Green Smoothie!

It's not a typo, and I am not color blind; it is GREEN ... inside!

Smoothies are a wonderful way to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet. Kids as well as adults love them! One of my favorite smoothies, as breakfast, lunch, or afternoon pick-me-up, is this 'green' smoothie that is anything but green to look at, and it is delicious! The frozen banana is the secret to a thick, creamy smoothie. I find people who won't eat a fresh banana like it frozen in a smoothie! The greatest thing is that you don't have to have a fancy schmancy blender or smoothie recipe book, I find that any fruit you have, any veggie, will do! Just throw it in, blend, and taste test; continue to combine and tweak. Experiment by adding finely ground nuts or nut butters too for added protein. This recipe is one that was so good, I wrote it down and repeat it often, but most of the time they are one-of-a-kind and yummy. Be adventurous, and try to get more fruits and veggies in your diet with smoothies. Any greens are great in smoothies, and the milder flavors of spinach and turnip greens are especially good in smoothies!

Put in the blender (liquid first)

2 cups milk substitute or filtered water

1/2 cup organic frozen blueberries (gives it this lovely purple color!)

1 frozen banana (thaw 15 minutes first if not using a Vitamix)

2 Tbsp freshly ground flax seed or chia seed

10 fresh (or frozen) organic strawberries or quartered organic apple

1 handful organic kale (Be sure to add the kale last or your smoothie will be brown)

*OPTIONAL: sweetener of choice to taste, especially if you are "green" to green smoothies! After your palate adjusts to eating an abundance of veggies, you won't need it.

You can add protein powder too, if you like. Use the 'ice crush' setting when adding the frozen fruit.

I find this is a great way to get your kale if you are not accustomed to eating it raw or steamed. I just love the beautiful color the blueberries give this smoothie!

TIP: I like to buy organic fruits in season and freeze them. I peel the bananas first and cut them in half, and place in gallon size freezer bags, making it simple to add to the blender.