Now that warm weather is here, and outdoor fun is part of many spring and summer kids' birthday parties, try serving the kids a refreshing, filling, and healthy party treat-Smoothies.

Just chop up some fresh fruit, line up low-fat vanilla or fruit-flavored yogurt or ice cream, plus low-fat milk or fruit juice and blend until frothy.

Serve the tasty and appealing smoothies in colorful cups and add fun straws to make the presentation even more festive.

The kids will love them, parents will appreciate the healthy party fare, and you can congratulate yourself for coming up with a quick, easy, and totally fun party food idea.

Here's the simple formula for creating any refreshing and delicious kids birthday party smoothie.

SENSATIONAL SMOOTHIE BASICS

Makes about 48 ounces; enough for 6 to 8 servings

1 1/2 cups fresh fruit, chopped
3 cups thickener* (i.e., low-fat yogurt or ice cream)
1 1/2 cups liquid (i.e., low-fat milk or fruit juice)

1. For best results, add ingredients to blender in the following order: fruit, thickener, liquid.

2. Blend all ingredients until smooth, adding more liquid, if necessary, to reach desired consistency.

3. Serve immediately or refrigerate in covered blender container and blend again briefly, just before serving.

4. Garnish with fresh fruit, if desired.

* Note: To make dairy smoothies a bit lighter, use equal parts of yogurt or ice cream and ice as the thickener.

MAKE SMOOTHIES EVEN HEALTHIER

Here's how to make kids' party smoothies as healthy as possible:

* If the kids don't like-or are allergic to-milk, use orange juice fortified with calcium.

* Other non-dairy alternatives include soy, rice, or almond milk. Soy yogurts are also available.

* Choose all natural fruit juices rather than those sweetened with fructose.

* Add peanut butter or chopped walnuts for additional protein, when banana is the main fruit ingredient.

BASIC SMOOTHIE FORMULA

1. Fruit (1 1/2 cups)

Strawberry,
Raspberry,
Blueberry,
Apple,
Banana,
Pineapple,
Peach,
Cantaloupe,
Watermelon,
Mango,
Orange

2. Thickener (3 cups)

Low-fat yogurt,
Low-fat frozen yogurt,
Low-fat ice cream,
Frozen fruit Ice

3. Liquid (1 1/2 cups)

Low-fat milk,
Soy milk,
Apple juice,
Orange juice,
Pineapple juice,
Lemonade

Try these scrumptious smoothie combos:

Wild about berries

Fruit: Raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries
Thickener: Low-fat yogurt
Liquid: Low-fat milk

Raspberry lemonade

Fruit: Raspberries
Thickener: Equal parts low-fat yogurt and ice
Liquid: Lemonade

Tropical blend

Fruit: Mango, pineapple, and banana
Thickener: Ice
Liquid: Orange, pineapple, or orange-pineapple juice

Banana nut

Fruit: Banana
Thickener: Low-fat yogurt
Liquid: Low-fat milk
Extra: 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts

Cantaloupe-berry

Fruit: Cantaloupe and blueberries
Thickener: Low-fat yogurt
Liquid: Low-fat milk

Peaches and cream

Fruit: Peaches or peaches and bananas
Thickener: Low-fat yogurt or ice cream
Liquid: Low-fat milk

Fruity Delight

Fruit: Watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, mango, and strawberries
Thickener: Ice
Liquid: Orange juice

Apple cinnamon

Fruit: Apple and banana
Thickener: Equal parts of low-fat yogurt and ice
Liquid: Apple juice
Extra: 2 tsp. cinnamon