Jackson Free Press

Chow down on a granola bar and a banana while running out the front door first thing in the morning. Scarf a brown bag PB&J at lunch time between meetings, and hurry to put some pasta on the table when you get home. For so many of us, busy days can get away from us. It can be difficult to eat right and get all of the nutrients our body needs to be healthy. After a day of work and running around, slicing an eggplant, rinsing collard greens or sauteing an onion can sometimes just seem like too much.

One of the easiest ways to get several fruits and vegetables all at one time--as well as to ensure a daily dose of your superfood leafy greens--is to make green smoothies. All you need to get started is a blender or food processor and a spirit of adventure.

Smoothies are forgiving, so exact measurements are not important, and experimentation and substitution are part of the game. Any leafy green will do, but I generally chose to use nutrient-dense spinach, which has a milder flavor than kale, collards and the like.

For a one-serving green smoothie, my basic recipe is one large handful of spinach, one banana, one swig of orange juice, and a handful of one or two other fruits. I peel bananas and citrus fruits before throwing them into a smoothie, but you can simply wash strawberries and throw them in, leaves and all if you are in a hurry. If you are too tired at the end of the day to even think about trying something new, then make a smoothie first thing in the morning, carry it with you in your favorite travel mug, and start the day off right with a big nutritional boost!

Fruit Combinations

Strawberry and mango (vitamins A and C)

Blueberry and strawberry (vitamins A, B complex, C and E)

Raspberry and peach (vitamins A, C, E and K, potassium, manganese)

Kiwi and strawberry (vitamin C, potassium, magnesium)

Clementine and blueberry (vitamins A, B complex, C and E, potassium, calcium)

Other Nutritious Add-Ins

Chia seeds (improve heart health with omega 3 fatty acids)

Wheat germ (boost your plant-based protein intake)

Ground flax seeds (increase your digestive health with high fiber content)

Plain Greek yogurt (enhance immunity with live, active cultures)