019-2020 school year.

Here are some of our favorite combinations:

Eli’s Piña Colada

• 1 frozen banana

• 1 can pineapple chunks with juice, drained

• 1 small container fat-free Greek coconut yogurt

• 1 cup skim milk

Avery’s Favorite Strawberry

• 1 cup frozen strawberries

• 5 sliced, fresh strawberries

• 1 small container fat-free Greek strawberry yogurt

• 1 teaspoon sugar-free strawberry JELL-O mix

• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

The Monkey

• 1 frozen banana

• 1 regular banana

• 1 small container fat-free Greek chocolate yogurt

• 1 tablespoon PB2 powdered peanut butter

• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

My Post-Run Cherry Limeade

• 1 cup frozen cherries

• ½ cup ice cubes

• 1 teaspoon sugar-free lime JELL-O mix

• 1 1/2 cups diet 7-Up

For all recipes, blend ingredients together in a blender and serve.