You could add silken tofu? That would work and you won't be able to taste it!

Yogurt? Some plain or vanilla organic yogurt might be good...

You could go to www.jambajuice.com and look at their website and ingredients list on their smoothies and get some ideas too. I do love me some jamba.....

I freeze my berries on sheets in the freezer then baggie them up. Add a few of your choice to a smoothie and you need neither ice or a banana. It smoothies 'em right up!

Doesn't the kefir give you the smoothness? Are you talking about the texture that the banana gives or the sweetness/taste?

mmmmmmmmm pineapple. I think you suggested it! It gives sweetness to offset the tartness of the yogurt (I use yogurt, not kefir, and sometimes add a bit of milk.)

Love my strawberry pineapple smoothies!

Lecithin

It's a supplement, and adds thickness. Let stand for 10 minutes for full thickness effect:

http://www.fresh-network.com/acatalog/lecithin-powder-non-gmo.html

Lecithin

It's a supplement, and adds thickness. Let stand for 10 minutes for full thickness effect:

http://www.fresh-network.com/acatalog/lecithin-powder-non-gmo.html

LOL, a few weeks ago my grocery store ran out of bananas (too many smoothies?) and they put out a large sign scrawled on cardboard, YES, WE HAVE NO BANANAS!- your post title made me giggle!

Carnation instant breakfast....non organic but delicious. I love it in smoothies.

yogurt!

Sorry - not related to your post, but WHERE IN THE WORLD did they find that creepy, CREEPY cat that they've got featured in the Hartz UltraGuard ad popping up in your sidebar? i vote he be replaced with Bob.

Back to the post . . . i love your posts about smoothies b/c i always end up with great ideas of things to add! Thanks! :)

Another vote for vanilla yogurt & frozen berries. I had gastric surgery last year and lived on smoothies for a couple weeks during the "pureed food only" phase of recovery, which is a big step up from the "chicken broth & popsicles" phase, let me tell you. Um... what was I saying? Oh yeah, smoothies. I made 'em with frozen berries, vanilla yogurt, milk, and unflavored protein powder. Good stuff.

I am allergic to bananas, so I use frozen berries, milk and yogurt.

Not sure, but if you're wondering what to do with those bananas, I recommend banana bread. Nigella's recipe is particularly good.

Go for the plain yogurt....I make smoothies that are very similar to yours and I almost always add some plain, nonfat organic yogurt. (bananas don't last long around here)

Carrageenan. It's readily available in toothpaste.

vanilla yogurt, possibly a little ice.

I alway add an Activia yogurt cup and a portion of silken tofu. That way you get a ton protein and don't get hungry until lunch, if I don't add one of those things I'm starving by 11.

Mmmmmm, smoothies!

Yes - we have no bananas. We have no bananas today!!

Did you know that this was a big hit in 1923? And made an appearance several times since then during banana shortages?

I love pop culture. ;)

Vanilla yogurt. Or Peanut butter works too.

I'm allergic to bananas, so I can never use them.

Sounds odd but... Avocado. Lends that creamy texture but its a nice mild flavor that I think would go okay with the berries.

Greek yogurt is extra thick and creamy--good addition. Or you could always go with a creamy vanilla ice cream :-)

Uhhh...yogurt? You can get lots of different flavors, and fat-free, too, just about anywhere.

When I have bananas that are way past their prime, I cut them into one-inch chunks, put them in a baggie (one banana per baggie), and freeze them. Later, you can add them, frozen, to smoothies, instead of ice. They do turn completely brown, so they're not appealing to look at, but they disappear in the smoothie.

another vote for yogurt - but would love to hear other ideas

I *gotta* get me a blender!

For the record, a banana cannot be too ripe for the blender. I make my smoothies with yogurt and fruit, and usually keep a bag or two of berries in the freezer.

Mango. You can buy it frozen already too.

Try freezing your bananas. I keep a container in the freezer. When my bananas are on the verge of overipeness, I peel them and add them to the container in the freezer. Viola... you'll never be without bananas for smoothies.

Pawpaw! If you can get it and haven't tried it yet, you are going to love it.

I hate bananas with the fiery passion of ten thousand suns. I'd go with yogurt (plain or vanilla.)

Oh, and when the banana is really only compost-worthy, bury it next to a rose bush -- it may not bring you true love (I don't know, maybe it will), but it will make the rose bush happy.

Let me know if you try the avocado suggestion - interesting. when bananas are compost, I just carry on without, increasing all the other ingredients. Or, I've added a little tofu too. ~Lee

cottage cheese

I use low-fat frozen yogurt and I freeze my berries too.

Durian.

or

Almonds - soaked 24 hrs (change water halfway).

For serious smoothies I would recommend a VITAMIX. I have had mine for 8 or 9 years and just love it. You can add parsley to smoothies, carrots, celery etc. and everything comes out smooth as buttah. Actually, any kind of nuts or seeds will do nicely in smoothies (and especially in salad dressing - yum! - I would recommend a tribest personal blender for that) but if you soak them first they break down an enzyme contained within that makes them more easily digested. Also, I wouldn't buy vanilla yogurt - it's full of sugar and why do you need to add sugar to a fruit drink? If you want a vanilla flavour, use a good extract.

Happy smoothy making!!! No I don't sell appliances - I just know what I like.

Spinach. Yeah, I know, but it really does help make it smooth. Also, peanut, almond or cashew butter can make it creamy but don't use too much because of the high fat content. I use spinach, frozen cherries, frozen blueberries, frozen peaches/pineapple, 1 banana and 1 cup of "milk". YUM.

Also, buy twice the amount of bananas, peel them and put them in your freezer as back up. Then you never run out or get stuck with bananamush.

Vanilla yogurt. Mmmmm...

I freeze my bananas when they are at the very ripe - but not yet compost stage. peel wrap in plastic wrap adn freeze. toss that in your smoothie and it is sweet, creamy and ice cold. YUM YUM YUM!

If I'm not using bananas in my morning smoothies I use an avocado instead or a mango

I always use live yoghurt, bananas, apple, pear, kiwi, strawberries when available, grapes, blueberries cranberries. Mango if avaiable goes well. My base is always yoghurt and banana
When Mr Mog was having his radiotherapy the doctors told us that the daily smoothies and daily fresh veg/no packet meals, were the main reason he didn't get any side effects much and that he is looking and feeling so well just 2 weeks after the 2 months of daily treatment. Course if we can find out if its been a success that would make him feel much better still:)
amber in england

Avocado. Seriously. it's fantastic.

I'm going to second the avocado suggestion. My boyfriend is from Brazil and makes smoothies and juices I would have never thought of in a million years. One of his smoothies is a cup of milk, an avocado and a little honey. I hate avocados and yet I drank an entire glass of this. It was pure smoothness and yumminess. Unfortunately, my doc has put me on a vegan diet and I can't have milk now.

P.S. I'm the one who suggested that horrible green lemonade so you might not believe me, but seriously....try an avocado and I bet I'll redeem myself somewhat in your eyes. :-)

I love Stoneyfield banilla yogurt. It's organic and a nice mixture of vanilla and banana.

I was thinking vanilla yogurt too, but I liked the idea of the tofu that was suggested earlier, or the instant breakfast stuff as well.

Yay for smoothies! I use Silk brand "very vanilla" soymilk as my base for smoothies. It replaces the banana requirement because it's creamy and sweet enough. We go through zillions of gallons of the stuff because we make smoothies a lot! Like some one above posted, the Vitamix rocks for smoothies.

Powdered milk. No kidding! The Sanalac brand tastes better than Carnation, but it gives some body, protein and calcium, w/o fat.

to the previous poster (Jamie?)--be careful with the carregeenan, which is also an ingredient in most ice cream (it's a binder and keeps it smooth and creamy).

It's a seaweed derivative. If you have any allergies/issues with shellfish or seaweed, it could be a problem. (I have shellfish allergy, and the carrageenan gives me horrific leg cramps. I also have problems with seaweed or sea mud ANYTHING).

If you don't, then add away and happy eating.

Phyllis
:)

I like yogurt or ice cubes with juice. Heck, if it's a crazy day I even put in all three. WooHoo!

While I almost never eat smoothies and never make them for myself if I do happen to eat one (my daughter thinks of making them, I never think of it), I do happen to know what to do with a compost ripe banana or two. Either make banana bread or pop them into the freezer for the next time you might want to make banana bread.

beer

Frozen mango (I get mine at Trader Joes) and plain Greek yogurt. (Fage brand) Yummy!!

another vote for the avocado right here! and if you're feelin' super ambitious, scoop out the avocado ahead of time and freeze it for an extra smooth and creamy smoothy!

Powdered milk. For an almost orange julius:

1 cup orange juice
1/4 to 1/2 cup powdered milk
1 1/2 Tbls. sugar
2 to 3 drops vanilla
1/2 cup crushed ice

Blend in blender until frothy. Makes 2 cups.

I second the avacado vote. Also, try egg whites, use the stuff if you're worried, and then just pour it in the blender, about a quarter cup makes nice creamy goodness, with added vitamins and protein.

The Fage brand of Greek yogurt is, hands-down, the absolute best yogurt for smoothies. It adds a really nice milkshake-like texture and creaminess, because the yogurt is soooo thick. It's often on sale at Whole Foods, but I think it's usually a little cheaper at Trader Joes. Good stuff!

I agree with the tofu suggestion. I've used the soft tofu for fruit smoothies, and it works great.

I was going to say Breyers Real Vanilla ice cream but I guess that would defeat the healthy component of the smoothie. That's how I make it for my ridiculously skinny teenagers. I still can't believe that they're related to big fat me in any way whatsoever!

I'm allergic to bananas, strawberries and watermelon. And yes, it sucks! It could be worse; I could be allergic to raspberries. (YUM!)

chop bananas up and put them in the freezer - then you always have bananas for your smoothies and because they're frozen they make the texture even better! I don't like the taste of banana much but they are good for you and good for the texture of smoothies, if you freeze them slightly under-ripe you don't really taste them in the smoothie.

Y'know, it's directly because of your earlier smoothie post that I bought a blender and started making my own. And now, through the comments, I have discovered that bananas can be frozen! (I am a total moron when it comes to preparing food. Utterly clueless. So the banana thing is like Moses and Martha Stewart's love child. Srsly.)

Well...I didn't read above yet, but I add the soft kind of tofu or Trader Joe's Greek Yogurt, it is firm and comes in three levels of fat content - all firm. I guess one could add cold ice cream, but that would defeat the purpose.

Baby food!! Baby food bananas, mangos, apples, they are all so smooth... and they keep in the pantry for months...

Interesting how many peeps are allergic to bananas....my guy is too, he tells me its tropical ragweed. anyhoo very nummy thing to do with one-step-away-from-the-garbage-can-banana is to add it ( smashed up) to any package( or brand) of lemon poppyseed muffin mix.. and then bake as directed of course.......yummness.
oh yeah I use vanilla yogurt in my smoothies.

yogurt.
and rum. Rum is good.

I freeze my bananas when they start looking like they're going south. I then usually use them in banana bread (after defrosting them - a very bad texture to eat, but not if you were going to mash them up anyway.
If you put ice in your smoothie, you could substitute the frozen banana - maybe?
The trick, of course, is freezing the bananas before they're too gruesome.

On the rare occasions when my 16 y.o. son doesn't eat all the bananas and they're getting close to that ew-mushy-I'm-not-eating-that stage, I cut them up into chunks and freeze them.

I use bananas infrequently in smoothies (see above comment on teenage son), but mine get plenty smooth with whole frozen strawberries and vanilla protein powder. I don't even use milk or yogurt or anything.

I didn't read all the comments, so I don't know if someone said this...but you can freeze bananas. I slice bananas and put 1 banana in a snack size ziplock in the freezer. I do this before they're over ripe. They make the smoothie thick like a real milk shake. I got the idea from a pregnancy book that recommended 1 frozen banana, 1 c. milk, and a dash of vanilla. It almost tastes like a real milkshake.

Persimmons.

I'll second (third? forty-second?) lecithin, tofu, and yogurt. You can also make a quick nut milk (just blend 1 part nuts of your choice (softer ones like cashews and macadamias are particularly handy if you don't have a superpowered blender) to 2 parts water and blend away to give you a nice thick creamy consistency. Strain for optimal smoothness and add to the smoothie with ice. It's very nice.

I also highly recommend freezing even compost-level ripeness bananas! I only eat bananas that are still greenish (I am apparently a freak), but I enjoy even the mushiest, blackest bananas when they are frozen.

just read the other comments--avocado is totally awesome as well. bevvy--use nut milk to make the smoothie instead of milk and you can still have your treat!

Yes to sage's comment! Bananas freeze really well. You can even leave them in the peel (the peel will turn black, but it's just a color thing, not a quality of the contents thing). It's great if you have over-ripe bananas and you want to make banana bread, but not, like NOW -- just freeze 'em!

I vote for tofu. Since you already use kefir (right?) adding yogurt might make it too tangy, if that makes sense.

And I would pass on the durian!

I would use avocado to replace banana -- but not a whole one. They have major calories.

I like to add Ovaltine (chocolate, Yumm!) - what? it's got vitamins added!

I also add silken tofu, and use Silk Soymilk - vanilla if I'm not going for the chocolate-send-me-to heaven smoothie.

I'm no Doctor, but I'd like to add that for people allergic to banana's, you might want to try taking both Quercetin (I think I've spelled it right), and Bromolain (available in separate and combined capsules). You need to take it for a week or two before you try adding a new food a little at a time to your regular diet. Quercetin is made from onion skins and apples, and bromolain from pineapples - I used to get itchy throat and asthma from almost everything I ate except acidic foods. Now I can eat cantaloupe, watermelon, carrots, lettuce, & avocados! I haven't had any reactions to anything I eat in years!

Another vote for mango. I hate bananas and was advised that mango makes a good substitute and will thicken like a banana does and tastes yummy.

Janet

Not so healthy, but marscapone cheese is great in this sort of thing. I've made peach gelato with just frozen peaches and marscapone (also tried it with yogurt, which was good too).

If you do use tofu, make sure to get the silken kind. It's much smoother and won't make it gritty textured, which regular tofu can. Maybe half tofu and half marscapone? It would be like the angel and devil sitting on each of your shoulders; they'd both be happy.

Oh, and I use ground up flax instead of the oil because I think the oil's nasty. I'm impressed that you can handle it.

does this mean Jaime L. uses toothpaste in her smoothies?!

Fat Free Instant Banana Pudding

I don't think anyone else has suggested coconut milk, but that's a good non-dairy creamy taste, and has some good nutrition in it too. Can be kind of fattening if you don't buy the low-fat version, though. Next time, just peel and freeze the bananas before they turn into compost. Frozen ones are better in smoothies anyway. Yum! now I have to go get the blender out.

Another vote for plain yogurt and a big spoonful of peanut butter. Seriously, PB is the best addition to a smoothie - it gives it a really rich taste.

Try keeping a stock of banana baby food on hand. (It works well in muffins, too.)

Yogurt. Plain nonfat yogurt. My daughter and I use milled flax seeds, it thickens things but you might not like the texture. We use big frozen bags of mixed berries (blue, rasp, and marion) Just scoop out a cup at a time. The frozen berries make it thicker, too. We use one of those immersion blender thingies. To clean just rinse under hot water (unplug it first). Much easier clean up. Silken Tofu would probly work, too. Oh well, have fun experimenting.

I recommend freezing the banana's too. Although I've never peeled them before freezing, which I will now. WE love banana bread at our house and I usually make 2-3 batches at a time with stocked up frozen banana's. But I have to get my 8 yr old son to slice the tops off and squeeze the bananer out of its peel, b/c it just grosses me out...I won't say what it reminds me of, but it is rather limp and pathetic looking.

What is durian? But, seriously yummy smoothie additive is Greek yogurt, yum yum yum with a little shot of honey! I hate bananas...icky.

Firm tofu and a little yogurt should add some smoothness.

what, no bananas? I freeze mine before they reach 'that' stage. Just break them in two and freeze in baggie.
I use no fat,1/2 plain yogurt, a pkg pink sugar, 1/2 banana and some other fruit, make it thinner with milk [gotta get my calcium] if i want to drink it.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Greek yogurt (it's really rich though), or mango. Depending if you want a rich or a lean variant ;-)

I have to be careful with bananas and yogurt, both are major migraine triggers. So I use sesame butter or sunflower seed butter to add that lovely creamy mouth feel, as well as awesome protein and wonderful EFAs.

Canned Pumpkin is a good subsitute, works well in smoothies with vanilla yogurt and various fruits and baked goods in place of oil. As it comes in a can it can be kept on hand for when needed. Or as others suggested freeze the bananas before they go bad to use not only in your smoothies but for banana bread, pancakes, muffins ....

I don't do dairy at all... but have to have a very high fiber diet due to wonderful genetic disorder. Yipee! This is my generic recipe:

water, about 1 cup
frozen orange juice, 2-3 heaping spoonfuls
frozen fruit of your choice
part of a banana, or not
fiber suppliment - Heather's Tummy fiber - www.helpforibs.com - depends on how much you need
vanilla or almond extract to taste, about 1/4 teaspoon

Use stick blender in large glass, pulverize to smithereens. Add water as needed to make slushy enough. Drink.

Adding coconut milk sounds yummy, too. May have to try that next time.

Peel and freeze the bananas before they get too ripe and then just drop them in the blender. . . excellent!

Yogurt. I don't care much for bananas in my smoothies, but plain yogurt adds just the right amount of "smooth.
Actually, when possible, I use frozen yogurt, but not the kind from the store. I fill an ice-cube tray with yogurt and then pop the little cubes out into a ziploc and keep them in the freezer. I throw a couple or three in the blender with my smoothie fruits and they're nice and frosty too...

Jeannie, durian is a tropical fruit that is famous for it's unpleasant aroma. I haven't tasted the fresh fruit myself, but my Thai son-in-law loves it and my daughter assures me that it REEKS.

I know this is repeating others' suggestions, but I go the yogurt route, too. Actually, I use everything, it seems.
1 8 oz. nonfat yogurt (Ralph's house brand)
1 banana
1/2 to 1 cup orange juice
2 or 3 ice cubes
A handful of frozen peach slices, about 1/2 peach
A much bigger handful of blueberries,
1/2 to 1 cup
Strawberries, too, sometimes

I love these for lunch, especially since I've been having some oral surgery. The only problem is, I have one of these just before going to my aquatherapy exercise class, and I can't make it through the class without running to the locker room, and then struggle back into a wet swimsuit.
Well, it's a problem.

So I've been wondering how you can drink one of these and then get on a city bus for a sometimes loooong ride to work. I admire your strength.

has anyone suggested yogurt yet?

oy.

mck.

All right, Jewish Bubbeh weighing in here. Ooops...well, the pun WASN'T intended. Kishkeleh, use ICE CREAM! Healthy-pelthy, a little ice cream won't do any harm, and will put sparkle in those eyes! {ahem} on the other hand, I'll add my vote for avocado. I have a whole book of recipes from the California Avocado Board or wossname, and there are a-MAY-zing delish smoothy and shake recipes with avocado. (Wouldn't you know it? My favorite vegetable is the ONLY one the Creator tested out with lots a calories.....)

The best pictures of cats,pictures of cute cats,funny pictures of cats,funny cat videos,in the http://www.pictures-of-cat.com/

Ice cream.

:-D

I add non-fat Greek yogurt (it's much creamier) and tofu.

Another vote for yogurt, preferably greek!! mmmm

I'd say silken tofu, avacado, nut butter (a tablespoon--nuts have th good fats so don't skimp, but don't go overboard), and of course, the only yogurt worth eating, Fage.

1/4 cup of coconut milk!

Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Original Flavor and a blob of honey.

I haven't made a smoothie since my brief stint post college working at one of those Jamba Juice knock offs, but the title of the post made me think of Sabrina, which I watched last weekend.

I think everyone else's suggestions will give you plenty of food for thought :) Though the suggestion of 'beer' made me spit tea over my keyboard.

I just wanted to second the comment about the weird cat in the Hartz ad in your sidebar. I'm sure you have no control of these things, but that's one psycho kitty!

Yogurt or ice-cream, depending on how bad I want to be. Always one or the other and lots of it.

Protein powder and a splash of Silk (I like the unsweetened).

Ice cream! Oh you probably meant something healthy right? Frozen yogurt works too.

Peaches, pears, cantaloupe... coconut ice?

I'm so glad you addressed this because I have hated bananas since I two and one attacked me.
After I read your original post about the smoothies, I began making them for breakfast, but I've used apples and pears in lieu of the bananas...I wouldn't say it's exactly smooth though. Part of that could be because I just couldn't drink the Kefir even when I did half Kefir, half milk.
As a side note, I've stopped craving sweets and junk foods (and aside from a PMS-induced Cheeto massacre yesterday). I've also lost 8 lbs. Thank you!

Lots of interesting suggestions that make me want to run out & buy (BUY! BUY!) a VitaMix with a little piece of my Economic Stimulus check. Think we can singlehandedly save the economy that way? Nope, me neither.

And yes that cat in the ad is very creepy! Think he needs glasses or a Valium? He looks kinda Schizohelterskelter. C'mon Hartz! You can do better! Love, a Fan of Bob.

Holly's everyday lunch smoothie:

frozen Mango
Rachel's Vanilla Chai Organic Yogurt
handful shredded frozn coconut

ocasionally I replace the mango with a banana and add peanut butter if I'm extra hungry or if it's a gym day.

Here in Canada we have almond-flavoured silken tofu like so: http://www.presidentschoice.ca/FoodAndRecipes/GreatFood/ProductDetails.aspx/id/17731/name/PCBlueMenuSilkenTofuDessertAlmondFlavoured/catid/232/type/2

I am sure you can find a true-blue American equivalent in LA, and it makes your smoothie yummy, smooth, and protein-ey.

Hmm, I use almond milk (tasty! and low-fat!) and coconut milk (tasty! not low-fat!) in mine. Some people recommend low-fat coconut milk, but I like the thickness of regular, and it contains good fats, not bad fats. Protein powder also helps thicken things up.

Tofu (the soft kind).

Okay, here goes.

Cup of soy milk (I use vanilla - it covers up the beany taste)
Cup of yogurt (or so)
Cup of blueberries (or whatever berries. and roughly a cup)
However many scoops of protein powder your powder says to add
Half a cup to a cup of water.

Blend first four ingredients and a half a cup of water. Taste. Not smooth enough, add some more water and repeat ad nauseum until its to your liking.

This makes enough for me and my honey.

Its the soy milk that adds the smoothiness.

Ice cream!
Everything is better with ice cream.

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I also have to second (third .. whatever it's up to) the soft tofu vote. I make smoothies almost every day! You can also do peanut butter, but not with berries ... more so with ice, soy milk, ok and usually a banana (this makes an awesome dessert with a few chocolate chips).

I may have had my last banana ever today. Waaay too ripe ick...

Tagged you on a meme - looking for great guilty pleasure singalongs - I know you've got one, you child-of-the-80s you!

I make smoothies everyday. And while I love bananas, I don't always have bananas, so I often replace bananas with frozen peaches. They add a good texture and a mild flavor and really seem to help thicken it up. No matter what I'm making my smoothie with, though, it's always frozen. Using all frozen fruit makes the texture nice and smooth and not icy.

You'd have to add a lot of Paxil to thicken up a smoothie . . .

(yes, I realize that post is spam, but I got a good laugh out of it.)

papaya! i'm surprised no one has suggested this

I don't do smoothies - really should.

Anyway, I think the kitty in the ad is okay, except for being SOOOOO cross-eyed. Cute, in an addled kind of way.

I was going to comment but I guess you don't need anymore help. I freeze my bananas when they get ripe so I'll always have a banana when I need it. I also use yogurt. Never ice. I have dabbled in canned pears, and other canned fruit. If you don't have a banana make sure you have yogurt and something frozen. It'll get thick.

BTW,
I think Sobakawa's cousin lives with me in Michigan.

No bananas? Mango gets my vote, followed by the silken tofu suggestion and avocados.

- Pam

I use sugar free (organic) PEANUT BUTTER .
2 GLOPS.
Bestest ever.

what sort of powerhouse are you that 180 people want to say something, ANYTHING, about your smoothies?
the mind reels.