Get Your Greens Smoothie

This smoothie is a great way to start your day with a healthy dose of green vegetables! The coconut water base also makes it a great “pick me up” on a hot summer afternoon or post exercise when you need to rehydrate. Coconut water is a rich source of electrolytes and natural minerals, especially potassium and magnesium. And it’s low in sugar but naturally sweet-tasting, with about a fifth of the sugar of other fruit juices like apple or grape.

Green smoothies are an excellent stealth vehicle for delivering veggies to kids (and adults alike). It can take a while to chew (and sell!) a salad, but this smoothie can pack a whole lot of nutrition in a super convenient, “Trojan horse” kind of way. I love adding leafy greens like kale, chard, lettuce, or spinach to smoothies because you get ALL the nutritional benefits that you would in fruit plus MORE vitamins and minerals, MINUS the sugar content.

Ingredients

• 1 cup leafy greens

• ½ cup chopped cucumber

• 1 apple, chopped

• ½ cup coconut water

• 1 inch ginger

• ¼ lime, juiced

• ice cubes as desired

Directions

1. Add the water, lime juice and ginger to blender

2. Blend on high

3. Add apple

4. Blend again until smooth and creamy

5. Add greens and blend until combined

If your child’s palate needs some time to work up to greens in a glass, you can begin by adding additional fruit or fruit juice. Pineapple or frozen banana can both get the job done here, adding lots of sweetness. And if you like it thick and creamy, add ½ an avocado and get the added benefit of more nutritious and satiating monounsaturated fats.

Get-up-and-go got-up-and-went? Try our Malted Maca Smoothie for