This summer, smoothies have become my favorite go-to snack. The great selection of produce in season right now and the ease of single serving-size blenders (I bought one made by Hamilton Beach at Target for only twelve dollars!) make smoothies a great option for a healthy, on the go treat.
In the month of July, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are perfectly ripe for the picking, so I take a sunny Saturday afternoon as opportunity to go to the local farmer’s market to stock up. These berries definitely pack their fair share of antioxidants, but to add a real punch, I also buy a bundle of kale or spinach to add to my smoothies.
You may be thrown off by the thought (or the green color) of this revamped smoothie, but the taste is even better than the same version sans-leafy greens! Plus, the green addition lends a long list of nutrients to your smoothie. If you choose to add spinach, for example, you will be contributing vitamins and minerals essential to bone health such as vitamin K and magnesium, among others. To really load up on bone-healthy nutrients, I like to make my smoothies with almond milk or plain Greek yogurt since they both have great consistencies and contain about thirty percent of the daily recommended value of calcium. What’s more, these fruits and veggies contain significant amounts of dietary fiber, which is good for digestive health and for keeping you full.
Hopefully these seemingly endless benefits will inspire you to try this nutrient-dense concoction! Be good to your bones and your taste buds; enjoy!
