Body Rockin’ Berry Kale Smoothie

Your Body Will Love this Berry Kale Smoothie

1. How do you get the energy you need?
2. How do you get someone to eat kale (one of the most nutrient packed veggies out there) who thinks it tastes nasty?
3. How do you jump start your day with fiber, antioxidants, and protein?

You knock back this kick-butt smoothie before you head out the door.

Why is this powerful berry kale smoothie rocking my body’s world?

When I created this recipe to support my own health needs, as soon as I started drinking it, it’s like my cells sucked it up. I just can’t get enough.

The berry-kale combo rocks my world, but what puts this smoothie over the edge is the addition of the unsweetened kefir. It provides the magical digestive aid and immune support our bodies so desperately crave. If you’re taking antibiotics, suffer from food allergies or any other immune deficiency/illness, you can add probiotic powder to this smoothie. You won’t taste it, but your body will benefit from the fantastic flora you feed it!

Added nutritional bonus for kids and adults

The berries and small amount of banana hide the taste of the kale and sourness of the kefir (and probiotic powder if using). You sneak in all of those vitamins, minerals, and good bacteria for kids and adults who like everything sweet. This smoothie is a great way to ween yourself and those you care about off super sweet stuff and get some of the most powerful veggies and cultured foods into your daily routine.

Let’s Make a Body Rockin’ Berry Kale Smoothie!

Print Recipe

Body Rockin' Berry Kale Smoothie

Servings: 1 -2 (Makes 16-20 ounces)

Author: Angela Marinelli, M.S., M.Ed.

Ingredients

Must-Haves

• 1 1/4 cup frozen mixed berries
• 1 1/4 cup kale
• 1 1/4 cup unsweetened kefir
• 1/2 of a banana yes, you can replace the banana, see below
• 1/2 cup water

Optional Add-Ins

• 1-2 scoops Vitality Greens Probiotic Powder
• 1-2 teaspoons probiotic powder
• 1 tbsp chia seeds add an additional 1/4 cup of water if not replacing banana
• 1/4 cup oatmeal add an additional 1/4 cup of water if not replacing banana

Instructions

• Put all ingredients in a high power blender and blend until smooth (about 1 minute).
• If you want the smoothie a little sweeter at first, use the whole banana. Avoid adding sugar or fruit juice. Let the fruit do the sweetening for you!
• Want to make this smoothie more filling? Use the chia seed or oatmeal optional add-ins.

Notes

Copywright: Angela Marinelli, M.S., M.Ed., Nourishment Connection 2013

What’s Kefir?

It’s cultured milk that’s full of fantastic flora – the good bacteria – your digestive system loves. This flora keeps pathogens, like yeast, in balance, making sure candida doesn’t run rampant in an over-sugared environment. Yeast loves sugar.

Like yogurt, however, flavored kefirs can be loaded with added sugar. No, thank you! Go for the plain, unsweetened kefir.

Allergic to milk? Lactose Intolerant?

No worries. Me, too. I drink plain cultured coconut milk almost every day – in this smoothie, or with a tablespoon of unsweetened pomegranate juice added to it. There is also lactose free kefir available. Cultured foods have many health benefits. Start adding one to your berry kale smoothie!

Cultured coconut milk is different from coconut water and plain coconut milk. I get the SoDelicious brand, plain, unsweetened at Whole Foods. It looks like this:

Want to Make Your Berry Kale Smoothie More Filling?

My dear friend, Andrea, asked me how to make this smoothie more filling so she could stave off hunger. I recommended adding some healthy filling foods we know are appetite suppressants. Add:

1 tbsp chia seeds

• APPETITE SUPPRESSANT: If you digest chia seeds well, adding 1-2 tbsp helps suppress your appetite
  • They will be ground in the smoothie, making them easier to digest
  • They will thicken the smoothie, add 1/4 cup water if you are NOT using them as a banana replacer
• BANANA REPLACER: Chia seeds are a thickener and can be used to REPLACE banana if you don’t want banana in your smoothie
• NUTRIENTS: Packed with fiber and Omega 3’s (more than flax seed or salmon), you get added nutition.

1/4 cup oatmeal

• APPETITE SUPPRESSANT: Oatmeal burns slowly, like chia seeds will help you feel full and stave off hunger.
  • They will thicken the smoothie, add 1/4 cup water if you are NOT using them as a banana replacer
• BANANA REPLACER: Oatmeal is a thickener and can be used to REPLACE banana if you don’t want banana in your smoothie
• NUTRIENTS: Full or fiber and protein.
• GLUTEN-FREE: There are gluten-free oats available, so if you are gluten-free, be sure to get them

Note: I like using a combination of chia seeds and oatmeal to replace banana with the kefir (also helps thicken) to thicken the smoothie to prevent the chia seeds from getting slimey.

Ginger root

• Ginger root gets circulation and metabolism going.
• Keeps hunger at bay.
• If you like it’s spicy kick, you may like the taste in your smoothie. If not, stick with the chia seeds and oatmeal.

Chia seeds and oatmeal both thicken the smoothie (great way to lose the banana if you don’t like it). Add 1/4 – 1/2 cup additional water if you add the chia seeds and/or oatmeal with the banana. Start with 1/4 cup. Adjust from there to your desired thickness.

Thanks for the great question, Ange! 🙂