This is a basic recipe to adapt to customize according to your taste and available ingredients. It is creamy, delicious, and nutritious. Leave out the maple syrup for more tartness; adjust the fruit selection to include your favorites; and for a dessert-like twist, add a 1/2 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder when you add the almond flour. If you add the chocolate, be sure to use the maple syrup.

To make it easy to prepare smoothies on a whim, stock your freezer with washed and stemmed kale; very ripe bananas (unpeeled); blueberries; raspberries; mixed berries; and other favorite fruits.

Ingredients & Instructions

Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender in this order:

1.5 cups plant based milk (soy, almond, rice, oat, etc.)
2 Tbsp almond flour (ground almonds)
2 Tbsp flax seed meal
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp maple syrup (if using tart fruit or adding cocoa)
2 handfuls (about 1 cup) of frozen kale or spinach leaves
1/2 or 1 frozen banana, peeled and cut into pieces
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup frozen raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, or use a berry mix
6 ice cubes

Set your blender to the smoothie setting, and blend.

Pour into two pint glasses and enjoy.

To Make Ahead:

Add everything to the blender except the ice cubes. Blend on low for 30 seconds. Then set aside. When ready to drink, add the 6 ice cubes and blend on the smoothie setting.

Chocolate Option:

Chocolate makes this healthy smoothie feel more like a dessert, but it’s still great for breakfast. Add a half tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder to the blender jar when adding the almond flour and flax seed meal. And be sure to include the maple syrup, otherwise the smoothies will not be sweet enough.