Green Kefir Smoothie

I use the winter months as a way to build my stockpile of frozen fruit & vegetables to be used in smoothies. If there's a bag of spinach or kale that is almost at the end of it's life, I toss it in a freezer bag, as I move through fall (gourd/squash season) I make my way through zucchini saving bits and leftovers from the tops and bottoms and any pieces in between that don't get used and freeze them, and I also freeze those random extra few pieces of fruit I may have lying around that are on the verge of going bad and freeze them just for the occasion. This is a great way to reduce waste and enjoy a piece of produce that may have ended up in a landfill. Smoothies are also awesome because you can get some dairy (or calcium fortified alternative) while enjoying a sweet cool treat as breakfast, a yummy snack, or even for recovery after an outdoor workout as the temps are rising. Smoothies are great to be prepped prior to enjoying them and can be taken on the go!

This smoothie I wanted to take to the next level by bringing in a protein powerhouse that's fermented that can assist in your digestion and tastes great. Kefir is made from cow or goat milk and is high in nutrients and probiotics. It has a tangy taste, but is smooth as any drinkable yogurt and it is lower in lactose than most yogurts. You especially won't notice the tang in this recipe if you have never had it before. Initially I had to enjoy it sweetened, but now I drink it plain topped with granola for crunch or fresh fruit. This recipe is simple and doesn't contain a ton of ingredients. 

Ingredients:

1 cup plain Lifeway Kefir

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup frozen steamed zucchini
1 cup frozen pineapple
1 cup tightly packed spinach/kale
1 Tbsp agave (or use preferred sweetener)
1 tsp Manitoba milled golden flax

How to:

Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender, add milk/water till desired consistency is reached. 

Pour into a glass or tumbler and enjoy!! 

It can be topped with more fresh cut fruit (I used pineapple), granola, nut butter, nuts or seeds, crunchy cereal, or even a few mini marshmallows. The best part about a smoothie is that there are no rules as to what it can consist of or what can top it. Here's to a few months of warmer and sunnier days that we'll be able to enjoy smoothies in all of their glory! Have a great week all!