Here’s a skinny version of the ever popular mall favorite,“Orange Julius.”  I figured out the two secret ingredients in the Orange Julius, vanilla extract and milk!  The vanilla softens the hard, acidic edge of the juice and produces a unique flavor, which is fruity and creamy.  The milk further softens the blend.  I’ve made it skinny by using light vanilla soy milk and a little sugar substitute. You could also make it with reduced-fat milk, if you prefer. The result is bursting with a sweet creamy orange flavor.  This skinny recipe has about half the calories, only one third the sugar of a regular Orange Julius and 3 Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS. This is a refreshing smoothie for anyone who’s lactose intolerant but everybody is going to love this!  So give it a whirl, grab a straw and start skinny sipping…

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

⅔  cup orange juice

⅓ cup light vanilla soy milk (I like Silk Light Vanilla Soy milk) or reduced-fat milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 packages Stevia, Equal or any sugar substitute or regular sugar, to taste

1½  cups ice cubes

Instructions

1. Add all the ingredients to a blender.

2. Blend on high for about 1 minute or until the ice is crushed and the smoothie becomes frothy.

Makes 1 smoothie

Food Fact
The Orange Julius was first introduced in 1926 at a food stand in Los Angeles, owned by Julius Freed.  It was the official drink of the 1964 New York World’s Fair.

Soy milk is a drink made from soybeans.  It’s produced by soaking dry soybeans and grinding them with water.

Healthy Benefit
Orange juice is loaded with vitamin C.  One 8 ounce glass supplies 100% of the daily value for vitamin C.

Soy milk contains about the same proportion of protein as milk.  It’s a good source of lecithin and vitamin E.

Substitution Tip
This smoothie also works great with nonfat or reduced-fat milk although I was pleasantly surprised by how great the vanilla soy milk taste in this smoothie.

Weight Watchers (old points) 2
Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS 3