Green smoothies have always looked kind of scary to me. I used to think that smoothies should be fruity and colorful. But hey! kiwi is a fruit and it’s color is green so I guess a fruity smoothie can be green too.

I decided to make this smoothie one day I was not feeling very well, a cold was lingering and I just needed something to give me an energy punch and clean out my system, all at once…and of course taste good. Kiwis taste delicious and they are packed with vitamin C and other phytonutrients that beneficial to reduce inflammation and boost the immune system. Green leaves are also packed with vitamins and are rich in calcium. So, these sounded like a great mix for a energy-packed smoothie to me.

This is also a great way to get my toddler to have his share of fruits and greens. He loves smoothies and he readily drinks it no matter what color it is.

For the greens here, I used a salad mix of baby greens which had baby spinach, dandelions, kale, lettuce and others. But you can use any baby leaves of your choice. Using mature leaves will also work but will have a stronger “green” flavor which might not be to everyone’s liking. Banana or pineapple are great add-ins when making green smoothies as they tend to mask green leaves flavors pretty well.

Kiwi and greens smoothie

• 1 1/2 cup of green leaves mix
• 2 kiwis
• 1 banana
• 1 cup orange juice
• 4 dates (can substitute for sugar or honey to sweeten)

Place all the ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth.

Serve in a glass (or a jar) and enjoy!