Here’s a recipe for a simple, yet nutritious superfood smoothie:

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana
• 1/2 cup frozen berries (such as blueberries, raspberries, or acai berries)
• 1/2 cup fresh baby spinach or kale
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
• 1 teaspoon honey or a drizzle of maple syrup/light blue agave (optional)
• Shaved coconut (garnish optional)

Instructions:

1. Place spinach or kale at base of blender(closest to blades). Add banana, frozen or fresh berries, almond milk, chia seeds, ground flaxseeds and honey or sweetener (if desired) in this order.
2. Blend all the ingredients on high speed until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy.
3. If the smoothie is too thick, you can add more almond milk or water to reach the desired consistency. If you’d like to bulk up your smoothy try adding a tablespoon of whole oats.
4. You can add protein powder or yogurt to make it more filling. We just discovered some great protein powers that are plant based from Sprouts grocery store that include adaptogens like mushrooms in great flavors like classic vanilla or salted caramel. If you’re trying salted caramel I’d definitely switch up the fruit selection.
5. Garnish with shaved coconut for extra texture and flavor if you like.
6. Pour the smoothie into a glass and enjoy it immediately.

The Superfood Smoothy Recipe is a great starting point, you can add any other superfoods of your liking. Superfoods to add: maca powder, cacao, goji berries, hemp seeds or even ginger or turmeric. You can vary the fruits and vegetables to fit your preference and availability. Conversely, you can also create a thicker smoothy by cutting down almond milk down. It create a breakfast bowl that you can top with your fave whole fruits, granola, raw nuts or coconut shreds for a heartier breakfast or a great snack later in the morning.

I love to find the freshest ingredients at local farmers markets, Sprouts and Whole Foods. Generally, I use what’s in season whenever I can. However, frozen fruit is a great way to make your shopping budget go further. Who doesn’t need to make your shopping budget stretch these days? My family loves the ready made smoothie fruits packs from Sam’s Club. They’ve been a big hit with our toddler for mini smoothies and for making homemade purees.

I usually do a quick check of the fridge twice weekly. I move fruits that are are ripe & ready to the front so they’re visibly in site. It makes them easier to use and helps minimize waste. When berries or other fruit aren’t as pretty but still good, freezing them and other fruits in bite size pieces is a great way to extend their life. We use them for smoothie packs that I make up for the week, and add to oatmeal or baking. I will be doing another post all about fridge reorganization & easy meal prep hacks. You can check that out on the blog if that would make your life easier including where we sourced our items and tips to make it totally do-able!

I love to make ahead 4-6 smoothie packs. Place them in individual freezer bags with a label. The sharpie style markers designed for construction (from Home Depot) work great in the freezer. This way, mornings & snack times are faster, easier and healthy. When smoothie packs are ready; grab, blend and go! So when hunger strikes you’re on top of it! I’ll also be sharing some fave smoothie cup containers, lids and kid size spill proof gear for lunches so you can head to the car, work or school. It’s a great way to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your meal and into your growing kids diet.

Lastly, during the cool weather months, frozen fruit and veggies can be a great way to continue to add healthy goodness into your smoothie routine. Enjoy and let us know your favorite go-to smoothies. What plant based protein powders have you tried? Do you have any favorite snack go-to smoothie recipes or plant based snacks that are really satisfying and a hit with your fam?

By Caroline Morey www.carolineand.co & www.abeautifullycuratedlife.com