Cascadian Farm Organic Goodness

Smoothies can be a great way to start your day. Nutrient dense and portable, they can come with you in the car, and are a much better alternative to a donut or fast food breakfast sandwich on the go.

At our house they're not just for breakfast, though. Sometimes I sneak a smoothie in with lunch to accompany a small plate of my homemade macaroni and cheese or a grilled cheese sandwich or any other food that is delicious but lacking in the "eat the rainbow" side of things. Grains and cheese a balanced diet does not make, especially not for the little mouths I'm feeding.

I like to make mine with 100% juices and yogurt. I also add in almond milk (best if you make your own by soaking almonds and blending with water), but soymilk and regular milk work just as well. For a sweetener, I go for honey, agave syrup or pure maple syrup. Rather than adding frozen yogurt or ice cream, I add a frozen banana. The texture is very much the same without all the added calories and sugar. And for the fruit? Organic frozen fruit works best.

Below are three of our family favorite smoothies, whether they're for mornings on the go, supplementing a delicious meal or just hanging out in the yard on a lovely spring day. Do you have a favorite flavor combination when it comes to smoothies?

Super Berry Smoothie

½ cup acai berry or pomegranate juice

½ cup almond milk, soymilk or milk

2 tablespoons honey

1 whole ripe banana (frozen or not)

½ cup frozen blueberries

½ cup frozen strawberries

Raspberry Peach Smoothie

½ cup white grape juice

½ cup almond milk, soymilk or milk

2 tablespoons honey

1 cup frozen raspberries

1 cup frozen peaches

Tropical Smoothie

½ cup apple juice

½ cup plain Greek yogurt

¼ cup almond milk, soymilk or milk

2 tablespoons honey

1 whole banana (frozen or not)

1 whole kiwi

½ cup frozen mangoes

½ cup frozen pineapple chunks

Add-Ins:

Wheatgrass

Wheat germ

Flax seeds

Chia seeds

Hemp seeds

Sesame seeds

Coconut

Spinach

Swiss chard

Kale

In a blender add first the juice, almond milk and the honey (and yogurt, if applicable). Top with fruit and any add-ins you choose. Start with blender on a low speed and raise the speed. If the blender gets stopped up, turn off, wait, stir if necessary, re-cover and turn back on. Continue to blend until a small cyclone forms and then allow to blend about one minute more. Turn the blender off, pour and enjoy.

Makes 2 small (kid-sized) or 1 large (adult-sized) smoothie.