Googling “smoothie recipes” or “smoothies for kids” yields sufficient concoctions to keep us juiced up forever. And Amazon.com turns up treasures like The Ultimate Smoothie Book, The Original Smoothie Book and The Smoothies Bible, all chock full of options.

Still, we found that many smoothie fans experiment until they find one or two customized blends that they like exceptionally well. Then they stick with a convenient routine. For smoothie newbies, Natural Awakenings makes entry into this healthy habit simple by breaking preparation into five easy pieces. Then we offer a taste of the infinite possibilities with sample recipes.

Next we have the option of powering up with a scoop of protein powder. Flavors vary, but we hear that vanilla blends well with the taste of most fruits. Natural health advocate Gary Null likes aspartame-free plant-based protein powders. “I really like rice protein powder,” says Null. Some smoothie fans we know also toss in a bit of ground flax meal to add fiber.

Now comes 8- to 16-ounces of fun fruit. First, drop in a half-banana minus the peel to thicken the mixture. Follow with a choice of fresh or unsweetened frozen strawberries, blueberries, peach sections, red grapes, apple, mango, papaya and/or orange or other citrus fruit (skip any dairy with citrus). Even prunes work. Frozen fruit generally is most convenient, even in season. Just mix and match to taste.

Finally, add in crushed, chipped or chunked ice, to make the whole drink cool and deliciously refreshing. (May not be necessary if using frozen fruit.) A universally desired thick and creamy texture requires maybe 5 to 10 seconds, up to 30 to 45 seconds, of mixing to ensure that ingredients are fully circulating and wholly mixed.

Note that more than half a banana overwhelms other flavors and makes any smoothie a banana shake. For a frosty drink, use frozen fruit. It’s a neat treat. Especially once one gets the feel of it.

Sample Family Recipes

Suggested milk substitutes are soy yogurt or soy, almond or rice milk.