Spinach Smoothie

SMOOTHIES AND HISTORY: The term "smoothie" was first used to describe a drink in 1930. Early smoothies were simply fruit, fruit juice and ice, and they were an obscure concept in the United States until the natural food craze of the '60s and '70s. The history of the smoothie is closely tied to the history of the blender, because without this appliance, smoothie making would be almost impossible. The Waring Blender, which was invented in the late '30s, was the first blender to be used in smoothie making. In 1973, Steve Kuhnau founded the first Smoothie King in Louisiana, adding ingredients such as yogurt, protein powder and vitamins to his smoothies. Over the next three decades, Smoothie King smoothie bars spread across the country and made the term "smoothie" a household word.