LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — If you’ve ever wished your workout could come with a snack, the latest health-and-fitness twist might be your new favorite ride: a smoothie bike that blends your drink while you pedal.
Saline County Extension agents Lataaka Harvey and Nicole Nichols stopped by to share how the smoothie bike has been getting people of all ages moving, and sipping, at the same time.
Harvey said the idea took off after she used a smoothie bike with 4-H students in a previous county. “With the 4h bike, they loved making the smoothies. Everybody loves to ride,” she said. From there, she brought it to a senior center, where she saw just how wide the appeal could be. “Oh my goodness, I had an 87 year old riding away on this bike,” Harvey said.
That experience helped shape the bigger goal: making healthy choices feel fun and doable. Harvey said she decided to take the bike out to encourage healthier drink options and to help people get more exercise.
Harvey said staying active matters for both the body and the mind. “Because it for exercise, will help us mentally and physically. It keeps us going. It keeps our health, keep us in healthier ways for our life,” Harvey said. She added that for older adults, movement can help them keep up with family. “And if you are older, aging population, it keeps you ready for your grandkids, Great grands,” Harvey said.
To show how it works, the agents brought ingredients for a strawberry smoothie, plus a couple of extra flavors to sample. “So today we are going to make a strawberry smoothie,” Harvey said. “But today we’re gonna have make strawberry but we’re also gonna taste peach and pineapple.”
Harvey said the recipe was designed to be simple and budget-friendly, with research-based information families can use at home. The ingredients included 1% milk, plain Greek yogurt, honey and frozen strawberries. Using frozen fruit, she noted, can cut down on the need for ice.
For the strawberry smoothie, Harvey said the recipe called for “at least two to three cups your preference,” and they had “two and a half cups of strawberries today” ready to go.
Harvey said she’s learned a few tricks from using the bike blender, including starting with liquid first. The mix went in with about a cup of liquid, followed by the frozen strawberries, then another half-cup of liquid. Harvey added the thickener, “a half a cup” of plain Greek yogurt, and then the sweetener: “a fourth cup of honey.”
As for how long it takes to blend, Harvey said it depends on how fast the rider pedals. “Typically, probably about one to two minutes, depending on how fast you,” she said, adding, “You got to go fast.”