The basic green smoothie

June 29, 9:11 AMPortland Holistic Health ExaminerAqiylah Collins

Ingredients

• 1 - 2 cups fruit/berries (include 1 banana or 1/2 an avocado for creamy base)
• A handful of greens (spinach, kale, lettuce or Swiss chard, etc)
• 1/2 cup ice cubes (or better yet, make sure some of your fruit is frozen)
• 1/2 cup water or more, as needed
• Some agave nectar or dried fruit (dates, apricots, figs) to sweeten, if needed

Preparation
Blend all of your ingredients together until very smooth. Add more water as needed for the consistency you like.

Pour into a tall glass, serve and enjoy!

Tips
You will need a high power blender or smoothie maker that can handle frozen fruit and ice cubes. If your blender isn’t super strong, use smaller frozen fruits like berries and/or crushed ice or ice-cold water instead.

Start out with more fruit than greens and work your way up to more greens as you become accustomed to the green smoothie experience.

Increase or decrease the amount of water depending on how juicy the fruit is and the consistency you like.

If using a high power blender, do not blend on highest setting more than 30 seconds as it may begin to heat (cook) your smoothie.

Whenever you are craving something sweet, make a green smoothie and see what happens.

Drink one or more green smoothies a day for health benefits.

Serves: 1-2