A green smoothie is a blended drink of 40% greens like kale, spinach, collards, dandelion, romaine, etc. and 60% fruit like bananas, strawberries, kiwi, etc. You add a bit of water to get the consistency you like and voila! A yummy, healthy drink. The fruit flavour dominates and covers up the taste of the greens. Add a bit of protein powder, and you have the makings of a meal in a glass. It looks a bit like liquefied grass clippings but it tastes great.
You can find lots of recipes online but my favourite is kale, banana and mango. I add a tablespoon of hemp protein powder, especially if I've just finished working out. My kids love green smoothies, although, if I send it to school with my older daughter, I need to add something to make it a little less green so no one looks at her strangely. I usually put in a bit of pureed beets or frozen berries and this does the trick.
My latest recipe is a layered Christmas smoothie.
I make the green part as usual, but layer it in a glass with vanilla yogurt and pureed fresh strawberries. Stirring it with a straw makes lovely and interesting designs that will fascinate kids and adults alike.
Green smoothies are a great way to get more leafy green vegetables into your diet. The nutrients are much easier to digest because the blender does all the chewing for you - in fact, your teeth couldn't do such a thorough job!
Try one today - you'll be surprised at how great a green smoothie tastes. If you decided to take the challenge, let me know how it goes, and share your fabulous greens and fruits combination.
