Simple-to-Make Smoothies

What could be simpler? A handful of ingredients, tossed into a blender and pureed until smooth. Anything goes: fresh or frozen fruit, milk, yogurt, soy milk, nuts. It makes a great breakfast (especially for you breakfast skippers), a quick lunch or an ideal snack.

Smoothies also help you meet your daily fruit quotient (two to four servings), while boosting your protein, vitamin, mineral, antioxidant and fiber intake in the pulse of a blender. Plus, you can customize your smoothies to suit your needs -- whether it's energy for a workout or concentration for work. Start with the three recipes on these pages, and add any of the following "smoothie boosters" for more nutritional punch (for ingredients to avoid, see "Smoothie Busters"):

* Flaxseed meal Rich in omega-3s, powerful fatty acids that strengthen immunity and promote heart and artery health; add 1-2 tablespoons (per tablespoon: 34 calories, 3.5 g fat, 2 g carbs, 2 g protein, 2 g fiber).