The History of Smoothies: Smoothies Evolve as Nutrition Awareness Increases

The history of smoothies dates back to the 1930's, about the time that the first blenders were made. Early smoothies were made mostly out of fruit, juice, and ice and resembled somewhat of a "sorbet" or "fruit slushy" that you could drink.

In the early days, fresh fruits were seasonal. Additionally, a smoothie blender was considered a luxury item. Banana, strawberry and pineapple fruit smoothies were among the favorites.

That said, you couldn't go down to the local juice bar or smoothie shop and order up your favorite, just wasn't going to happen.

The history of smoothies is somewhat vague during WWII, but the post war years saw dramatic change in the American way of life. Life had been hard for many. It was time to kick it up a notch.

And so the real explosion in popularity of smoothies did not take place until the 60's and 70's. By this time, you could pretty much purchase fresh fruits for around the world. Now, families had freezers and all the other modern appliances. You could purchase seasonal fruit when it was cheap, and freeze it for later use.

California juice bars sprang up, and the new tropical flavored smoothies were a hit!

The 60's and 70's also saw a rise in fitness and nutrition awareness. Woman's and men's fitness groups viewed smoothies as a natural way to increase their metabolism without all the calories. Major food companies seized on this trend and began promoting the smoothie, which, increased it's popularity.

A man named Stephen Kahnau, co founder of the Smoothie King, called smoothies the new "energy drinks", his vision of smoothies as a nutritional powerhouse set new trends.

The smoothie has morphed over time. Today, a lot of smoothies resemble thick creamy milkshakes, and taste like them too!

Since the 70's, smoothies have evolved into a sophisticated drink to meet the health conscious demands of the market. In addition to juice smoothies you'll find vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, and more being added to super boost smoothies.

And, as more and more research on nutrition is published, a new class of "superfoods" have emerged. These are foods that are recognized as just being better for you. Most of these can be added to smoothies.

The history of smoothies is really a testimony to the creativity of the marketplace and adapting it to a change in consumer attitude, wants and needs.

Should you juice or blend? It really depends on your personal preference. There are pros and cons to each.

You will want to check out the information at the blending versus juicing page. With a growing interest in convenience, natural foods, and healthy alternatives to fast food, the smoothie has emerged as a the ultimate meal replacement.

You can experiment with a wide variety of fruits, health supplements, vegetables, yogurt, soy, nuts, and juices.

Although smoothies can be purchased at a variety of locations, the Smoothie Experience is all about making your own, using your own fresh ingredients, right at home.

It's fun. They're delicious...and there are added health benefits you will discover.

Remember, Smoothies for life...and for your health!

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