Drinking your Salad!

by Maria Hicks

Have you ever heard of drinking your salad? It’s basically a smoothie! I have been really into making green smoothies this summer. Smoothies are very refreshing and can be loaded with nutrients. The benefits of actually drinking your veggies are incredible and when we blend and drink our veggies & fruits, our bodies can use more of the wonderful nutrients and antioxidants. Of course, I still encourage you to eat raw and steamed veggies, but in addition, try drinking more fruit & vegetable smoothies. Smoothies have been known to help increase energy, improve digestion, improve skin tone and lessen the cravings for sugary foods. Well, isn’t that great?

Here’s what I think… drinking a smoothie is a great way to start your day, have as a snack, a pre or post-workout meal or even have a smoothie for dinner (let’s say… if you went to a buffet and ate too much at lunch). Don’t think of smoothies as just fruit and yogurt in a blender and voila! I want you to think of drinking highly nutrient dense smoothies that include vegetables and Omega 3 fats! Here’s a simple (and one of my favorite) recipes! Enjoy!

Water (as much as you like for your desired thickness)

1 cup blueberries

1 cup of washed raw (or slightly steamed) kale

1-2 tablespoon of ground flaxseed or chia seeds (Omega 3 fats)

½ banana

½ cup steamed broccoli and/or cauliflower

A few dashes of cinnamon

BLEND to smooth! Add sesame seeds or chopped walnuts or almonds on top!