3 green smoothies to start your day

This guest post comes from Natalie and Holly over at The Modern Proper. Their mission is to change the way people think about hospitality, one delicious recipe at a time — and in our series with them, we’re excited to share recipes that will nourish you, your family, and loved ones alike. Here, they’re sharing three ways to get your greens in at the start of the day (in case busyness gets the best of you and you end up eating leftover dino nuggets and pizza takeout for lunch and dinner).

I know I'm not the only one out there who sets really high New Year’s resolutions. In fact, I think most of us know we are just setting ourselves up for failure of some sort when we make those lofty goals. "I'll eat better, I'll work out more, I'll spend less time on my phone and more time on the ground with my kids!" Fast forward several months and we’re now halfway through the year and my lack of progress is slapping me in the face. Always trying to put a positive spin on things, I’m attempting to push those feelings of defeat aside and instead think of this as a great time to reevaluate my resolutions. You know, pull up my boot straps and convince myself to finish the year strong? Yep, that's my plan. Because, just like I told myself in January, a healthier, more balanced me is truly one of the best ways I can love my family.

One aspect of what it looks like for me to care for myself and my family is eating better. Eating better means, in part, getting those elusive veggies into my diet in the proper amounts amidst our hectic lives. For that, green smoothies are my saving grace. I know what you're thinking…green smoothies aren't exactly a groundbreaking discovery. In fact, they are probably the most saturated food category in social media, BUT there can be no argument that they’re a genius way of packing a lot of nutritional punch with very little effort. And, in the name of being a busy mom who often slips into bad habits and falls short of my high culinary goals, I feel like they're worth talking about.

The green smoothie, in its million and one varieties, has cut the guilt, time, and decision making out of my morning routine. If you're like me (and my kids) and aren't in the mood for a plate of roasted veggies or a hearty green salad for breakfast, or just simply don't have the time to commit to a proper lunch, this a great way to mask all that goodness your body craves in one quick, easy, and really tasty beverage. And I don't know about yours, but I know it's much easier to get my kids to drink something than it is to eat something, especially if that something is cold and sweet and maybe, once in awhile gets called a milkshake by yours truly (shhhh). If the green smoothie revolution is all new to you, then here are a few recipes to get you started in the right direction. If you're a veteran with leafy greens and a high speed blender, then please—allow me to share a few of my favorites. Incorporating these babies into your routine is fairly effortless and the payoffs are big; less guilt over poor choices, tons of vitamins to give you the energy you need, and minimal time invested start to finish. Did I mention less guilt? That's my favorite part.

Purple Berry Detox Smoothie 

• ½ cup red cabbage

• 2 cups kale 

• 1 ripe banana 

• 1 cup frozen blueberries 

• ½ cup frozen blackberries 

• 1 cup coconut water 

Power Green Matcha Smoothie 

• 2 kale leaves ribs removed or 1 ½ cups chopped kale 

• 1 ½ cups frozen pineapple 

• 2 tbsp almond butter 

• 1 cup coconut water 

• 1 frozen banana, sliced 

• 1 tbsp (matcha optional) 

Refreshing Lime and Coconut Smoothie 

• 2 cups Spinach 

• 4 inches of a cucumber, sliced 

• ½ juiced lime (optional) 

• 8 mint leaves 

• 1 cup almond milk or coconut milk 

• 2 cups frozen mango chunks 

Instructions 

1. Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. If consistency is too thick, add more liquid.