Feijoa & Avocado Green Smoothie
Green smoothies seem to be all the rage at the moment, however there is good reason for it! Green smoothies are green because of the addition of nutritious leafy greens such as spinach or kale or other leafy greens.
Adding a few big handfuls of greens to a morning smoothie means you already have a few nutritional 'runs' on the board early in the day! It's also an easy way to help children (& adults) eat a few more vegetables. I promise, you can't even tell they are there because the smoothie is so delicious.
Leafy greens such as spinach and kale are PACKED with nutrients such as folate which is needed for DNA development. It is also especially important for women who are trying to conceive as it dramatically reduces the risk of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) like spina bifida. Leafy greens also contain lutien and zeaxanthin, compounds which help to support eye health as well as the antioxidant-containing vitamins A and C.
My favourite combination at the moment is feijoa, avocado, banana and spinach. Given the huge amount of feijoas that are around it makes sense to enjoy them while they are in season! The addition of avocado and banana makes a delighfully creamy decadent smoothie which is sometimes just what you feel like. It's what I feel like today and what I will be enjoying very soon for breakfast!
I've added a couple of brazil nuts here as they are a wonderful source of selenium which is something we often don't eat enough of. Because our bodies can't make selenium, the only way we can obtian it is through the food that we eat. Selenium supports immunity, thyroid function and helps to protect our bodies against cancer and cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that just two brazil nuts each day can help to increase selenium levels.
Feijoa, Avocado Green Smoothie
Makes 1 large snmoothie or 2 smaller smoothies
2 handfuls spinach (or kale or other leafy greens)
Half a frozen or fresh banana
Flesh of one large feijoa
1/2 avocado
1 Tbspn chia seeds
2 brazil nuts (or 1Tbspn of other nuts or seeds)
1 cup water
Place all of the ingredients in a high-powered blender (or Nutribullet) and process until everything is combined and you have a thick, green smoothie.
Pour into a serving glass. You can add a dollop of thick Greek yoghurt if you like.
Enjoy!
Gluten-free, Dairy-free (with no yoghurt)
