Good Eats at the TEOTWAWKI Café—Long-Term Food Storage Smoothies, without Yogurt

You know, I have always thought of smoothies as being yogurt-based, like a true smoothie just has to have yogurt.  Yogurt’s good stuff, loaded with beneficial bacteria—those probiotics—and nice and creamy.  It helps make a thicker smoothie.  However, sometimes when we want a smoothie, there isn’t any yogurt in the fridge.  And maybe there’s no time to get reconstituted powdered milk chilled and made palatable in time for breakfast.  And yet, we want to make sure our family members get the nutritional benefits of having some milk with their breakfast—want to make sure they’ve got a good start to their day.

Believe it or not, there are actually quite a few ways to make a fairly thick smoothie, even if yogurt isn’t available.    

Oats are a great addition to any smoothie that not only thicken it, but also pack a lot of nutrition and fiber.  Dehydrated bananas also help thicken, sweeten, and provide a little banana flavor along with essential vitamins and minerals.  If fresh or frozen fruit on hand, jam can sweeten and enhance variety with its numerous options.  Peanut butter will also help thicken smoothies and provide a good source of protein.  And naturally, adding a little ice, if it’s available, will thicken and help chill as well.  Best of all, any of these options will serve to mask the taste of even the most unpalatable powdered milk. 

Here are some ideas to get you started thinking about the possibilities that already exist within your own food storage program.

The classic fall flavor of pumpkin lends itself really well to thick, creamy smoothies when yogurt isn’t available.  

Pumpkin Oatmeal Smoothie

½ cup oats, quick or old-fashioned

¼ cup powdered milk

1 cup cold water

½ cup pumpkin puree

½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4-6 ice cubes

(2 servings)

 

Pumpkin Smoothie

½ cup pumpkin puree

2 tablespoons powdered milk

½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

½ cup cold water

2 tablespoons sugar

4-6 ice cubes

(1 serving)

 

Dehydrated bananas are perfect for sweetening and thickening a morning breakfast smoothie.

 

Pumpkin Banana Smoothie

½ cup dehydrated banana slices

1 cup cold water

¼ cup powdered milk

½ cup pumpkin puree

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1 tablespoon maple syrup

4-6 ice cubes

(2 servings)

 

Blueberry-Banana Smoothie

1 cup cold water

¼ cup powdered milk

½ cup dehydrated banana slices

¼ cup oats

2 tablespoons blueberry jam

4-6 ice cubes

(2 servings)

 

Fresh strawberries make a quintessential summer smoothie.  Strawberry jam will sweeten and provide that taste of summer all year round.

 

Strawberry Smoothie

1 cup frozen strawberries

1 cup cold water

¼ cup powdered milk

¼ cup sugar

1 fresh banana (or equivalent)

8-10 ice cubes

(2-3 servings)

 

1 cup strawberries

1 ½ cups water

½ cup powdered milk

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon lemon juice

6-8 ice cubes

(2 servings)

 

1 cup cold water

¼ cup powdered milk

3 tablespoons wheat germ

1 tablespoon strawberry jam

½ cup sliced strawberries

1 banana

4-6 ice cubes

(2 servings)

 

Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie

1 cup cold water

¼ cup powdered milk

1 fresh banana (or equivalent)

1 tablespoon peanut butter

4-6 ice cubes

(1 serving)

For a chocolate-peanut butter-banana smoothie, add 1 tablespoon cocoa powder

 

Green Smoothie

1 cup cold water

¼ cup powdered milk

2 tablespoons dehydrated spinach (or 1 cup fresh)

1 tablespoon peanut butter

1 fresh banana (or equivalent)

4-6 ice cubes

(1 serving)

 

Links to related posts:

Better Than Oatmeal—Oatmeal Smoothies  

Pumpkin Powder—Yeah, It’s a Thing  

An In-Depth Discussion of Dry Milk 

Basics of Powdered Milk