Green Your Smoothies

Smoothies are truly the lifeblood of my family. For the last few years, we have been adding greens, which is a great way to sneak them into our family?s diet and boost their nutrition.

Homemade whole food smoothies make the perfect breakfast for busy families on the go. Special equipment is unnecessary; your regular blender should serve you just fine. However, if you plan to make smoothies more than once a day and there are other uses that interest you (such as making soup, ice cream, etc.), you might consider investing in a high-powered machine, such as a VitaMix.

Basic Green Smoothie

Makes about 1-2 quarts

4-5 peeled medium bananas

1-inch slice of peeled fresh pineapple

1-2 cups seasonal and/or favorite fruit (red berries are great to mask the green color and/or taste

1-2 cups greens (milder greens, such as romaine lettuce or baby spinach often go over better with children)

1-2 cups of liquid (fresh-squeezed juice or coconut water)

Blend fruit and liquid first, then add greens. Puree until smooth and enjoy!

A great use of leftover juice and/or smoothies is to make homemade popsicles.

Experiment with different greens to find a combination that suits you. Mix and match some of the following:

- Baby Spinach

- Romaine lettuce

- Parsley

- Mint

- Kale

- Chard

- Baby greens (spring mix)

- Arugula

- Wheat grass

- Barley grass

- Sprouts

- Celery

- Wild greens (such as dandelion)

You can also add "super greens"spirulina, blue-green algae, barley or wheat grass), other "superfoods"(such as cacoa nibs, maca, goji berries, etc.) or EFA oils like hemp seed, borage, flax, and evening primrose oil. Just keep in mind that these may change the consistency and taste of the smoothie drastically. Personally, I do not recommend adding dairy products of any kind as combining with fruit can cause digestive upset.

Dena Smith Givens writes on behalf of NaturallySavvy.com about how to live a more natural, organic and green lifestyle.