User:Checkmeowt0/Smoothie

History
Health food stores on the West Coast of the United States began selling smoothies in the 1930s associated with the invention of the electric blender. (site 11) In the 1960s Steve Kuhnau was inspired by his work as a soda jerk and began experimenting with smoothies. They were an alternative for the lactose intolerant Kuhnau to taste his own concoctions using unique blends of fruit juices, vegetables, protein powder, and vitamins. Kuhnau discovered early success in his smoothie sales and founded Smoothie King. Smoothie King expanded throughout the United States and would pioneer other smoothie businesses such as Jamba Juice. The smoothie was then modified by fast food chains with the addition of sweeter ingredients like chocolate and Splendia. In the 2000s, the smoothie was made at home as an alternative for daily consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Base
The base is the majority of the smoothie and allows the smoothie to blend with ease. There are dairy options such as yogurt and milk as well as non-dairy options such as fruit juices, water, and plant-based milks.

Fruits
Fruits are added to the mix for hints of sweetness and new flavors. Common fruits used are bananas, berries, mangos, pineapples, and avocados. Frozen fruits are used as an alternative to ice and provide the smoothie with a thicker consistency. Fruits with pulp can provide more fiber, but also adds a different texture to the smoothie.

Vegetables
Vegetables can be added for increased antioxidants and fiber and may add a bit of bitterness to the smoothie.

Sweeteners
Sweeteners such as honey, sugar, maple syrup, chocolate, ice cream, and condensed milk can be added based off of one's personal preference. Other various ingredients can be added as well such as seeds, nuts, and oats, for more nutrition.

Health
The healthfulness of a smoothie depends on its ingredients and their proportions. Many smoothies include large or multiple servings of fruits and vegetables, which are recommended in a healthy diet and intended to be a meal replacement. There is a an increase in the amount of fruits and vegetables consumed through intake of smoothies. However, fruit juice containing high amounts of sugar can increase caloric intake and promote weight gain. Similarly, ingredients such as protein powders, sweeteners, or ice cream are often used in smoothie recipes, some of which contribute mostly to flavor and further caloric intake. In a study in 2018, smoothies were found to be less satiating despite providing its consumer the same amount of energy if the consumer were to eat the real unblended foods.

Green Smoothie
''A green smoothie typically consists of 40–50% green vegetables (roughly half), usually raw green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, swiss chard, collard greens, celery, parsley, or broccoli, with the remaining ingredients being mostly or entirely fruit. Wheatgrass and spirulina are also used as healthful ingredients. Most green leafy vegetables have a bitter flavor when served raw, but this can be ameliorated by choosing certain less-bitter vegetables (e.g. baby spinach) or combining with certain fruit (e.g. banana softens both the flavor and texture). Some blender manufacturers now specifically target their products towards making green smoothies and provide a booklet of recipes for them.''

If the fruit ingredients and the green vegetable ingredients are both juiced ahead of time, the mixed juice doesn't even have to be blended like a smoothie, i.e. a green juice.

Protein Smoothie
A protein smoothie is a combination of water or some form of dairy product, protein powder, fruits, and vegetables. They can be consumed any part of the day and are used as protein supplement for those who want to increase their protein intake. Protein powder can have a chalky taste when mixed individually by itself with milk or water. The protein smoothie improves the taste of the protein powder through addition of fruits or other sweeteners. Common ingredients include bananas, frozen berries, peanut butter, maple syrup, and chocolate chips.