In an Irish Home

It’s that time of year again when cold season is right around the corner.

Before the family comes down with something awful, I’ve decided to take a proactive step and beef up our collective immune system. My tools of defense are simple: sleep, a daily multi-vitamin, exercise, and adding more fruits and vegetables to our diet.

We already eat well, so the overhaul for us is not really about lunch or supper… it’s breakfast.

This week we’re adding a healthy smoothie to our morning routine. Today we started with Martha Stewart’s Green Machine Smoothie. Packed with spinach, avocado and a granny smith apple, this tasty drink is full of vitamins and fibre. The lovely bright green colour, reminiscent of Ireland’s rolling spring landscape, is a bonus {that’s what I told the children}.

Come back next week and see what new smoothie we’ll be drinking to help us stay “fighting fit” this winter. I promise to only publish the smoothies we enjoy! Until then, stay healthy.

Martha Stewart’s Green Machine Smoothie

Serves 4

1oz/1 cup packed fresh spinach leaves

10oz/1 1/4 cups white grape juice or pear juice (apple juice works well too)

1/2 avocado

1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and cut into small pieces

1 cup ice

Directions

1. Blend spinach leaves, juice, avocado, apple, and ice.

Note: Was rereading an article published in The Irish Times on 13 September 2013 (see Related Articles below) and wanted to include it with this posting. It makes for interesting reading.

Related Articles:

• Mint Chocolate Green Smoothie (or Chocolate Peppermint Smoothie) (heallovebe.com)
• 20 Smoothie Tips, Hints, and Recipes (thekitchn.com)
• Healthy Inspiration Tuesday + Matcha {Green Tea} Smoothie (temptingthyme.com)
• Mango Smoothie Includes Greens and Mixed Fruit (bestfruitsmoothies.com)
• Irish Times article: http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/taking-the-rough-with-the-smoothies-1.1525572?page=1