Your Health: Spring Smoothies

By Monica Swanson

Thank goodness it’s March and spring has sprung (or has it?). At least we know it’s coming soon!

Whether it’s warm and sunny where you are or not, we’re all ready for sunny days ahead. If your family has had its share of hot cocoa (or warm ginger tonic!) this year, maybe it’s time to think about some healthy and refreshing drinks, like these three healthy and delicious smoothies!

Our family lives on smoothies all year round, and I depend on them for a number of reasons:

 

1. They are the easiest way to sneak in healthy ingredients for the picky young eaters in the family.

2. My teenage boys are hungry. ALL. DAY. LONG. Smoothies can pack in a lot of healthy calories and go down easily.

3. Everyone in my family is on the go! My husband is running off to work. My kids are headed out to activities.

A smoothie is easy to drink while kids are at school, or taken in a travel cup in the car. I send a smoothie in a plastic cup out to my husband while he is doing yard work. Easy! Smoothies are a perfect solution for busy medical families with hectic schedules who are trying to stay healthy.

The key to the perfect smoothie is finding the balance between making it taste great, and keeping it healthy. Because here is the truth: not all smoothies are created equally. When you order a smoothie from somewhere other than home, you might not be sure what you’re getting…it might be a packaged blend of sugar and ice, or something more like a glorified milkshake. Some juice bars have excellent smoothies, but I suggest to trying to make them at home!

When I make smoothies, I know exactly what is going in them, and I save a lot of money. Here are three of our family’s favorite smoothie recipes. You can vary the ingredients any way you like, and keep playing around until you find what works for you!

TROPIC-KALE SMOOTHIE

Ingredients:
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup pineapple chunks
1 large banana
1 cup kale or spinach leaves
1 cup ice
(optional add-ins: fresh papaya, vanilla yogurt, 1/2 cup orange juice, or a touch of honey or agave nectar to sweeten.)

Put all ingredients in the blender and blend well.  Enjoy!

*This smoothie tastes similar to a Pina Colada.

VERY BERRY SMOOTHIE

Ingredients:
1 cup frozen mixed berries (or berry of your choice.)
1 banana (frozen is best)
1 cup milk of choice
1/4 cup agave nectar or honey
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup ice
(optional add-ins: protein powder, flax seeds, greens (you won’t be able to taste them!) or beets)

Blend well and enjoy!

HEALTHY ORANGE JULIUS

Ingredients:
1 cup orange juice
1 cup milk of choice (I use almond.)
1/4 cup honey or agave nectar, or to taste
1 cup ice
1 tsp. vanilla extract
(optional add-ins: protein powder, frozen banana)

Blend it all up, and enjoy!

I hope blending up some smoothies helps usher in a most beautiful spring for you, wherever you are!

Monica Swanson lives with her very active family on two acres in the country on Oahu, Hawaii. You can read more about Monica and her discussions on parenting, healthy marriage and recipes at her blog: www.monicaswanson.com.