Smoothies are popular with people of all ages, from small children all the way to older adults. They are fun to make, nutritious, versatile, and brightly colored. Some people choose smoothies as a snack or even a full meal, depending on the ingredients. Unfortunately, smoothies can be costly when you buy them at the grocery or store. To educate participants on the appeal of a smoothie and the basic steps to build a smoothie, the Johnson County Extension Office presented the Building a Better Smoothie lesson to Porter Elementary Summer School Students and Staff. 

The Building a Better Smoothie lesson focused on the basic steps to building a smoothie and ingredient ideas. Extension developed this lesson to teach people how to make smoothies that are nutritious, flavorful, and exciting. The goal is to increase knowledge and skills related to making smoothies as a way to increase nutritious food choices. 148 people participated in the workshop; 135 students from grades kindergarten to second and 13 adult staff members. Of these 148 participants, there were five races/ethnicities present. 

Participants completed a follow-up evaluation at the end of the lesson. Of those surveyed, 100% indicated they understand common ingredients, and 100% indicated they understand the common steps to make a smoothie.  About 100% reported they understand ways to add variety to smoothies with fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious ingredients. Further, 100% acknowledged they plan to prepare a smoothie at home to add nutritious foods to their diet. Lastly, 90% plan to try a fruit or vegetable in a smoothie that they do not typically eat.

In conclusion, one participant stated, "I love this program! [The most significant thing] I've learned is to keep myself and my kids active and help them know how to eat healthy." Another participant stated, "[The most significant thing learned] is there are healthy options for summer drinks." Finally, a third participant stated, "[The most significant thing learned] is how to incorporate veggies I wouldn't normally eat."