The food pyramid. It’s that triangle with cute pictures used to educate children about a healthy, balanced diet. I’m sure you can scavenge through your memories of elementary school and recall this lesson. Or maybe you noticed the diagram hanging on the wall of your doctor’s office at your recent visit.
What does the food pyramid actually tell us? That we should consume the five major food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein.
This Pink Fruit and Veggie Smoothie contains:
- 4 servings of vegetables
- 3 servings of fruit
- 2 servings of dairy
- 1 serving of protein
That’s four out of the five major food groups! (If you’re a perfectionist or an overachiever, toss in half cup of oatmeal to hit all five categories.)
The best thing is that this smoothie actually tastes yummy, despite the four kinds of vegetables. Spinach and kale don’t add much flavor, the carrot brings a hint of sweetness, and the beet makes this smoothie the most delicious shade of pink.
Bananas are essential to every smoothie (in my opinion) while the blueberries and strawberries mix with the milk and yogurt to form a creamy base. The few tablespoons of flax and chia give a bit of protein too. Blend it all together in your high-powered blender, like the Vitamix, for a yummy Pink Fruit and Veggie Smoothie!
- 1 large carrot, peeled
- 1 handful of spinach
- 1 handful of kale
- 1 medium beet, peeled
- ¼ cup frozen blueberries
- ½ banana
- ½ cup frozen strawberries
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup kefir or yogurt
- 2 Tbsp flax seed
- 1 Tbsp chia seed
- Place all ingredients in a high-powered blender. Blend on high for 30 seconds until all ingredients are combined.
You can use raw beets for this recipe–there is no need to cook them first!
Nutrition Information:Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 274Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 273mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 9gSugar: 20gProtein: 15g