On The Go Fuel, Mom Hack #132

Moms have all kinds of parenting hacks up their sleeves — Sneaking veggies into our kid’s smoothie is just one of them. But who’s to say it’s a tactic only to be used for kids? There are also a lot of adults who don’t love veggies, and I am unabashedly one of them.

As a self-proclaimed smoothie snob, I’m a proponent that everyone should enjoy a smoothie at least once a day. For me, it’s a convenient way to get extra protein and my supplements in (I’m partial to Collagen Peptides for my plantar fasciitis), in addition to my greens of course; but you can add in what suits you best (flax or chia seed, turmeric powder, protein powder, etc.).

You know why else I’m a smoothie fan though? Because it’s a super practical way to consume a whole bunch of good-for-you stuff while you’re sitting on the couch sounding words out with your son in his leveled reader book of the day, which let’s face it, can be a slllooowww task. And if your metabolism is anything like mine, you know patience runs on E when you’re creeping towards hungry.

The Windup

Who has time for measurements? Follow these four guidelines and you should be downing smooth fruits and veggies in no time. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again! That’s the beauty of the blender, you can always re-blend if it’s too bitter, sweet, or still just too chunky.

  1. Ingredients should be covered, but not swimming pre-blend. If you have too much liquid it will be too watered down, too little and you will know because your frozen ingredients will wreak havoc on your blade.
  2. One of the fruits should be frozen for a perfect temp — not an ice cube, but also not a garden of hot veggies in your mouth.
  3. If you count your portions throughout the day, a half of a banana typically equates to one carb (a cupped palm). You should not need any more to achieve a fluffy texture and/or to mask the flavor of the greens.
  4. Arm yourself with the proper tools, we don’t call it a “SMOOTHie” for nothing. Invest in a good blender. I am currently a happy camper with my trusty VitaMix. A thermos/straw set you love is also vital, always with a lid — because, kids.

The Pitch

  1. Citrus-Free: Almond milk, Greek yogurt, kale, banana, blueberries
  2. Vitamin C: Orange juice, Greek yogurt, spinach, banana, strawberries
  3. Celebr-erry: Water, celery, squeeze of lemon, spinach, banana, apple
  4. Tropical Greens: Pineapple juice, kale, spinach, mango, small piece of ginger*
  5. Blueberry Protein: Milk, cottage cheese, banana, blueberries, sprinkle of cinnamon
  6. Showstopper: Apple juice, Greek yogurt, raspberries, mango, small piece of ginger*
  7. Vegged Up Pineapple: Pineapple juice, squeeze of lime, ice, spinach, celery stalk, chunk of peeled cucumber

Pro tip: Keep a thumb of unpeeled ginger in your freezer, and cut off only the amount you need each time you need it.

Cheers!

Katie Moreno
Katie was born and raised in the small town of Milton, Wis. She graduated from UW-Milwaukee, although spent most of her semesters studying and working abroad. Katie is a food allergy parent, and avid proponent for inclusivity among food minority groups. She thrives on coffee, and freshly squeezed orange juice.

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