Rich & Healthy Smoothies

Chef Ed Dychauco, RN

(May 23, 2013)

 

A trend that has been showing up on & off and more so again recently because of health concerns and dietary needs, Smoothies I should say is here to stay for a long time!

Time was when only the “upscale” people can afford to own a blender, well, we use to call them “osterizer” (which we still do, branding you know!). But with the cheap technology and making these kitchen commodities a lot affordable to the masses, doing the same work as the more expensive ones.

We used to “shake, blend, ozterize” basically fruits to turn them into shakes, ice cold shakes and drinks with whatever the fruit is in season.  Mostly mangoes, avocadoes, bananas, apples, buko, langka, orange, pineapple, calamansi, strawberry and guyabano.

But the repertoire has extended to the more exotic fruits of the earth, if one can call it such, like chico & dragon fruit (first tasted this while I was in Vietnam years ago!), mangosteen, lanzones, balimbing, star apple, lychees, longgan, durian and many more.

As it is or added with other fruits to come up with a signature drink for that unique taste would really depend on the individual. There is really no rules in making one one’s concoction.

For the healthier conscious people, it will just be fresh fruits and ice. For a more delicate, pronounced flavor or sweetness, other would add some sweetener like sugar or honey, milk or cream.

And with the addition of fresh vegetables like celery, cucumber, carrots, tomatoes, and even green leafy vegetables, this smoothie has evolved not only into a fad but a health drink concoction, with all the vitamins, minerals and fibers.

Unlike juicing, only the “juice” is enjoyed while the important and health-benefit giving fibers are taken and thrown away.

Many people have claimed to lose weight following this “smoothie” diet. And I would say this helps but again, just like any other, make sure to consult with your MD before doing anything drastic.

I believe that with the necessary nutrients needed by the body, we are given the opportunity to enjoy these health drinks to the maximum as long as fruits & vegetables are pesticide-free before they are processed.

Personally, for fruit smoothies, mangoes would be a good choice, as well as bananas, strawberries, avocadoes, chicos, and guyabano because it gives out a very thick, rich taste even without sugar. I like it with some milk (any milk will do!) and plenty of ice. Also, it gives out that delightful aroma that makes the shakes more exciting!

Sometimes we tend to buy and be left with over-ripe fruit which goes to waste. I am sure we don’t want this to happen. So, I would normally wash them up, cut them into small portion (for a glass or two), pack them up and freeze them for later use.

Same with vegetables. And if one can’t find anything fresh produce in season, frozen fruits and veggies would be a very good choice, too.

This is where our taste buds would be made into use. A little of this, a little of that can add up to something good. Okay, maybe, not that good. But it is worth a try.

For the more conservative taste buds, simple fruits with carrots can be a great combination. Like apple & carrots with a squeeze of orange or calamansi/lemon juice. Try to combine something that is flavorful with something bland or flat in taste to even out the taste & aroma. And only add sweetener when necessary.

For that extra-rich and calorie-laden smoothie, one can use ice cream instead of milk. Any takers? And we are talking about vanilla ice cream in general for such purpose.

Sometime I am in the mood for something to “chew or bite” in the smoothie. So I would add some chunks of fruits or nuts for that extra crunch. Heavenly!

With the combinations of fruits and vegetables, and some added dairy, it is like a meal in itself.

Published on Sunstar cdo  May 23. 2013