Please tell me a little bit about yourself Jorge and Smoothie King:
As a franchise manager of several Phoenix and Tucson Smoothie King locations, there’s a lot of variety in my job, just like our recipes. I enjoy the day-to-day operations in the field, being hands-on at each store, creating an excellent environment for our crew and guests, and delivering refreshing, tasty smoothies that fit various lifestyle choices. Whether getting fit, staying slim, or just treating yourself to a fun drink, we try to inspire people to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.
Can you tell me the benefits of having a smoothie a least once a day?
Drinking smoothies every day can provide the average person with an incredible number of benefits. Too many people miss out on the proper vitamins and minerals they need daily. But, by packing a drink full of fruits and vegetables instead of having to eat them throughout the day, it’s easier to hit our nutritional goals. Many of us don’t get the USDA’s recommended amount of fiber (around 25 to 38 grams per day), leading to poor digestion, diabetes, and even heart disease. Smoothies can help bridge this gap.
Is it true, though, that drinking instead of chewing foods affects our body’s absorption of nutrients?
Consuming blended foods, like smoothies, can actually help your body digest easier as the hard part is already done. Evidence supports that drinking certain fruits and vegetables in liquid form can improve nutrient absorption because by blending them, you break down the hard-to-digest plant cell walls. To achieve this same result, if you opted for eating them instead, you’d have to chew a lot (enough to make the food liquify in your mouth).
For people like me, who genuinely do not like vegetables, what fruits work well with covering vegetable flavors?
Smoothies are great because you can mask difficult flavors with more flavorful ones. Kiwis and apples are excellent at hiding the intense flavors of kale or parsley. Oranges can make carrots disappear in a blend. Adding berries to any drinks with beets will create a bright and fresh drink. And then, you have your classic, fun combinations like bananas and peanut butter or cherries and chocolate. The possibilities are endless!
What about not having too much sugar in smoothies, any tips to cut those down and increase other nutrients?
My number one tip is to stick with whole fruits and vegetables and avoid supplementing with sweeteners or juice. Learn how to pick the best products, and the flavor will come naturally. At Smoothie King, many of our blends are made with zero grams of added sugar. It’s all part of our promise and commitment to blend the cleanest, the most nutritious company we can be.
If you could please provide an easy summer smoothie recipe, that would be great!
One of my favorites is the: Strawberry Banana Cake Smoothie:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 banana (sliced)
- 2 tbsp. raw sugar
- 2 tbsp. nonfat milk
- 1 drop pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup ice
- 1/2 cup water
Steps:
- Put all ingredients except the ice cubes in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Add ice cubes to make the smoothie thicker and cooler.
- Pour into your favorite cup and enjoy!
Smoothie King aims to be an integral part of everyone’s health and fitness journey by inspiring them to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Each Smoothie King ingredient is chosen carefully, and every one of the blends is crafted masterfully. So you can be your best self, live your best life, and rule the day. For more information about the menu, locations, and nutritional details, please visit SmoothieKing.com.
