Smoothies and I go way back. When I was a kid my dad would make Orange Julius (which may be a recipe I share in the future), an orangey-banana smoothie that we would have for dessert with popcorn. Then, as I go older, and became a card carrying member of diet culture and I would get my “smoothie” in a styrofoam cup. These concoctions were more powder than fruit, but I “knew” I was “healthy” back then. As I dove deeper into the world of wellness culture, I wanted to eat only whole, “real” foods so began to make smoothies that were all about nutrition; not so much a dessert–the word that comes to mind is punishment. I learned a lot in those years about what is palatable and what isn’t, both literally and figuratively. Luckily, I managed to find some middle ground when designing smoothies for the public and was able to learn some balance between nutritious and delicious.

These days, while a smoothie is still an opportunity to get a whole lot of nutrition, what really matters to me is flavor, texture, and satisfaction. I have built this smoothie recipe based off of a lifetime of smoothie drinking, a need for a specific, cold, creamy texture, and hundreds of trials and errors. I am including a recipe template so that you can create your own favorite smoothie too.