Ahh, summer! Ours is spent with long lazy days at the pool, sitting in the shade of the back yard, or day tripping around town. The last thing I want to do is heat up the kitchen, and the kids don’t want to interrupt play time to sit down to a meal. So my compromise is that as long as everyone sits down to dinner together, I don’t really fuss about what they do at breakfast or lunch.
So, we make a LOT of smoothies. It’s an easy, tasty way to get a few servings of fruits and veggies, that taste so cool and refreshing on hot days, and they’re grab-and-go. Even easier if you use the Frugal & Fruity Freeze-Ahead method-open up a baggie, toss it in the blender, add some liquid, pulse, and voila!
The basic master recipe is simply 1 1/2 c. fruit/veggies of your choice, 1 c. greens (I recommend baby greens i.e. spinach or kale–they are tender so they blend very easily and have a mild taste), and 1 c. liquid. Add a few tablespoons of oats, chia, flax, or hemp seeds for an extra boost of protein, fiber, and good fats if desired. Choose your favorite flavors in each category-there are infinite combinations! Here are a few of our family’s favorites:
Piña Colada
1 c. frozen pineapple chunks, 1/2 c. frozen mango chunks or 1/2 a banana, 1 c. baby greens, 1 c. coconut milk
The Incredible Hulk
1/2 c. frozen peaches, 1/2 c. diced cucumber, 1/2 an avocado, 1 c. baby greens, 1 c. orange juice
Strawberry Melon-ade
1 c. frozen strawberries, 1/2 c. diced melon (honeydew, canteloupe, or watermelon), 1 c. baby greens, 3 Tbsp. each raw honey and fresh lemon juice, 1 c. water
Orange Pineapple Sunrise
1 c. frozen pineapple, 1/2 c. frozen strawberries, 1 c. baby greens, 1 c. orange juice
Mango Mojito
1 c. frozen mango, 1/2 c. diced cucumber, juice of one lime, 1 c. baby greens, 1 c. strong brewed mint tea
Enjoy these as a quick breakfast or lunch, or a refreshing mid-day treat!
Photo Credit: Pamela Bates
