Frugal foodie: Two luscious smoothie recipes

One of the easiest solutions for a quick meal is also one of the tastiest: smoothies. These cool, luscious treats are great any time of day or night and can be packed with lots of healthy goodness to deliver the best nutrition to your body when you need it. While you can’t exactly put a smoothie in a “brown bag” to take to work, a container such as a thermos is a perfect way to transport it.

Enjoy these super-healthy smoothie sensations!

Fruit Smoothie
½ cup nonfat milk
½ cup nonfat plain yogurt
½ peeled, sliced banana
2 tablespoons powdered protein supplement (optional)
1½ tablespoons flaxseed or 1 tablespoon flaxseed oil (optional)
1 teaspoon honey
½ cup frozen fruit such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or peaches
2 ice cubes (optional)

In a blender, blend all ingredients until smooth. Put into thermos or other container to maintain coldness.

Shopping list for Fruit Smoothie:
1 small container nonfat milk
1 container nonfat plain yogurt (at least 4 ounces)
1 banana
Protein supplement
Flaxseed or flaxseed oil
Honey
1 package frozen fruit (at least 4 ounces)

If your mom always told you to eat your spinach because it was good for you, this smoothie will give you just what Mom ordered—and the refreshing taste may be anything but what you expected!

Green Smoothie
1 peeled, sliced banana
1 cup green grapes
6 ounces plain or vanilla yogurt
½ apple, chopped and peeled
½ cup to 1 cup spinach leaves*
2 ice cubes (optional)

In a blender, blend all ingredients, stopping as needed to wipe down sides of blender to keep ingredients mixed.

*You may want to use the smaller amount of spinach until you’re more accustomed to the taste of it in your smoothie.

Shopping list for Green Smoothie:
1 banana
1 small bunch green grapes
6 ounces plain or vanilla yogurt
1 apple
1 small bunch spinach leaves