A strawberry yogurt smoothie is a blended drink that is often served for breakfast or as a healthy snack. The main ingredients in the smoothie include yogurt, strawberries, and ice. Juice, such as orange or apple juice, is often added to cut the thickness of the fruit and yogurt. Some smoothies also include other fruit, such as oranges or bananas, and sugar or honey to add sweetness. All of the ingredients are blended together until smooth, and the strawberry yogurt smoothie is served cold.
Yogurt, the main ingredient in a strawberry yogurt smoothie, has several nutritional benefits. For example, yogurt contains large numbers of active bacteria, which helps regulate digestion and improve the immune system. Since yogurt comes from milk, it is a good source of protein and other nutritional benefits including calcium, potassium, and vitamin B-12.
Strawberries are high in fiber, low in fat, and contain potassium, vitamin C, and iodine. Fiber helps regulate the digestive tract, and potassium can help lower and regulate blood pressure. Vitamin C can improve visual function and the immune system as well as helping to fight cancer and heart disease. Iodine is good for the brain and nervous system.
People often put apple or orange juice in a strawberry yogurt smoothie because adding juice gives the smoothie a thinner consistency and more flavor. While fruit juice does not have a high fiber content, there are still nutritional benefits to adding juice to a smoothie, such as added vitamin C or vitamin E and other minerals.
A few versions of the strawberry yogurt smoothie include fruit added that increases the calorie count of the drink but that also increases the fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Bananas are a popular fruit to use in the smoothie, as well as oranges, pineapple, and other berries, such as blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Some recipes call for a small amount of honey or white sugar, both of which increase the sweetness of the smoothie and help cut down on the tartness of the strawberries.
In most recipes, all of the fruit ingredients are chopped and added to a blender with yogurt, ice, and either the honey or sugar. The blender is set to puree and the ingredients are blended until the fruit chunks and ice are smooth. A strawberry yogurt smoothie is best served in a glass with a straw immediately after blending.
