• One whole - real! - banana (seriously! it will be peeled and pulsed before your very eyes!)
• Whey protein (16 grams) and fiber powder (5 grams)
• Choice of milk (default is 2%)
• Ice
• Secret Starbucks-Proprietary Orange-Mango Naked Juice
• Portion controlled (default is Grande, and always has less than 270 calories)

We love smoothies

There are a couple of reasons for the popularity of smoothies, but the biggest one is that they are perceived as being health-conscious, without being too "healthy." Most smoothies involve a blend of milk, yogurt, sorbet and fruits, often with additional vitamins and supplements mixed in. They aren't necessarily low calorie, but they are better for you than a double cheeseburger and fries in terms of nutritional content. Smoothies are also convenient, and their appeal as an "on-the-go meal" is one thing that has helped them become a fixture in people's busy lives. The biggest market is people 18-34, with 50% of respondents to researchers inquiries said that they had at least one smoothie a month.

To keep up the growth, smoothie manufacturers will have to look to new flavors and new twists on their existing recipes. Look for more flavors/ingredients in existing recipes, like the addition of green tea and açaí, and expect to see a wider range of offerings, from low-calorie smoothies to decadent ones, to draw in new consumers.

The interesting thing about LightFull Smoothies is that they're designed to be filling, while other smoothie drinks are usually designed to deliver a few servings of fruit, or a richer alternative to juice - not to fill you up. As a result, you can drink an ordinary smoothie, still be hungry, and oftentimes, worse off than before because of all the sugar. This is not likely to happen with LightFull. All of the smoothies are made with natural ingredients. They are sweetened with fruit purees and a tiny amount of sugar, as well as other natural sweeteners like erythritol, which is naturally found in grapes, pears, melons. Each smoothie has 6 grams of protein and 5 or 6 grams of fiber, which is at least 20% of your recommended daily intake. They also only have 90-100 calories each, and almost no fat (0-1g, depending on flavor), so you can indulge in each delicious flavor without any guilt - just the fact that you're doing something good for your body that happens to taste better than you expected.

Cafe Latte - Two thumbs up!

• Nicole: This was my favorite flavor. It had a very smooth, creamy coffee taste that was slightly sweet and had none of the bitterness that coffee-flavored drinks often have. I had to drink it slowly, though, because it was much more filling than any blended coffee drink I can remember.
• Sarah: Of the four flavors, I liked this one the most as well, but that might also be a personal bias toward all things coffee.

Since so many people are using smoothies to beat the summer heat, what better way to get ideas for a few new combinations than with a new cookbook? The Ultimate Smoothie Book has over 130 recipes in it, and the chances are good that you'll find at least one or two concoctions that you have not yet tried. The book is actually a revised edition of one that was published a few years ago and was updated with the help of a nutritionist, so not only are the recipes satisfying, but they're good for you. Some of the smoothies include Orange Coconut Creamsicle-In-a-Glass and Raspberry Ripple, and all of the recipes are grouped by category according their suggested health benefits, though you could certainly indulge in one whenever the mood strikes. The book also suggests substitutions in situations were an ingredient might be difficult to find or, whether for health or simply personal preference, a particular ingredient needs to be avoided.

We all know about the "secret" menu at In N Out Burger (which isn't so secret when they post it on their website!). Who doesn't love to order his or her Double-Double, "Animal Style?" But did you know that there is a "secret" menu at Jamba Juice?

Mighty Foods has confirmed with a "secret" source that Jamba Juice does, indeed, have a secret menu of smoothie flavors that are either back-catalog flavors or are flavors that a so-called health food company couldn't possibly sell. The ones they've heard of so far are: Strawberry Shortcake (I guess the "cake" part doesn't sound very healthy), White Gummy Bear (for which we've found a recipe), PB+J (though I'm sure Jamba Juice has a peanut butter smoothie), Starburst, Fruity Pebbles, Push-pops, and Skittles.

I wonder what kind of looks I'd get if I asked for a White Gummy Bear with a shot of wheatgrass?

[via: Mighty Foods]

The Big Book of Juices and Smoothies has 365 recipes for juices and smoothies that you can make at home, rather than having to go out to a specialty juice bar and pay upwards of $4 or $5 for a drink. There are combinations intended to boost your energy level, increase your immune system's function and even to clear your skin. The basis for these claims is found in the inherent nutritive benefits of natural fruits and vegetables and at the end of the book, there is a  section that not only gives you all the nutritional information for the juices, but makes recommendations based upon your health needs (feeling tired, achy, etc)

The book is spiral-bound, so you can lay it flat on the counter while you work at your juicer or blender, and the recipes are arranged by ingredient, making it easy to find recipes based around the ingredients you have on hand. It's a nice reference book to have on hand, especially during the summer when cooking can seem too tiring or you'd simply rather have a cool drink than a hot meal during the day.

It looks like the Slate missed out in their toaster test by excluding specialty and novelty toasters, but if "cute" had been one of their categories, these Disney toasters by VillaWare would have won hands down. Not only is there a Cinderella toaster, which prints a heart on one side of toast and a glass slipper on the other, but there are Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse toasters, too. Perhaps the most interesting toaster is one that will really appeal to children while annoying the heck out of parents: the Mickey Mornin' Toaster. It prints the unforgettable image of Mickey Mouse on the toast and it plays the Mickey Mouse Club March when the toast pops up. This toaster would make a great gift - that way you get to see it in action without having to live with it!

Make sure to eat breakfast every morning – even if you don’t think that you’re hungry. Studies show that people who skip meals as a diet strategy almost always make up for the missing calories at other meals. Skipping a meal causes you to come to the table overly hungry and to eat quickly. Your body will not be able to register the amount of food you have eaten in such a short time, which may cause you to eat until you are over-full.

Good breakfast choices include things like oatmeal, cold cereal with lowfat or skim milk, and yogurt. Fruit is always a good option, particularly on days when you don’t feel too hungry after waking up. If you find eating in the morning to be terribly difficult, take a few minutes to make a smoothie. Smoothies can give you a great mix of fruits and dairy and get your day off to a great start.

Wake Up Smoothie
From EatingWell Magazine
1 ¼ cups orange juice
1 ¼ cups frozen berries (I recommend strawberries)
1 medium banana
½ cup plain low-fat yogurt
1 tbsp sugar (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
Makes 2 – 1 ½ cup servings.
(approximately 190 calories per serving, made with strawberries and including optional sugar)