Smoothies are usually a made-to-order item, but they also work as a tantalizing grab-and-go treat or meal replacement that you can make ahead of time and set out in refrigerated location. Properly blended in a Vitamix® with the right set of ingredients, they will stay fresh and will not separate for up to four hours.
Smoothies are hard to beat for stopping power in the aisle because of their bright colors that telegraph health, well-being, and great taste. And, they can be consumed at any time of the day, with any meal – including breakfast – or between meals as a healthy snack or treat.
Smoothies are also a treat for your bottom line, if you choose your ingredients carefully. For example, frozen fruit costs less than fresh fruit, keeps longer, and delivers stronger flavor without any compromise in terms of vitamins or other nutrients.
If you’re preparing smoothies to set out on ice or in a refrigerated cabinet, there are a few things to keep in mind. If you use frozen fruit, you may not need ice as an ingredient. If possible, try to avoid ice or water because when the beverage sits, the water will separate out. Fresh spinach and leafy greens contain lots of water, so it is best to avoid these as well.
A simple formula for a delicious grab-and-go smoothie is to start with a base, such plant or dairy milk or juice. Then, add frozen fruit. The most popular fruits – topping every list – are strawberries, bananas, and mangoes. If you sell produce in your store, you can use fruit that is expiring or, in the case of bananas, you can freeze them for later.
Many other ingredients can be obtained in powder or other self-stable form (e.g., cocoa powders, protein or energy powders, powdered spices, or powders containing multivitamins, vegetables, or grains; or purées, such as pumpkin or sweet potato). These ingredients enable you to tailor your recipe toward nutritionally rich combinations that many consumers desire.
Because many consumers today want their smoothies to serve a health-related purpose – to boost protein or energy or promote wellness – consider a name for your smoothie that helps consumers understand why you chose the ingredients that you did. Keep in mind, though, that on some occasions, smoothies are still considered a treat or indulgence, perhaps a reward for showing restraint on other occasions.
To get you started with your grab-and-go smoothie offering, we developed two recipes below. The base for both is almond milk. The first smoothie capitalizes on the ever-popular combination of strawberries and bananas. The other is high in protein with the indulgent appeal of chocolate and peanut butter.
We recommend that you blend both smoothies in a Vitamix using programmed cycles to ensure they are fully processed and will not separate when sitting. You can use The Quiet One® by Vitamix Commercial to blend three 16-oz. smoothies, or the Vitamix XL® to blend up to 12 16-oz. smoothies. You can store the to-go smoothies in a sealed juice container or a plastic cup with a lid in refrigerated location.
Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Container: 48 ounce
Total Time: 10 minutes 45 seconds
Yield: 1 serving, 600 ml, 2.5 cups
Skill Level: Simple
Ingredients:
¾ cup (180 ml) almond milk, chilled
¾ cup (113 g) seedless red grapes
½ scoop (11 g) vanilla protein powder
1 tsp chia seeds
¾ cup (92 g) frozen strawberries
¾ cup (105 g) sliced frozen banana
Directions:
Pour almond milk into The Quiet One container. Add grapes, vanilla protein powder, and chia seeds.
Top with strawberries and banana. Secure the lid, place the container on the machine base, and shut the sound enclosure. Use preset program 5 and allow the machine to complete its programmed cycle.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Smoothie
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Container: 48 ounce
Yield: 2 servings, 634 g
Skill Level: Simple
Ingredients:
1½ cups (360 ml) soy milk [or other plant-based milk]
¼ cup (60 g) peanut butter
2 Tbsp cacao nibs
¼ cup (28 g) chocolate protein powder
1 medium (140 g) frozen banana, peeled
Directions:
Load all ingredients into The Quiet One container in the order listed. Secure the lid, place the container on the centering pad, and close the sound enclosure. Use the preset program 1 and allow the machine to complete its programmed cycle.
For more information, email the Vitamix® Commercial team at letstalkcommercial@vitamix.com.