The easy and essential smoothie for kids and adults

I’ve always enjoyed the occasional smoothie as either an alternative to my usual breakfast option or as a refreshing, healthy pick me up in the afternoon. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I started to understand the benefits of specific blends of fruit and veggie smoothies that can offer the health benefits I need in my diet, and eventually my daughter’s diet as well. Below are the benefits I enjoy with my smoothie mix and the easy ingredients I use to make it.

Supports healthy digestion and bowel movements

This is the number one reason I make this smoothie every week. When my daughter started eating solid foods vs. milk as her main food supply, she had MAJOR constipation issues. I mean screaming and crying for hours just trying to pass her bowels. It would last for days at a time, and it was torture for us to see her in such pain and discomfort. We tried everything: prune juice, apple juice, dates, warm milk, you name it. Eventually our doctor recommended we put her on Miralax, which worked, but it worked a little too well, and then we were dealing with diarrhea. And overall, I’m not sold on daily medications as the cure for most ailments; I believe changing your diet is usually the cure. So I tested out different blends of smoothies to see what would offer her good nutrition and get her bowels moving better. My recipe below has been our go-to solution for over a year now, and we haven’t had an issue since. (and it works just as well for adults, too!)

Boosts immune system

The reality is that most people usually don’t get the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables in their daily diets. And as a result, we don’t benefit from the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that can help to strengthen our immune systems. For me to remain healthy, I have to have a sturdy immune system, so my smoothie mix helps ensure I’m getting what I need, especially when I’m not feeling my best.

Increases sustained hydration

Even with the number of healthy ingredients in any smoothie, the main ingredient is usually water. For those who don’t like to drink a ton of water in a day (shout out to those trying to get a gallon in per day with me!), a smoothie is a good way to make sure you are getting in a few extra glasses of water along your day.

Here is my #1 go to smoothie that is essential to our diets.

Tamara’s Simple Smoothie

Simply blend together:

1 ½ large handfuls of kale

1 ½ large handfuls of frozen peaches

1 ½ large handfuls of frozen mango

1 large handful of pineapples

1 small handful of grapes (of course!) or 1 granny smith apple

A few stevia packets to taste

2 cups of water, more or less depending on the desired thickness