Healthy Smoothie Recipes

Summer is the season for ice-cold smoothies! But many of the commerically available brands (you know who I'm talking about) are LOADED with sugar.

Cut back on calories by making your own smoothies using healthy bases (skim milk, soy milk, plain yogurt, skim ricotta, etc.), fruit, and natural sweeteners (vanilla extract, maple syrup, etc.).

Here are two of my favorite healthy smoothie recipes:

• Healthy Banana-Berry Smoothie

1 6 oz container plain, low-fat yogurt

1 handful ice

1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, or blueberries

1/2 ripe banana

1 tablespoon honey

Put all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. You can add a splash of water or skim milk if it's too chunky/icy.

• Peachy Pick Smoothie from Self Magazine

1/2 cup part-skim ricotta

1.5 cups diced peaches

1 cup grapes

2 teaspoons almond extract

1 tablespoon apricot jam

1/4 cup chopped almonds

Blend six ice cubes with the ricotta and then blend the rest of the ingredients until smooth.

How do you make smoothies?