Biggest Loser Update: Get Creative with Fresh Fruit Smoothies

Ralph Miller, certified massage therapist and colleague at South Riding Wellness Connection, continues with his personal experience as a participant in the Biggest Loser community challenge. Enjoy his creative take on a classic way to get your fruit and veggies! ~ Sarah

Creativity is the name of the game at this point in the challenge. One thing that has been fun and healthy is my morning routine of fruit smoothie “construction.”

It’s something new for me, and I get to experiment every day with what I put in the blender, making it always original. I started out simple enough with cantaloupe and pineapple. Next, I tried pre-portioned, sugar-free canned fruit, which sometimes offers more variety than what’s seasonally fresh. I often use apples, cantaloupe, and an orange as a base, and add anything from carrots and spinach to fat-free vanilla yogurt to strawberries, blueberries, peaches, or pears. I use canned, fresh, or frozen, and whatever is on sale. Watch the celery as it gets quite stringy in the blender! Add ice and blend away.

I have found that this concoction suits my morning mayhem, doesn’t take but 10 minutes to create, is never the same twice, and I get my daily dose of veggies, fruit, and fluids all in one gig. It’s become quite a guessing game for my family when they taste it and try to figure out what I put in there. Of course you do have to be careful you don’t step on other people’s fruit: “Don’t you dare use all the strawberries, I put them on my whole grain cereal.” This, from a ruffled family member!

If I feel I need something more to stick to my ribs, I down one cup’s worth of grape-nuts, raisin bran, or cheerios with skim milk, and I’m good for a while.

Being creative with what you eat is one fun way to take back your life. Happy experimenting!