Apple Blueberry Green Smoothie

 Sometimes putting certain colors of fruit in green smoothies helps my children eat them. Case in point, my son does not really love drinking green smoothies if they look too green...I have found that putting blueberries in his green smoothie makes it a more purple/gray/dark green color and then he gobbles it right up. Hence the creation of the apple blueberry green smoothie! (My son LOVES apples and he usually wants to try whatever I make if it has apples in it.)

 Apple Blueberry Green Smoothie

1 cup water

2-3 cups spinach

2 cups frozen blueberries

1 apple

1 frozen banana

1 T raw agave (optional)

Place all ingredients in Vitamix and blend well. Remember to add ice if you are using fresh blueberries/bananas instead of frozen. And of course serve it with a special smoothie straw! Makes approximately one quart. 

Green Smoothies Popsicles

 We love making green smoothie popsicles! I first got my son to even taste a green smoothie by making it into a popsicle!! I adore these ice pop molds. They are bpa free, they have a sturdy base to stand them in, they have drip guards, they are dishwasher safe, they are the perfect size, and they are easy to use.

Green Smoothies Popsicles 

Once you have a good ice pop mold, making green smoothie popsicles is easy. First make your favorite green smoothie recipe. We just made the Pineapple Berry Green Smoothie into popsicles here. You will need approximately 1/2 cup of smoothie for each popsicle. Place the lids on and freeze until solid. Once they are frozen you can even take them off the base and they store neatly. Enjoy!

Pineapple Berry Green Smoothie

 This is the perfect green smoothie for someone who wants to start drinking green smoothies and is also great for children. When you first start adding green smoothies to your lifestyle, I think it is best if you start with spinach as your greens (it is more mild) and use more fruit than greens. I would start with 40% greens and 60% fruit and then gradually add more greens until you have at least 50% greens! I think using sweeter fruit like pineapple is also a great idea. This is my children's favorite green smoothie currently. And you can always add more greens as your taste buds change which makes it a good recipe for anyone! I also give my children special wide smoothie straws that we only use for green smoothies, which they love!!  (I found these colored ones at Bed Bath and Beyond.) Enjoy!

  

Pineapple Berry Green Smoothie

1 can pineapple (100% juice)

2 cups water

4-6 cups spinach (newbys start with 4)

1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries

1 1/2 cups blueberries

1 frozen banana

Place the pineapple, water and greens in your blender. Blend lightly. Add berries and banana and mix well in Vitamix. Add ice if not using frozen fruit to attain the consistency you want.

Creamy Almond Milk Green Smoothie

This is my children's current favorite green smoothie. It is perfect for children or someone who is just starting to make green smoothies because it has almond milk instead of water and dates for added sweetness. It is creamy and delicious!!

Creamy Almond Milk Green Smoothie

1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk

3 cups (tightly packed) spinach

1 frozen banana

10 frozen strawberries 

1/4 cup dates

Add everything to Vitamix and blend until smooth and creamy. Makes one quart.

Chocolate Super Foods Green Smoothie

I have been concocting the perfect "chocolate" green smoothie for awhile.  I wanted it to be chock full of super foods, as well as have that delicious chocolate taste. It is packed with SUPER FOODS (foods that are extremely healthy and contain an abundance and variety of vitamins, minerals, and other health boosting elements) and is perfect for February, the month of chocolate...but without the sugar, dairy and unhealthy fat commonly associated with chocolate! Here are the SUPER FOODS in my chocolate green smoothie!

Kale-abundant in phytochemicals, substances associated with the prevention of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension; helps oxidize cholesterol; boosts DNA repair in cells; contains 45 different flavonoids which provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. (Costco sells a huge 1.5 lb bag of organic baby kale and this is what I use!)

Flaxseed-some call it the most powerful plant food on the planet; linked to decreasing depression and anxiety; promotes cardiovascular health; 70 times higher in the cancer-preventing compound lignans (chemical compounds that act as antioxidants) than any other food; full of heart healthy omega-3 essential fatty acids; packed with soluble and insoluble fiber; aids in reducing inflammation problems (including asthma, allergies, and arthritis.) Using sprouted ground flaxseed makes it easier to digest, double the fiber, full of live enzymes, and higher in vitamin and mineral content.

Raw Cacao-contains more antioxidant flavonoids than any other food; promotes cardiovascular health; protects from environmental and metabolic toxins; raises neurotransmitters in our brains to create a more positive mood; full of essential minerals.

Raw Maca-stress fighting adaptogen used to increase energy, endurance and stamina; nourishes and supports the endocrine system; enhances libido, stimulates fertility, and regulates hormone; reduces chronic fatigue; provides an abundance of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

Raw Almonds-packed with heart-healthy fats and fiber; aids in lowering bad cholesterol and increasing good cholesterol; full of vitamin E and oils that may reduce the signs of aging; plays a role in weight loss without hunger; decreases risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease.

Chocolate Power Foods Green Smoothie

1 1/2 cups water

3-4 cups (tightly packed) organic baby kale

1 T sprouted ground flax seed

2 T raw cacao powder
1/2 T raw maca powder
1/4 cup raw almonds
1/4 cup dates
2 frozen bananas

1 cup ice (optional for thicker smoothie)

Place everything in Vitamix and blend until smooth. You can soak your almonds overnight for even more nutritional value.

Variations: use half spinach and half kale and 5 strawberries in place of one of the bananas.

Cantaloupe Slush

My children LOVE cantaloupe so when I read about a "cantaloupe slush" in Dr. Fuhrman's book Disease-Proof Your Child: Feeding Kids Right, I knew we had to make it!! It definitely did not dissappoint! It is our new go-to drink when we have people over.

Cantaloupe Slush
1 cantaloupe, peeled and cut into chunks

6-8 dates

2 cups ice

Mix all ingredients in a Vitamix, using stir stick to blend very well. You want the consistency to be frothy, smooth and whipped well for the best taste! Serve immediately.

Orange Mango Smoothie

  My daughter LOVES mangoes and this is a creation we made for her! 

Orange Mango Smoothie

2 mangoes, peeled and seed removed

2 oranges (cut off peel ,but leave white pithe on)

1 banana

2 cups ice

1/2 cup water (if needed for consistency)

Place everything in vitamix and blend until smooth! Makes 2-4 servings. My daughter LOVED it!! We will definitely be making this concoction again whenever mangoes are on sale!

Pineapple Orange Strawberry Smoothie

Another delightful fruit smoothie for the summer!

Pineapple Orange Strawberry Smoothie

1 can pineapple in 100% pineapple juice (or fresh pineapple)

2 oranges (cut off peel ,but leave white pithe on)

2 cups strawberries

2 cups ice

Place everything in vitamix and blend until smooth! Makes 4 servings. Definitely a perfect cool summer drink!

"Animal Food" Smoothie

This morning we were planning a trip to the zoo...so my son already has animals on his mind! For breakfast he suggested we make an "animal food" fruit smoothie!  He wanted it to have bananas and apples and pears like a monkey would eat...and then he decided he would add some pineapple since that is his favorite fruit!! I must say...it turned out fantastic!

"Animal Food" Smoothie

1 apple, remove core

1 banana

1 red pear

1 can pineapple in 100% pineapple juice (or fresh pineapple)

2 cups ice

Mix all ingredients in high speed blender. Serves 4.

Watermelon Grape Smoothie

With the weather warming up, we have been making lots of fresh fruit smoothies for breakfast or as a snack. We had some watermelon in the fridge and wondered what would go well with it...so I added some green grapes and it turned out fantastic! Thought we would share our easy recipe...all amounts are approximate since I do not ever really measure when I am concocting smoothies!

Watermelon Grape Smoothie

2 cups watermelon

2 cups green grapes

3 cups ice

Mix well in a high speed blender and serve immediately or it will start to separate! Serves 4.

Easy Pineapple Orange Smoothie

With all of the oranges we have been getting such a good deal on, we wanted to make a quick and easy orange smoothie...and what goes better with oranges than pineapple?

Easy Pineapple Orange Smoothie

1 can pineapple in 100% pineapple juice (or fresh pineapple)

2 oranges (cut off peel ,but leave white pithe on)

3 cups ice

Place everything in vitamix and blend until smooth and frothy! This recipe makes 4 servings (approx 12 oz each) This healthy, all fruit smoothie is super sweet and less than 120 calories per serving! I have a feeling we will be making many more of these this summer!

Peach & Kale Green Smoothie

Peaches and kale make a super yummy combination!  Especially in green smoothies!  I buy fresh Utah peaches when they are in season.  I cut them up with their peels on, place them on parchment paper on a big baking sheet, and stick them in the freezer to freeze them for smoothies! Then I have fresh peaches all year for delicious smoothies!

Peach & Kale Green Smoothie

1 1/2 cups water

3 cups kale

2 cups peaches 

1 frozen banana

 Sometimes I will even add an avocado to make it super creamy!

Basic Go-to GREEN SMOOTHIE Recipe

Here is a very basic, but delicious recipe that is my SIMPLE GO TO recipe for a green smoothie... This is the perfect amount for me for breakfast.  If I double it, there is enough for me and my two children!

1 1/2 cups water

3 cups spinach 

2 cups frozen strawberries or frozen tropical fruit

1 frozen banana

 Add all ingredients to blender (I use a Vitamix) and blend until smooth! Use more liquid if needed. Also, if it is not quite sweet enough for your taste buds at first, here are a few tricks: start with less greens and slowly build up; add a bit of the herb Stevia, dates, or some raw blue agave to your smoothie to sweeten it until your tastes change and you are more accustomed to just fruit and greens; instead of water, use almond/rice/coconut milk. I also buy special cups and smoothie straws for my children to make drinking green smoothies even more special!!  Enjoy!!