I love green smoothies because they're a quick and easy way to fill my kids with power-packed nutrients that they'll actually EAT. Add organic Driscoll's berries and they're sure to be a hit every time! What better way to kick off a new year than with a healthy kid-friendly option for breakfast, lunch, or even dessert!
This post was sponsored by Driscoll's Berries!
My little one will drink smoothies no problem, but Big Sis needs a ton of extra sugar to be willing to drink them. If I freeze them in cups or popsicle molds however, she'll eat them all day long! So while she's at school, I make a batch of smoothies for the little one and I, and freeze the leftovers for Big Sis. They make a great after-school snack, and I'm more than happy to let her "indulge" - whole-food fruits, veggies, and protein, with less than a teaspoon of added sugar per serving? Uh, yes! (Bonus: I use either local raw honey to help our seasonal allergies, or else organic elderberry syrup* to boost our immune systems. So even the added sugar is quality, in my mind!)
*I get my elderberry syrup special order through Natural Choice Apothecary on Etsy. (Affiliate link)
Chocolate Raspberry Green Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 cup Driscoll's organic raspberries (fresh or frozen) plus more to garnish (optional)
1 cup organic spinach leaves or 2-3 organic kale leaves, stems removed
1 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
1 banana (fresh or frozen)
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
2 Tbsp sweetener of choice (honey, agave, sugar, Norbu, etc - optional. Depends how sweet your fruit is)
1-2 tsp lemon or lime juice or vinegar (optional - to help neutralize the bitterness of the cocoa)
1-2 Tbsp total optional mix-ins: chia seeds, hemp hearts, protein powder, dried milk (or non-dairy milk) powder
Directions:
Add all ingredients to blender. Blend well!
Notes:
- I like using at least some frozen produce, so I don't need to add ice to make it cold. Bananas are super easy to freeze (just jam them in the freezer - the peel protects them from freezer burn!) and most places will sell you their overripe stock from the back room at a discount! I also freeze torn kale leaves and extra berries when I find them on sale.
- I've had best results whizzing greens and seeds together first, before adding frozen items and milk. I add fresh fruit last. But with a powerful enough blender, you can just dump it all in at once.
- Amount of added liquid can vary each time, so start with only half the milk in wiht the other ingredients, blend, and add more until you reach the desired consistency.
- Feel free to wait before adding any sweetener. Sometimes the fruit adds plenty of sweetness, other times you'll need to add extra!
Check out the Driscoll's Berry website for more great berry smoothie recipes!
Or if you prefer to experiment and create your own, check out their How to Build A Smoothie guide!
(affiliate links)
