Green Smoothie

Ok, not everything I eat is uber healthy, in fact, my diet could stand some improving, specifically it could use more leafy greens.  Enter, the green smoothie, this drink is very nutritious (the highest nutrients are listed below).  Kale has been called the "queen of greens", it is one of the healthiest vegetables.  Kale is in the Brassica family, along with broccoli and cabbage, rich in antioxidants.  I have made smoothies with spinach before, but I have been wanting to make a smoothie with kale for a while, I just needed to wait until I had enough to pack in a full two cups.  Kale is a cool weather leafy green so it is perfect to plant in late summer to provide us with fresh leafy greens through autumn. Add fresh parsley, the world's most popular herb though it is often used only as decoration for our plates, a shame sense it is a powerhouse of nutrition.  The parsley flavor really stands out in this smoothie, if it is too much for your taste buds it could be left out.  Last, but certainly not least, kefir is a terrific source of probiotics; this website lists its many health benefits.  Someday I hope to obtain some kefir grains and make my own, saving us grocery money.   I won't normally bore you with nutrition details, at least I hope not, but these ingredients are just so powerfully rich in nutrients and health benefits, plus, why else would you drink a green smoothie, I mean it tastes great, but there are so many other smoothie options.

             1 cup raw kale                               1/2 cup fresh parsley               1/2 cup blueberries      

             Vitamin A - 10,302 IU                      Vitamin A -  2,527 IU                Vitamin C - 7.2 mg  

             Vitamin C - 80.4 mg                        Vitamin C - 39.9 mg                  Vitamin K - 14.3 mcg

             Vitamin K - 547 mcg                       Vitamin K - 492 mcg                 Manganese 0.25 mg

             Calcium - 90.5 mg                           Folate - 45.6 mcg

             Potassium - 299 mg                         Iron - 1.85 mg

Green Smoothie

~from the Sense of Home kitchen~

Serves 2

2 cups fresh kale, packed

1 cup fresh parsley (optional)

1 cup fresh blueberries

1 cup kefir

Place ingredients in blender and puree until smooth.  Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Sense of Home Kitchen / Recipes / Drinks