Who doesn't love a cool, refreshing smoothie on a hot summer day?! Or any day for that matter! At Green Mustache, its no secret that we love smoothies all the time. Summer or winter -- we will drink it regardless! But how did these scrumptious drinks come about? Well, for many years Mediterranean and Eastern cultures pureed fruit drinks similar to the smoothies we enjoy today.
In America, it began in the 1920s with a man named Julius Freed. Freed’s friend, Bill Hamlin, had a sensitive stomach and wanted to find a way to drink freshly squeezed orange juice without the acidity bothering his stomach. So, Freed tried adding a few other ingredients to make the juice less acidic and more frothy, and began making these drinks for friends. His friends loved them so much that when they would request the drink they would say, “Give me an orange, Julius!” And that is how his store, Orange Julius, was born!
The smoothie started gaining popularity during the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s -- thanks to the invention and use of refrigerators and blenders. But, it was during the 60’s health food movement that really increased the popularity of this drink. Health food stores sold fruit juices and fresh fruit drinks to meet the demand of the growing amount of people interested in macrobiotic diets and their health.
In 1994, Victoria Boutenko -- author, teacher, researcher, and mother -- changed her family’s diet to plant-based, raw foods after she and her children were diagnosed with various health issues. After years of research, she began adding greens to her smoothies. Greens provide all the nutrients humans need, and added fruit dominates the taste of greens.
Another advantage of adding greens to your smoothie is that it helps fight hunger and cravings. This is a great way to consume large amounts of greens without any resistance from the body and taste buds! We love this little trick to get kids to eat their vegetables!
Next time you’re looking for a long-lasting energy boost, make a smoothie and add a handful of greens! Fruits and vegetables work together to provide us with a balanced sugar content. Smoothies contain high amounts of water and fiber, making them very filling. What a quick, simple way to get pure nutrition! Of course, the amount of vitamins you will get depends on the fruits and vegetables you choose to put in your smoothie, although most contain high amounts of vitamins A and C. And because smoothies are made with the whole fruit and vegetable, no fiber is lost.
Not sure where to start? Check out this Parents.com post where our founder shares tips for how to make your own green smoothie!