According to my research, smoothies have been around since the 1930s but became popular when the Waring blender was first introduced in the 1940s. It was popularized in the “Waring Blendor Cook Book.”

Smoothies started to gain even more popularity in health food stores in the ’70s. They became readily available in coffee shops and smoothie shops across the nation in the 1990s.

A smoothie is a chilled drink that generally blends fruit, sometimes vegetables, yogurt, ice or water and other flavorings into a frothy beverage. The revitalizing concoction often includes protein powder or powdered egg whites to up the health factor.

The best part is that it just takes a flick of the wrist to turn on the blender for a yummy, healthful start to your day.

Feel free to add protein powder to either of the two recipes below to make your smoothie more filling. The Banana Peach Smoothie is a standby I have been making for my daughter since she was young. Sometimes I change out the frozen peaches for frozen strawberries or mangos. It is as good for breakfast as it is as an afternoon pick-me-up.

The Royal Malewane Morning Smoothie was first served to me at my South African safari camp. It was the perfect invigorating tonic to help me rise at 4 a.m. for the morning safari. I love the combination of the spinach with the blueberry, pineapple and apple, along with chia seeds and fresh mint. It was a bracing drink that I still make today when I need to get going before the sun rises.

These recipes are just begging for experimentation. Try using milks like almond or oat; yogurt or kefir; fruits like dates or kiwi; flavorings like honey, maple syrup or vanilla; or seeds and nuts.