Smoothies for Health and Vitality

If there is one way to really increase the amount of nutrition you're body is taking in everyday, it's to add a smoothie into your routine. You can jam pack fruits, vegetables, supplements, and superfoods into a delicious and filling meal or snack. I usually have mine as a snack after lunch to keep me powering through my afternoons. My kids also love helping to make their own smoothies! I'll make a sweeter one with more banana to help my husband get some raw vegetables in his diet. I put more vegetables in mine for a greater detoxification effect.

There are five elements that every great smoothie contains:

1) Vegetables - start with vegetables, and fill your big cup at least half way. I like spring mix, spinach, Romain lettuce, cucumbers, and carrots. One secret for a delicious, sweet, pink smoothie is to add some raw beet! My kids won't eat a green smoothie, but if you add in some beet, it's all of a sudden a delicious pinkish color that looks as sweet as it tastes!

2) Fruits - Options are endless. If you want a colder smoothie right off the bat, use frozen fruits, but fresh or frozen is fine. I keep frozen mango chunks, cherries, peaches, and frozen blueberries in my freezer. Whenever bananas are looking too ripe to enjoy, I freeze and store them in a gallon freezer bag for smoothies. I also do this with sliced pineapple and watermelon. If you're not going to eat it in time, just freeze it for smoothies. One of my favorite flavor combinations is peaches and cherries!

3) Supplements and Superfoods - Now you really have the opportunity to get these superfoods into your body in a delicious way. Here are a few of my favorites:

Superfood Powders: (I like a chocolate one, but personal preference)

Red Superfood Powder: https://amzn.to/3Vedqtm

Green Superfood Powder: https://amzn.to/3LeYFC4

Chocolate Superfood Powder: https://amzn.to/3HmLCNH

Superfood Powder with Spirulina for Detox: https://amzn.to/3ABdfyP

Collagen powder - https://amzn.to/3LdUQx3

Apricot seeds - https://amzn.to/40RCV4W These have potent anti-cancer properties. I'll definitely do a blog post about this.

Spirulina and Chlorella - https://amzn.to/44piLT9

4) Healthy Fats - Adding some healthy fats makes your smoothie more filling and helps your body to absorb the nutrients you are taking in. Avocado makes your smoothie thicker and more satisfying. Coconut oil is also a good option for all of the anti-viral and brain protective properties. I don't add fish oil to my smoothies. https://amzn.to/41ZvDNO

5) Liquid -

Spring Water - I use spring water to cut down on calories

Milk https://amzn.to/3Vd1sjV

Almond milk https://amzn.to/421WvfQ

Coconut milk https://amzn.to/3LDksVv

Yogurt

Vanilla almond milk is a favorite for making a sweeter smoothie for my kids. https://amzn.to/3AHWFxa

The only blender I have ever really loved for making smoothies is the Nutribullet. I like it the most because it absolutely pulverizes anything you put in your smoothie cup, and you drink your smoothie right from the blender cup. There are lots of different sizes available, but I use the big 32 oz one. I figure if you're going to go through all of the trouble of making a smoothie you might as well make a big one and possibly have some left over for tomorrow! (That never seems to happen for me, though...)

Nutribullet: https://amzn.to/40Pfrh0

Silicone Smoothie Drinking Straws: https://amzn.to/3LbefyC

I'll also put links to the smoothie cups and straws that I use to share a smoothie with my three girls. They love to choose their fruits and vegetables for their own smoothies, and having them help ensures that they are excited about drinking it and they learn about new fruits and vegetables and how to fuel their little bodies for learning and playtime!

Kids Smoothie Jars and Straws: https://amzn.to/3NuNtns

Enjoy! Let me know how your smoothie making adventure goes, and if you have any important ingredients that I need to add here!

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