This is one of those things that is FAR better than it seems like it should be. A smoothie with spinach should be gross. But these are so good that I could drink them any time of day.  My kids could too. I call them my little green monsters. When they notice that smoothie making is under way Trinity proceeds to ask me “Can I have some too mommy? Do I get some green monster?” desperately worried that, despite the fact that she always gets to have some, this may be the one time she is left out. Lilly jumps up and down shrieking and laughing with joy, follows me around, and holds her hands up in the air until a cup of smoothie is placed in her hands and she is guzzling happily.

We first started drinking these a year ago when we discovered http://www.greenmonstermovement.com. There are as many variations of this smoothie as there are ingredients you can think of to add. I’ve added peanut butter, flaxseed, fresh berries, carrot, avocado (makes it super creamy!), and cocoa powder depending on what I have on hand or am in the mood for. They’ve all been good. The following recipe is our family’s basic, all-time favorite version. Again, modify to whatever your family likes. You can substitute regular, rice, or almond milk for the soy milk. For sweeteners you could use honey, sucanat, agave nectar, or a little maple syrup in place of the stevia. Here is our favorite:

Green Monster Smoothie – yields 1 serving

• 2 cups packed baby organic spinach
• 1 ripe banana
• generous 1/2 cup frozen peaches
• 1/2 cup acai berry juice
• 1/2 cup vanilla soy milk
• pure powdered stevia to taste (we use a very small amount as pure stevia is strong!)

Place spinach on the bottom of the blender. (Putting the heavier ingredients on top of the spinach will ensure that it does not fly up when the blender starts and neglect to get fully incorporated.) Break banana in half and place on top of spinach. Add peaches, juice, soy milk, and stevia. Blend until smooth.

You won’t believe how good these taste!!