Smoothies are a great way to pack a lot of punch into one meal or snack. If you are worried about you or your children getting enough nutrients while making the transition to plant-based, here is a simple way to load your body up with the good stuff.
John and the kids really enjoy fruity smoothies while I like creamier, peanut buttery smoothies. I’ve come up with a basic, very loose formula to make smoothies that everyone can enjoy!
Fruity, tropical type smoothies
I start with 2 bananas. Then I add some applesauce (unsweetened), greens (if everyone is wanting a green smoothie), then frozen strawberries and either a frozen fruit salad mix or a frozen tropical fruit mix. I top it off with unsweetened almond milk and blend it all up! This usually makes quite a large smoothie (around 40 oz) so that all four (John and the kids) can split it.
Creamier type smoothies
I start with 2-3 frozen bananas, a heaping pile of greens (spinach/kale), peanut butter, date caramel and I tend to toss in some dairy free chocolate chips at the end unless I’m adding cocoa powder. If I’m planning for my smoothie to be a meal replacer, I’ll add a can of drained garbanzo beans into the mix. This really makes it filling and you can’t detect the beans at all! I also like to drop in some frozen coconut milk or frozen almond milk cubes to make it really cold and refreshing!
I know drinking smoothies and especially green smoothies can sound daunting, but it’s totally not! They taste great (you honestly can’t taste the greens at all) and give you a boost of energy while really fueling your body with wonderful, natural nutrients.
Don’t let the thought of a green smoothie paralyze you! Just throw in whatever sounds good and it will come out delicious!
Let me know what smoothies you come up with! I’m always looking for new combinations!
