Basic Green Smoothie for Beginners
Smoothies are a simple, quick way to load up on nutrients, and a fabulous snack for kids! I’ve found through experience with my own three littles that regularly giving them a green smoothie once they start eating vegetables and fruits has kept their minds open to eating “green foods” and vegetables, trying new things, and having quite a diverse palette. Plus as long as we’re all getting our greens in earlier in the day, then I can feel less pressured at the end of the day to make a perfectly nutritious meal.
Smoothies offer the opportunity to get creative with various fruits, veggies, and even nuts or seeds. GREEN smoothies can sometimes be intimidating for the novice smoothie drinker. While kale, spinach, and other leafy greens offer incredible anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting nutrients, some palettes prefer not to taste them in smoothie form (though trust me, taste buds DO change and adapt).
My beginner’s version combines mild, leafy greens with my personal favorite smoothie fruits, mango and a bit of banana for sweetness and creaminess. Avocado adds creaminess, but also makes this more hearty with a dose of healthy fat. I’ve found lime juice is the secret that elevates the taste with a refreshing brightness. Ginger is optional, I just love the extra zing it adds (and that its highly medicinal). Feel free to add in a tablespoon of seeds or a handful of nuts for to make it even more filling. Personally, I use even more greens than this recipe, but I developed this one by popular demand of friends looking to get on the smoothie wagon! So adjust the ingredient amounts as you prefer. Once you feel like you’ve mastered the green smoothie, start experimenting with different combinations! Pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, a slice of fresh ginger, or even other herbs or vegetables.
In good health! Cheers…
Ingredients
1 large kale leaf, stem removed (or 1 cup baby spinach leaves)
1 lime, juiced
1/2 of an avocado
1/2 of a fresh mango, or 1/2-3/4 cup frozen mango
1/2 of a small banana
1/4 - 1/2 inch knob fresh ginger, peeled (if you’re new to ginger, less is more! Start small, and work your way up.)
optional add ins: 1 tbsp seeds or nuts, such as flax, hemp, pumpkin, or almonds
Water or almond milk, adjusted to blend
Directions
Layer all ingredients in your blender cup, filling with a little water or almond milk to start, and adding more as desired for preferred consistency. Blend until smooth and creamy.