I’ve recently developed a small cold.  I’ve been feeling tired, losing my voice, sore throat and coughing constantly.  This morning I woke up craving a green smoothie like you wouldn’t even believe.  As my blender was whirling everything up I stared at the green contents amazed this was what my body wanted for breakfast!  

I have not always craved greens.  In fact I loathed dark greens.  I grew up on iceberg lettuce and always thought  people who ate ‘weeds’, aka dark greens, were downright sick!  After reading many food books and several blogs on how great greens were for you, I decided to give them a try. It’s been almost two years now since I’ve introduce dark leafy greens into my diet and I have never been more satisfied.  I love my dark greens now and I CRAVE them.  I even have my five-year-old daughter drinking green smoothies.  Now, she doesn’t throw them back like she would sweet tea but still half-cup portions for her are good enough for me.   

Here are some tips and tricks to train your body and mind into loving nutrient-packed dark greens.

• Start with baby spinach.  It is very mild.
• If you only eat iceberg lettuce try adding in a small amount of baby spinach.  Be sure to cut the spinach up into bite-sized pieces.
• Add flavorful seasonings, balsamic vinegar and evoo to your leafy green salads.
• For green smoothies, start with baby spinach.  Add a TINY amount of honey/agave to sweeten it a bit.  {do not add too much or you will train your taste buds to think it is supposed to be super sweet…..the banana should sweeten it quite a bit as well}
• If the green color of the smoothie mentally throws your stomach off, put it in a dark cup so you can’t see it what you are drinking.  “Fake it ‘til you make it.”  *This is a great tip for children as well.  They will never know what they are drinking is green. 

Green Smoothie:

1 handful greens {this is kale, baby spinach is my favorite}

¾ C almond milk

1 frozen banana

½ t vanilla

½ t chia seeds or ground flax

a few drops of fresh lemon (optional)

Drizzle of honey {if desired}

Add ingredients to a blender.  Enjoy!