Mamavation Approved Smoothies

Among the Mamavation Sistahood, there is lots of talk about drinking nutritious smoothies as part of a healthy diet. I'm not one who generally does well with liquid calories (I never could stick with the SlimFast shakes). I prefer to chew! But I like smoothies when I need to boost my nutrition for the day or if I'll be going out for dinner and want a good snack before I go.

The great thing about making smoothies at home is that YOU control what goes into them. You can customize them with flavors and ingredients. It's totally up to you!

First, you can start with either a cup of water, milk, or yogurt. I prefer to use milk or yogurt to help me get an additional serving of dairy.

Next, add fruit. I typically use half a banana and one cup of frozen fruit. Using frozen fruit makes the smoothie thick without adding ice cubes. I have even made a melon smoothie with cantaloupe and watermelon.

For added nutrition, you can add up to one cup of greens, my favorite is spinach. But kale, beet greens, or even parsley would work! The taste of the greens is covered by the fruit, so don't worry about that. Also, you can add wheat germ or ground flax meal. They do add some "texture" to the smoothie, so you can start with a little to get used to it. I don't add any sweetener, sugar or honey. The fruit is generally sweet enough.

Add all these ingredients to your blender (or Magic Bullet), blend, and enjoy!

Do you make homemade smoothies? What are your favorite flavor combinations.


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