mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
Mmm, Smoothies. A delicious and refreshing snack (and depending on the size, possibly a meal). Here are some interesting facts and figures regarding this frosty treat.
• The word “Smoothie” evolved through many meanings. Initially it described “A person who is ’smooth’ (sense 7); one who is suave or stylish in conduct or appearance: usu. a man,” and was later used to define a variety of products including automotive paint, bicycles, caps and gloves.
• By the 1960s, “Smoothie” came to mean a fruity beverage, thanks to a resurgence in macrobiotic vegetarianism, and went on to increase in popularity from there. In 2002, the juice and smoothie business surpassed $1 billion in sales for the first time, and is now closer to a $2.5 billion industry.
• According to SmoothieCentral.com, “The smoothies of old differed by today’s standards because most did not have ice milk, or frozen yogurt in them. They were basically fruit, fruit juice, and ice.” More definitions of current Smoothies can be found here.
• Often considered part of a healthy diet, temper your desires to consume a smoothie-a-day. Smoothie King’s Hulk Chocolate™ has 919 calories in a 20 oz serving. For reference, a Hardee’s 1/3 lb Bacon Cheeseburger has 910 calories.
• Smoothies are for some people (like our own Jason English) a necessity. Paul McCartney brought a nanny and a “smoothie girl,” on his Wings tours, and Nickel Creek’s Grammy nominated “Smoothie Song” was named after a smoothie vendor at a Four Corners Folk Festival brought the band members their frosty beverages (and obviously earned a place in their heart).
• Different regions have their own take on the concept of fruit drinks. If you live on the West Coast, you might go to a Juice Bar (such as Jamba Juice) whereas in the Southeast you visit a Smoothie Shop (such as Smoothie King, which franchised the Smoothie concept, and Planet Smoothie, based in my home of Atlanta, Georgia).
• The Juice and Smoothie Association reports that the top fruit flavor combo is strawberry juice and banana. What are some of your favorite concoctions?
[Previous Dietribes: Strawberries, Macaroni & Cheese, McIntosh Apples]
‘Dietribes’ appears every Wednesday. Food photos are usually taken by Johanna Beyenbach. This week, however, Jason English took it upon himself to shamelessly plug the Planet Smoothie in Roxbury, New Jersey, where he enjoys the 44-ounce ‘Twig & Berries’ and overstays his welcome while hogging the free wireless internet. He would love for this place to stay in business. So if you’re anywhere near Roxbury, please stop in.
Comments (14)
Comment
Twig and Berries? Really? Come on.
posted by Ira on 2-20-2008 at 11:12 am
I feel so stupid ordering that. But it’s so good.
posted by Jason on 2-20-2008 at 11:15 am
Although I’ve never tried it (and made it up in my head just now), I think some sort of raspberry-chocolate-banana-coconut combo would be really good.
Man, these dietribes are always really interesting! Keep up the good work.
posted by David on 2-20-2008 at 11:31 am
Oh man, now I want a smoothie for lunch! But I don’t live anywhere near a smoothie joint… Sonic just doesn’t cut it!
posted by kitsana_d on 2-20-2008 at 11:31 am
Blueberry & banana is uncannily delicious, and anything with mango or papaya rocks my socks off. Technically the 919 calorie thing isn’t so bad if you use it as a meal replacement; the Smoothie Kings and Roebuck’s around here advertise their products as healthy, vitamin-packed lunches on the go. They better be meals at $5-7 a pop.
posted by TMo on 2-20-2008 at 12:22 pm
Green tea, strawberries, raspberries, and (if I’m not feeling too fat) a lil chocolate. I just made that one up. Wonder if they serve that anywhere?
posted by nutmeag on 2-20-2008 at 12:24 pm
The earliest reference to “smoothie” I’ve ever seen was by Robert Bootzin AKA: Gypsy Boots, a proto-health food guru. He made them for Steve Allen during his regular visits to The Steve Allen Show, back in the 1960s. He was an interesting character, promoting organic food and living in nature since the ’30s.
posted by Oswald on 2-20-2008 at 1:20 pm
I love smoothies, doesn’t matter what fruit is in there. I may have to hit up Jamba Juice for a liquid lunch now…
posted by Melodye on 2-20-2008 at 1:28 pm
The peach smoothie from Books-a-Million is the best in the world. Who knew peaches could be that good?
posted by beth on 2-20-2008 at 1:59 pm
We don’t have any smoothie joints nearby, but my 9-year-old daughter loves them. So, I bought a “Magic Bullet” blender to make cleanup less of a chore, and I indulge her smoothie adoration a couple of times a week. It’s great, because you can put ANYTHING in them.
My favorite tip….when bananas start to turn a little more ripe than you’d like, throw them in the freezer (unpeeled). When you’re ready to make a smoothie, the skin comes right off, and you don’t need any ice–it’s in the banana. Add a couple of strawberries or some orange juice, and a fat-free vanilla yogurt, and you’ve got a kid-friendly treat that rivals a milkshake. Only WAY better for everyone. And we don’t throw away bananas anymore.
posted by Bre on 2-20-2008 at 2:02 pm
Ohio State’s rec facility has a smoothy/coffee/heath food bar thats on the meal plan. They have the most amazing Mango Peach Strawberry smoothies.
yum.
posted by Amy on 2-20-2008 at 4:29 pm
I always liked the Chocolate Elvis. But unfortunately, the Planet Smoothie in my town isn’t there anymore.
posted by Erin on 2-20-2008 at 4:59 pm
My favorite smoothie is the Orange Dream from Jamba Juice although with pomegranate juice instead of orange juice. It tastes like fruity pebbles. mmm!
posted by miyako on 2-20-2008 at 7:33 pm
I love the frozen-banana idea Bre posted, and am going to share it with friends.
posted by Yum! on 2-20-2008 at 10:20 pm