I am not exactly sure when my love affair with smoothies started.  There was a smoothie place near my university, so I used to grab one every so often.  I also liked to make my own at home, especially during the sweltering summer months. At some point, my infrequent treat turned into weekly habit, and then progressed into a daily indulgence. Yes, I must admit. I am hooked on smoothies.

Benefits of Drinking Smoothies

The benefits of smoothies, particularly green smoothies, are immeasurable. In her interview on All Day Natural, author Kim Caldwell (of How Green Smoothies Saved My Life) shared how smoothies had greatly impacted her health. Now, smoothies have not saved my life (yet), but I can attest to how much better I feel since I have incorporated them into my daily regimen.  I consistently get compliments on my glowing skin, and I have more energy than ever. It’s the only thing that allows me to get up for my 5:30 a.m. (!) workouts.

I usually drink them first thing in the morning, and I feel so refreshed. As others who regularly drink green smoothies can affirm, my desire for green, leafy vegetables has increased.

Simple Recipes for Spring Smoothies

So how do you make smoothies? The contents are entirely up to you. Most people include a base of fruit and water, juice or ice. For the maximum health benefits and taste, I use seasonal fruit, a handful of greens, and water (if necessary). Some people add nuts or dates too.  It’s not really necessary to add any other sweetener, because most fruit is sweet enough.

If you are using greens, place the blender on high speed in order to liquefy. The best greens to use for smoothies are: spinach, kale, chard, parsley, and collard. I try to avoid the stronger tasting greens that would overpower the fruit, like mustard and arugula. The site Smoothie Drinker has a great post on other greens you can add to your smoothie.

Below are a couple of recipes that I have used lately. Feel free to experiment, using your favorite fruits that are in season. Just throw the ingredients in the blender and go!

Strawberry-Banana Delight

1 cup fresh strawberries

1 banana  (2 if you like a thicker consistency)

2 collard greens

1/4 cup water or fresh orange juice

Blueberry-Pineapple Mix

1 cup blueberries

2 cups pineapple

1 cup spinach leaves

Do you drink smoothies? What are your favorite recipes?