Get real energy from your next drink

By Ryan Seeloff

Are you tired of having your kids ask if they can have the latest "energy drink" only to see how bad the peak and crash from the chemicals that go into more than 95% of them? Have you ever actually looked at what these drinks contain?

Knowing that my children (11 1/2 and 8) have friends that comsume them, my wife and I decided to try to make homemade smoothies that our kids would enjoy making and then love drinking that would give them energy naturally while at the same time drive home the point that they don't need "energy drinks" to feel good.

We also have seen how they have grown to enjoy experimenting with ingredients to make up new recipes.

Here is the recipe that got everything started.

Berry Protein Smoothie

- 1 1/2 cups orange juice

- 1/2 cup pineapple juice

- 2 cups frozen blueberries

- 1 cup frozen raspberries

- 1 banana (peeled)

- 1 cup vanilla greek yogurt

- 2 tablesspoons of ground chia seeds

Add all ingredients to blender and mix on high until smooth. Add more frozen blueberries or ice if too thin or add more orange juice if too thick. Makes at least two 12 oz servings.

** Some other additions/ changes our kids have enjoyed**

- Even though there is quite a bit of sugar in this smoothie from all the fruit and juice, the addition of the greek yogurt can freak kids out with its taste (I personally don't like greek yogurt at all, but cannot taste it in this recipe). Try adding a teaspoon of powdered sugar or a tablespoon of whipped cream to the blender (but try not to add this additional sugar).

- Substitute the raspberries for 1 cup of frozen peaches.

- add 1/2 cup of carrot juice for a shot of Vitamin A.

- We'll even add a 1/4 cup of orange sherbert and the kids think they have just died and gone to heaven.

- Please feel free to offer suggestions and we'll post them for others to try. Just email your suggestions to ryan@destinationbrevard.com and remember to Stay Healthy Brevard!