Categories: Urban Jane Recipes

Drink Your Veggies (and Fruits and Berries)!

I am a big fan of smoothies. It's amazing how versatile they are and how easy they are to make. Not to mention, they taste really good!

Blueberry, spinach, banana, avocado smoothie with a splash of water and almond milk

There are some ingredients that I use in nearly all smoothies I make:

– spinach

– banana

– purified water or almond milk

Spinach makes a great base for smoothie. For those who are a bit suspicious about the taste – don't worry, you really don't even taste it. But it gives the drink (or, should we call it a food? Why not?) a nice thickness. Throw a generous handful of it into your blender each time you make yourself a healthy, refreshing smoothie.

Left: Into the blender went spinach, banana, mango chunks, frozen strawberries, coconut cream. Right: That's how it came out!

I also love bananas in my powerdrink. It gives smoothie a hint of sweetness, so there's no need to add any sugar or sweetener. Bananas also give you some great carbs that are rich in energy and keep you satisfied.

Bananas are a great source of carbs

And, of course, water or almond milk, to get the things moving.

Then, to give a smoothie some extra staying power, make sure to add some healthy fats. Here's what I love to use:

– coconut milk or cream

– avocado

– nuts or seeds

– spoonful of coconut butter

Coconut milk or cream or avocado give the drink a nice creamy texture you will love. Add in a tablespoon of coconut butter to get even more satisfying drink. You can also blend in some almonds, nuts or seeds, but you may also crush them and add drizzle on top.

Then, after you thrown into your blender a bunch of spinach, a banana and a little water, when you have chosen your source of fat, there are so many other options to use in your smoothie. Here are some of them:

– fresh or frozen berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)

– fresh or frozen fruit (mangos, peaches, pineapple chunks)

– fresh cucumber

– mint leaves, vanilla, orange zest, carob powder, cinnamon… all the great spices and flavors!

Frozen strawberries, raspberries, banana and coconut milk – tastes like dessert!

I have also tried some of the not so common vegetables in smoothie, like pumpkin, sweet potatoes and carrots. Just bake them up in the oven so they're soft and tender, let them cool and add into your food processor. You will be surprised how good a pumpkin, carrot and banana smoothie is!

A smoothie made of baked pumpkin and sweet potato

Why not to play around in a kitchen and try some more new to you ingredients!

Your turn: Do you like smoothies?

What are some of the not so common you have used in your smoothie?

Kersten Kimura