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What Is a Strawberry Banana Smoothie?

Dan Harkins
Dan Harkins

The smoothie has grown to iconic status across the globe, primarily on the shoulders of fitness buffs and dieters looking for a flavorful, yet nutritional, way to get the calories they need. One of the most ubiquitous recipes is the strawberry banana smoothie, which turns those two complementary fruits into a creamy, rich and potentially protein-packed drink. This diversity of nutrients comes not just from the fresh produce but also from any dairy, fruit juice and protein powder that is used to round off this meal in a cup.

Some like their strawberry banana smoothie with more banana and less strawberry, or the opposite. What is used to liquefy these fruits in the blender is up to the chef, too. For a creamy, milky texture, many use ingredients like low-fat yogurt, skim milk and even ice cream — depending on the calorie consciousness. Others stick with fruit juice, from apple or orange to specialty juices made from strawberries and bananas. One recipe recommends adding strawberry and banana yogurt or strawberry ice cream to strawberry banana fruit juice for a perfectly balanced drink.

Bananas are one of the primary ingredients in strawberry banana smoothies.
Bananas are one of the primary ingredients in strawberry banana smoothies.

Making a smoothie is as hard as loading a blender. Some use a little ice to chill the drink and add a milkshake effect, while others simply freeze the banana and strawberries. Most people make a strawberry banana smoothie without ice, though. Into the blender, on average, goes about a half-dozen strawberries to every banana, then the liquids. One recipe calls for 0.5 cup (about 120 ml) of milk and 1 cup (about 240 g) of strawberry banana yogurt; another calls for 0.5 cup (about 120 ml) of orange juice to 0.5 cup (about 120 g) of vanilla yogurt.

A strawberry banana smoothie.
A strawberry banana smoothie.

Many people make or order a smoothie as a delivery system to ingest protein powder after a workout. Some of these powders come from dairy sources, such as whey or casein, while others come from eggs. Varieties like soy and rice are fully vegan. When used in a vegan strawberry banana smoothie, they might be accompanied by ingredients like orange juice and other protein sources like coconut milk and peanut butter.

Strawberries.
Strawberries.

The strawberry banana smoothie is often among the first a person will try before graduating to other blends. Also common at storefront smoothie stands are orange Creamsicle®, Oreo® cookie, and peanut butter and jelly varieties. For as many types of fruit as there are to eat, just as many can be made the star of its own smoothie. Other popular combinations of fruits include mango, pineapple and coconut, or a medley of seasonal red berries.

Discussion Comments

cloudel

I first made one of these smoothies with vanilla yogurt, and it was perfect. I expected it to taste even more perfect when I used strawberry banana yogurt, but it wasn't. It was almost too sweet, and it tasted like fake fruit.

DylanB

@Perdido – You can add a handful of raw spinach to the blender. It won't affect the flavor at all, though it will alter the color a little. It will take on a slightly greenish tint.

Spinach is full of vitamins. I eat it in a salad everyday, but I can't get my kids to do this. So, I sneak it into their strawberry banana smoothies, and they don't even know it!

You can always add food coloring to the smoothie if the strange color bothers you. Since I only use a handful of spinach, it isn't really too noticeable. I put it in cups sealed with lids, so my kids don't even look at it before drinking it!

Perdido

Strawberry banana smoothies are pretty healthy on their own, especially if you use low-fat milk or yogurt. I've heard of some people adding other things to them to pack them full of even more nutrition, though. I have a friend who sprinkles quick oats into the blender to add some fiber.

Are there other things you can easily add to this kind of smoothie for more nutrition? I would like to try things that don't affect the flavor.

shell4life

I love strawberry banana smoothies! I am not concerned about getting enough protein, so I don't bother with the powders. I'm in it strictly for the flavor.

I use frozen strawberries and ripe bananas. If I have a bunch of bananas that get very ripe and I know that I won't have time to eat them before they spoil, I chop them up and freeze them to use in smoothies.

Never use and unripe banana in a smoothie. No matter how much sugar you add, you won't be able to get the bitter flavor of unripe fruit out.

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    • Bananas are one of the primary ingredients in strawberry banana smoothies.
      Bananas are one of the primary ingredients in strawberry banana smoothies.
    • A strawberry banana smoothie.
      By: matka_Wariatka
      A strawberry banana smoothie.
    • Strawberries.
      By: Anna Kucherova
      Strawberries.
    • Low-fat yogurt can add creaminess to a strawberry banana smoothie.
      By: creative soul
      Low-fat yogurt can add creaminess to a strawberry banana smoothie.
    • Blenders are the easiest way to make smoothies.
      By: popoimagen
      Blenders are the easiest way to make smoothies.
    • Strawberry ice cream is used to make some varieties of a strawberry banana smoothie.
      By: bakerjim
      Strawberry ice cream is used to make some varieties of a strawberry banana smoothie.
    • Protein powder can be added to a post-workout strawberry banana smoothie.
      By: lculig
      Protein powder can be added to a post-workout strawberry banana smoothie.