Green Kale Smoothie with Mango

Alright, maybe it’s not that simple. But by following a few simple directions, you can use different ingredients to make a multitude of different smoothie flavors for every craving you may have.

Personally, I have found my perfect smoothie. It’s so perfect that I make it for breakfast every single weekday. It’s packed full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, protein, and fiber. What more could you ask for?

My perfect smoothie only consists of 6 different ingredients: almond milk, kale, frozen bananas, frozen mangos, maca powder, and hemp hearts. The kale is a wondrous ingredient in itself, as it is high in fiber, iron, antioxidants, vitamins K, A, C, and calcium. Just looking at it makes me feel healthier.

The bananas are high in potassium, and the mangos are rich in vitamins A, C, and B6. Hemp hearts are known for being one of the densest sources of plant protein, are high in omega fatty acids, and are a great source of vitamin E and iron. Last, but certainly not least, the maca powder is a superfood that adds in an extra dose of energy – which is exactly what I need to start my day.

There is a trick to getting that delightful, creamy smoothie texture: frozen fruit. I have found in the past that adding ice into my smoothies makes them a little too watery, and they always end up having an undesirable crunch from the pieces of ice the blender doesn’t grind up. Plus, you can keep frozen fruit way longer than fresh fruit, so there’s no risk of craving a smoothie one morning only to find that all of your fruit has gone bad.

Bananas are the perfect base fruit, as I have found they give the creamiest texture, however any mixture of frozen fruits will do. Want a lower carb recommendation? Substitute avocado for the banana – it’ll still give the same creamy texture. I recommend trying this recipe at least once (I swear, you won’t regret it), but feel free to mix and match ingredients to your liking! This recipe keeps me feeling so full and gives me so much energy that I am barely craving lunch by mid-afternoon.