How to make a spinach smoothie

For my basic smoothie recipe you just need bananas, non-fat vanilla Greek yogurt, fruit juice, and some spinach. From there you can vary it any way you like - more on that in a minute!

Start by breaking up a banana and putting it in a blender with 1-2 cups of 100% fruit juice and about a half a cup of yogurt or so.

Use the juice, yogurt, and the bananas to adjust consistency. My kid likes it thinner, so for him I use more juice. If you get it too thin, just add another banana or a little more yogurt.

Now for the fun part: add two big handfuls of spinach. I used every leaf that you saw in the colander in step 1.

Blend it all up until you see very few dark green bits left. Be patient!

Once you've got the basic recipe down, try a few variations to make it your own. My family likes it when I freeze the bananas first (just be sure to peel them before you stick them in the freezer!).

I also keep big bags of frozen berries and frozen peaches on hand to throw in from time to time.

Experiment with different juices, too.

And my favorite addition? Flaxseed meal. It's a superfood packed with fiber, antioxidants, and omega-3s. Blend it up well, and it won't make your smoothie gritty at all!

The result is a delicious, sweet, creamy smoothie packed with vitamins and nutrients. My 7-year old LOVES it. And try giving it a fun name, too. In our house we call it the green monster!