10+ Kale Recipes You and Your Family Will Love! Plus The Nutritional Benefits Of Kale
Have you already tried a green smoothie recipe with kale?
Kale —and other greens, including collard, chard, spinach, bok choy, dandelion, parsley, turnip and beet leaves — are true superfoods. They deliver a bonanza of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. They are loaded with calcium, essential for strong bones and healthy. They provide stress-fighting B vitamins and help our eyes with vitamin A. They even contain small amounts of Omega-3 fats. But when was the last time you had a bunch of kale?
The fact is kale (and other greens) is often neglected when it comes choosing your ingredients. It’s certainly not most people’s first choice when it comes to preparing salads or vegetable side-dishes.
Especially in winter, when there are fewer in-season vegetable choices — kale and other dark, leafy greens that thrive in cooler weather are a great addition to the menu. Plus, they are great for boosting immunity – so a kale smoothie recipe may be just what the doctor ordered ;-).
Best Smoothie Blender: My Indispensable Tool for Preparing Green Smoothies
OK, if you read any of my previous blog posts, you know by now that you should be drinking lots and lots of fresh green smoothies every day.
So today, I’m going to talk about my favorite smoothie maker that I use at least 3-4 times a day to prepare green smoothies for myself or my family.
If you are searching for best blender for smoothies, keep reading and your search will soon be over 🙂
It’s been over three years now that I’ve been using a Vitamix blender for my smoothies, and – wow – it has made my life so much easier, healthier and more enjoyable to boot.
Prior to buying the Vitamix, I’d been using a different blender – I will not mention the brand here, as it does not matter. It was doing an OK job blending fruits and soft greens, such as spinach, but as it comes to making smoothies with tougher plants – kale or celery, for example – it was awful. It could not handle the tougher jobs, resulting in a chunky texture that was not very palatable. Also, I was afraid to run it for too long, as the engine was overheating quickly.
10+Easy Spinach Recipes for Smoothies: How To Make Yummy Spinach Smoothies Your Family (& Kids) will Devour!
Let’s face it – with our busy schedules, we don’t always have time to sit down and eat a healthy salad or prepare proper healthy dishes that the whole family would enjoy. But, do not despair! The quick and easy solution is pick up a quick spinach smoothie recipe and to whip up a quick green smoothie for yourself (and your family) that will give you energy, fill your belly, and fuel your tank with all the right foods.
Protein Blueberry Smoothie
This is a simple smoothie recipe that ups the protein content a bit. The result is a smoothie with a more “staying power,” so it will fill you up for longer.
I used tofu, but you can add any protein powder to your smoothie, or add some chia seeds, or hemp seeds. Blend all ingredients, pour into a glass, sip and smile!
Spiced Pumpkin Smoothie Recipe
This delightful pumpkin smoothie recipe is like chilled pumpkin pie in a glass, but without the unhealthy fats and excess calories.
This thick and creamy smoothie makes a delicious and filling liquid breakfast, snack or dessert. By the way, this recipe works beautifully with a squash puree too. (It will provide a nice break from all the green smoothie recipes for those of you who need it ;-). )
Chia Seed Smoothie Ideas
I think I’m in love. With small black and white seeds, called chia.
I’ve been adding chia seeds to my smoothies for quite some time, but I’ve never tried them on their own. So recently, I made a few version of chia seed puddings – and I was amazed how much I liked them. (My son approved them too, which is also important!)
You can check out this chia pudding here, but you can also simply a teaspoon of seeds to any smoothie for a chia-enriched drink. You’ll reap the amazing health benefits (including lots of healthy protein and fats that will help you bring your blood sugar levels to normal and prevent heart disease), even if the taste and texture will be lost.
For a simple chia seed smoothie idea, combine blueberries, bananas, spinach and chia seeds combined to these pretty purple smoothie.
Out of bananas? If you’re out of bananas, don’t like bananas, or are just looking to reduce the sugar content of your smoothie a bit, add a tablespoon of chia seeds instead!
