It’s smoothie time! Today’s recipe for this Mango Green Smoothie is actually the first smoothie recipe ever posted on 360FamilyNutrition. Surprising right?!
I can’t say smoothies are a part of my routine diet, but I do go through smoothie phases. This past weekend I decided it was time to introduce my little one to the world of smoothies. In several previously blog posts I mentioned how my little one is not such a big fan of vegetables – well it seems smoothies are another subtle way to include those veggies.
Now you must understand – not all smoothies are created equal. I like to remind my clients of this all the time! If you are not mindful, smoothies can add up excess calories quite quickly. For a balanced smoothie try to include at least one fruit, vegetable, and a protein source (like protein powder or Greek yogurt). A fat source such as an avocado or peanut butter are optional – but the portion should be kept in check. Try to limit the added sugars such as granulated sugar or honey. Hopefully, the natural sweetness of fruit will be adequate.
For today’s smoothie, I went the greens route with spinach and avocado. Let’s talk about my favorite addition to the smoothie – the Mango! The sweet and tropical flavor of the mango help to create a delicious smoothie. Needless to say, my little one loved his first smoothie!
Enjoy!
Your Family’s Dietitian,
- 1 cup milk of choice
- 3 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach, raw
- 1/4 avocado
- ¾ cup fresh or frozen mango
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp honey
- optional: water or ice