A Few Thoughts on Smoothies

Plus a recipe for the Berry-Almond one I drink most afternoons

How do you feel about smoothies? I’ve been going back and forth as to whether or not you’d be interested in me sharing a recipe for one. A quick scan of what’s currently on the internet shows that while there are lots of recipes, not many have gained any traction. This makes me think it’s not a super valuable category of food, recipe-wise. Does a smoothie need a recipe?

Lately I’ve been thinking about how smoothies have been a near constant in my life for at least a decade, but that in that time they’ve served a lot of different purposes. First there were limey, tart, greens-and-cucumber ones that were more like juice, designed to quench, and I enjoyed them as a way to clean out my produce drawer before things started to turn.

Then there was a new gym routine, and the first time I was eating in any kind of hyperconscious way, but also a period when I did a fair amount of commuting. I’d blend them up early in the morning and take them with me to sip on through the morning, and they were so convenient as a fast and nutrient-dense breakfast. There was also a stretch after I broke my ankle and had had a two back-to-back surgeries. I didn’t have much of an appetite — and smoothies were extremely helpful then, too.

Currently, though, they fall into an “afternoon-snack” category. Around 3pm, when my energy is running low and my sweet tooth gets itchy, a good smoothie fits the bill perfectly. Right now I like them very cold, tart, and energizing, and I find them to be a great way to ingest a good dose of brain healthy foods, too. I am not a banana person, so I don’t really care about “creaminess.” In fact, I’m happy if it reminds me more of a frozen margarita than a chocolate milkshake.

But the thing about a smoothie is that it is one of the easiest things to make and therefore one of the easiest things to customize, which takes me back to my original question: Do you even need a recipe? I’ve decided to include one, but I’m also breaking it down as a formula, which hopefully gives you more of a jumping off point if you’re more the freewheeling type.