image courtesy of Nancy at Casual Cuisine

Are you skeptical that your kids will enjoy green smoothies?  Or that you will enjoy them?  It is a challenge to get enough greens into our diets (especially kids), so green smoothies are a great way to do it!  I have stockpiled several green smoothie recipes that we have incorporated into our diet on a regular basis.

My suggestion is to start out with a small amount of greens and increase them slowly as time goes on.  You will still enjoy the health benefits these green smoothie recipes have to offer if you are consuming smaller amounts of greens.  Of course, the more greens, the more benefits you’ll reap.

And, you don’t have to use only spinach every time.  Try rotating with kale, mustard greens, arugula, collards, beet greens, or chard.

Step One for any yummy green smoothie recipe to make ONE serving:

Add the following to your blender:

Water (1/2 c – 1c )

3c (or more) of greens

1 c Plain yogurt if desired OR milk (raw preferred)

Fresh juice of any type is yummy also! I’ve used orange, pineapple, and apple juices at different times

Blending these ingredients in the blender first is the secret to getting a wonderful consistency that will make everyone in your family lovers of green smoothies!

Step Two:

Add into the blender any combination of fruits or vegetables:

-1 banana, 1 ½ c frozen blueberries

-1 banana, 1 ½ c frozen strawberries

-1 banana, 1T peanut butter,  2T cocoa powder, 1 T coconut oil, 1T chia seeds

-1 Avocado , 1 Whole Peeled Orange, 1 Banana, 1 Stalk Celery, 1/2 Apple

-1 banana, 1 mango, 1T maple syrup, 1-2T cashews

-1 banana, ½ c frozen strawberries, ½ c frozen blueberries, ¼ c pineapple

-1 banana, ¼ c pumpkin, maple syrup or honey, cinnamon to taste

-leftover fruit salad (yum!)

The combinations for green smoothie recipes are endless, experiment with your favorite fruits!

Steps Three and Four:

Blend, pour into a fun glass or mug.

Step Five:

Enjoy your own green smoothie recipe and bask in all of the nutritional goodness going into your body!

Do you already drink green smoothies?  What is your favorite recipe?