Fantastic Fruit Smoothie

Makes about 2 to 2 1/2 cups (2 servings)

Frozen fruit makes smoothies extra thick and creamy. If you don't like icy cold beverages, use fresh fruit instead. Experiment with a variety of juices and fruit, depending on what is in season.

1 frozen or fresh banana, broken into chunks (see Tip, below)
1 ¹/₂ cups unsweetened fruit juice (your choice; any kind)
¹/₂ cup sliced fresh or frozen unsweetened fruit or berries
¹/₂ cup plain, vanilla, or fruit-flavored soy yogurt (optional)

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until very smooth and creamy. Serve immediately.

Tips:
• With a few ripe bananas in your freezer, you can always create a quick breakfast smoothie. Simply peel bananas, place them in plastic bags, and store in the freezer. They will last for several weeks, depending on your freezer's temperature.
• To make your smoothie extra creamy and give it a healthy protein boost, try adding a little powdered soymilk or protein powder prior to blending.

Per 1-cup serving

• Calories: 153
• Fat: 0.5 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
• Calories from Fat: 3%
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Protein: 2 g
• Carbohydrates: 37.6 g
• Sugar: 26.9 g
• Fiber: 2.8 g
• Sodium: 5 mg
• Calcium: 25 mg
• Iron: 1.1 mg
• Vitamin C: 79.8 mg
• Beta Carotene: 86 mcg
• Vitamin E: 0.6 mg

Source: Breaking the Food Seduction by Neal Barnard, M.D.; recipe by Jo Stepaniak; © Jo Stepaniak 2005, published by permission.