smoothies- not just for "hiding" veggies anymore!

I don't know why, but I have resisted smoothies. I suppose part of it is I had a really crappy blender that would smell like burning rubber, and "recipes" for smoothies always seem to emphasize low-fat and hiding veggies. It was more of a psychological rejection of the typical "smoothie" I think...Anyway, I saw that Cuisinart food processors were 40% off and I had a 10% off coupon for Crate and Barrel, so I treated myself to it and bought some frozen fruit too. (I had also wanted to make some hopeFULLS -see below- but didn't have the right machine...)We have struggled to find breakfast foods since M is not a huge fan of toast (we often eat toast and peanut butter and jelly, fruit, milk) oh, and she doesn't eat peanut butter or eggs 9 times out of ten or pancakes, bacon, sausage... Really she is an adventurous eater, but breakfast is not our easiest meal in terms of balance. We've done OK with Greek yogurt, and the German breakfast tradition of cold-cuts and cheeses as an option helps with fat and protein. We drink 2% milk, so that helps too, but we had limited options. I'm always looking to add variety, so we experimented with smoothies, and what a hit! We all savor these in the mornings.Our fave recipe is basically this:2% Greek plain yogurt (You can use whole fat if you are trying to increase fat intake)1/2 cup of 2% milk or more (depending on if you want soft-serve of milk-shake...)frozen fruit (always 1 frozen banana for sweetness) and a variety of low-seed fruits. Today was strawberries, blueberries and cherries.honey to tasteM had hers and some cereal this morning, D and I ate toast with peanut butter too. I can't seem to think of this as a "meal." I really need to chew something to feel satisfied...We also include mangoes and occasionally peaches (we have not noticed a froth as mentioned below, but ours are always frozen.) I look forward to experimenting with others! It's fun that M gets to pick out the fruit combo and pours in the chunks of frozen fruit and the honey and yogurt. This is also a great idea for folks with food allergies as there are endless possibilities!  I'm not opposed to adding spinach or other veggies, but I would say be careful that you aren't sneaking or hiding them, as once caught-your cautious eater will not trust a smoothie again!  One day, I will try spinach, but we finished it all in our stir-fry last night...I posted about this on FB, and here are some reader faves...• Apple juice, frozen berries from costco, and vanilla yogurt.....• Our fave is Almond milk, banana, blueberries and spinach. The blueberries disguise the color and taste of spinach. :)• The HopeFULL Company Vanilla almond milk, canned or baked pumpkin puree, creamy peanut butter (or almond butter) and ground cinnamon (the Pumpkin Pie HopeFULL!) :)• Mango, strawberry and orange juice with some whey protein powder!• plain yogurt, a big handful of frozen bananas and a tablespoon or two of frozen spinach. Tastes like spring and has a lovely mint green color. It is my baby's absolute favorite food of all time.• Milk, banana and cocoa• i use tropical fruit juice, frozen strawberries and pineapple, and half a fresh banana. can add a few spinach leaves (you won't taste them) or yogurt! i tried a lot of different kinds, but i don't like all the seeds from blueberries and raspberries, and peaches or mangoes make it really foamy (like spit... yuck)• SPOON Foundation : smoothies with coconut milk or yogurt are great -- especially if you add in some crushed up almonds, sunflower seeds or kale for added nutrition/caloriesThanks readers!We like the consistency of almost a soft-serve. It tastes creamy from the yogurt, and we all get a nice bit of protein, fat and carbs and it feels like a real treat. We use the food processor (I always end up above the "liquid" line, so it drips a little, but it's been fine.) I tried a blender, but it didn't rotate the food enough with the thickness we did.On another note, I also used my food processor to make these hopeFULL pops for a friend going through cancer therapy. It was what inspired me to make our smoothies. These pops are a great idea for kids and adults who need some extra nutrition but for whom eating is painful or unpleasant. The gift pack came with some great recipes. I know they are working on a new product, so I'll keep you posted! My photos do not do them justice.  The materials are lovely to work with, and as you know, I am a "feeder" in times of crisis, so this felt like just the right way for me to help. (One quick point. When I make food for people who are ill, I don't let M help me except with extreme vigilance. Little ones might sneeze or put their finger in a nose or other orifice and touch the food. Being extra-cautious about hygiene for someone who is ill and can't afford to get the latest cold or stomach bug is really important...)What are your favorite smoothies or blended treats? Do you also find you need to "chew" food to feel satisfied? What blender/food processor do you use?