Here in Australia, we are opening our arms wide to embrace Springtime with gratitude.  It’s been a particularly chilly winter here in Melbourne — I had actual FROST on my lawn one morning a few weeks back (the horror!). But seriously, though winter is nice and all for things like hot chocolate and warm cuddles with little giggling children on a cold winter’s morning, I have to admit I do play favourites when it comes to the seasons and in Melbourne, Spring has my heart. Garden full of colour, sun smiling down upon us, warm days, pleasant nights. Being outside is easy, no need to worry about shoes, jackets or hats in the backyard…off you go my little cherubs! Easy 🙂

In celebration of these early Spring days, I share with you today a few sitting-on-the-deck-in-the-sunshine favourites of ours.  First up we have the amazing Green Smoothie. There are probably a million different takes on a Green Smoothie, but this one is good not just because it’s undeniably healthy for you, but because the kids LOVE IT.  My kids are a bit freaky that way, but the fruit seems to cancel out any undesirable green veg taste that kids typically reject. If your children are a bit squeamish at the prospect of drinking spinach, silverbeet and kale (yes you read that right, all three of those beauties are in this smoothie and, yep, the kids love it!) then I recommend juicing the veg all stealth-like and then serving the final product in a cup that is opaque.

Robyn’s Green Smoothie

1 large Silverbeet leaf (AKA Collard Greens for you folks in North America)

3 handfuls of baby spinach

5 handfuls of kale

1 frozen banana, peeled and quartered

Flesh of 1 mango

Filtered water as needed (between 1/4 cup and 1/3 cup)

Method:

Juice the silverbeet, baby spinach and kale.  Amounts given are approximate as I just grab from my garden. Pour juiced greens into blender and add the frozen banana, mango flesh and filtered water.  Blitz on high for a minute of two. Voila! Makes enough for 1 adult and 1 child. If the flavours of the greens are too overwhelming for your kids at first, add more banana or mango initially, then gradually decrease fruit quantities each time you make it.

Next up we have another family favourite: The Banana Carob Smoothie. Full of protein, antioxidants, phytonutrients and heaps of other healthy stuff, carob is a great choice in a smoothie as an alternative to chocolate. Particularly for little bellies, carob is great because (unlike cocoa or cacao even) it is caffeine free and only offers benefit to those that consume it.

Banana Carob Protein Smoothie

2 bananas

2 Medjool dates, pitted

1 Tbsp carob powder

2 Tbsp nut butter (I used Almond, Brazil & Cashew nut butter)

2 Cups Almond Milk

Small handful of ice

* In this instance I added Baby Probiotics to the mix as well, since Baby J has been struggling with tonsillitis and has been on antibiotics.

Blend all ingredients on high in your blender for a full minute.  Serve immediately.  Makes enough for two adults, or one adult and two children.

These are just two of the smoothies we love to make regularly.  I’m also rather partial to the Raw Cacao Hemp Seed Smoothie from Oh She Glows.  Do check that out if I have you are all smoothie-inspired now.

I hope that this Springtime will bring much light and happiness into your home.

xx

Robyn