Delicious and satisfying, smoothies are a good
idea for your customers and your business. Today's diners are seeking healthier
options as well as quick meals they can enjoy on the go. Smoothies are the
perfect fit. In addition, they offer an opportunity to capture incremental
revenue, making smoothies an essential item on your menu.
Popular among diners of all ages, smoothies
can be served with fruit at breakfast, make a complete standalone snack, and
complement a sandwich or salad for lunch. Smoothies have become the preferred
choice for many diners, as proven by their explosive growth.
They are a simple and cost-effective way to
increase your sales and profits. For example, making smoothies available in a
grab-and-go refrigerator or cooler can help you make it easy for customers to
take what they want. You can easily bundle them with other nutritional menu
items to increase sales.
Easy-to-make smoothies appeal to the
increasing number of diners who want a great-tasting, nutritious snack or meal.
Packed with protein, fruit, calcium, vitamins A and D, they give your customer
a healthy, low-fat, and often gluten-free option in one tasty drink.
Below are 8 smoothie ideas filled with
antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, and most importantly, flavor.
Healthy Fruit
Smoothie Recipes
1) Spinach and Blueberry Superfood Smoothie
Vegan, low-calorie, all-natural, and raw, this
smoothie recipe has everything your health-minded customers are looking for. No
sweetener is required, the blueberries and ripe banana add all the sweetness
needed.
- 4 large ice cubes
- ½ cup blueberries
- 1 medium ripe banana
- ¼ milk substitute or water
- 1 cup fresh spinach
Blend ice cubes, blueberries, banana, and milk
substitute or water until smooth. Add spinach and blend some more until smooth
and creamy. Makes 1 16 oz serving.
2) Banana Orange Smoothie
In the tradition of the best fruit smoothie
recipes, this recipe keeps it simple with just four ingredients. It makes a
refreshing breakfasts smoothie.
- 1 ripe banana
- 1½ cup cold orange juice
- ½ cup strawberries
- ½ tablespoon fresh lime juice
Combine all ingredients and process until
smooth. Makes 1 16 oz serving.
3) Banana and Mixed Berries Smoothie
Because they become so creamy when blended,
bananas are often found in the best smoothie recipes, and once your customers
take a sip, they'll see why. This blend of honey, banana, and low-fat yogurt
combine to make a creamy texture in this delicious drink.
- ½ frozen ripe banana
- ½ cup frozen mixed berries
- ¼ cup orange juice
- ½ cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
- 1 teaspoon honey
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend
until smooth. Makes 1 16 oz serving.
4) Mango Avocado Smoothie Recipe
If you want something a little more tropical
on your menu, this idea for healthy smoothies does the trick. Smooth avocado
and succulent mango play well together when orange juice.
- 1 cup cubed mango
- ½ ripe avocado
- ½ cup orange juice
- Ice cubes as needed
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend
until smooth. Makes 1 16 oz serving.
5) Honeydew Melon Smoothie
Mild and sweet melon mixed with apple juice
and yogurt makes a refreshingly satisfying smoothie.
- 1 cups honeydew, cubed
- ½ cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
- 1 tablespoon apple juice
- Ice
Blend melon, yogurt, and apple juice until
smooth. With blender running, add the ice until frothy. Garnish glass with a
melon slice. Makes 1 16 oz serving.
6) Traditional Strawberry Smoothie
This simple smoothie recipe is popular with children
and adults. It makes a refreshing breakfast add-mid-afternoon snack.
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- ¼ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup cranberry-raspberry juice
- ¼ cup yogurt
- Garnish with fresh strawberry
Add frozen strawberries to the bottom of the blender,
add the juices, and top with yogurt. Blend until smooth. Makes 1 16 oz serving.
7) Low-Calorie Vegetable Smoothie
For those customers who like something a
little savory for breakfast, this vegetable smoothie does the
trick.
- 1 cup tomato juice
- ¼ cup carrot juice
- ½ cucumber peeled
- 1 stalk celery
- A handful of spinach leaves
- ½ cup ice
- Dash of hot sauce if you want it spicey
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend
until smooth. Makes 1 16 oz serving.
8) Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Protein-packed and creamy, this rich-tasting
smoothie is beloved by health-nuts and children alike. Dairy, soy, vegan, and
gluten-free, it checks all the boxes.
1 ripe banana
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/8 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 ½ vanilla almond milk or other milk alternative
- ¼ cup ice cubes
Add bananas, cocoa powder, honey, and peanut
butter to blender and blend until the banana is mashed and ingredients are just
combined. Add the milk alternative and ice, continue blending until creamy and
smooth. Makes 1 16 oz smoothie.
Refreshing and satisfying, smoothies are an ideal enhancement to the menu of any restaurant that wants to boos business in a way that appeals to consumer desires.
