Summer is right around the corner! In my world this means, smoothies! Although, lets be honest, during those cold winter months the best way we've gotten our nutrition is through those same smoothies. But, here is a great way to wake up with a little fresh sunshine and nutrition.

I like to be a DIY person. So, my primary ingredient list is made primarily from things I either made or grew in my own back yard. However, I do not have a green thumb. We're working on that. My goal would be to grow all my own greens and freeze them for year 'round smoothie goodness. As you can see, I've been buying most of my produce...in bulk. So, don't be fooled, I'm not the greatest over-achiever. Though, I do what I can. :-)

Kefir Berry Smoothie

3 Cups of homemade raw milk kefir
2 Cups of frozen organic berries (strawberry, blueberry, raspberry)

2-3 cups organic frozen kale or spinach

3 tablespoons of maple syrup (we do make our own!!!)

5 drops of Young Living Lemon Essential Oil

Things I would ideally add
3-5 tablespoons organic cold pressed coconut oil

1/4 cup of ground flax

2 ml's of fermented cod liver oil

I know. I'm weird, right? What can I say? I've gotten on a kick of trying to get my family the best nutrition possible with the least amount of work. I'm not a foodie- although, maybe this post makes me one- and I'm not a kitchen-dweller. 

The reasons for all the strange ingredients is 3 fold. First off, my son has leaky gut syndrome from an over growth of yeast in his intestinal tract. This has caused him to be lactose intolerant. "But, its milk kefir", you say. Yes, yes it is. That is because it is so chalk full of probiotics that he can actually handle it. The way the probiotics come about is the kefir grains (not an actual grain like rice, wheat, etc) actually digest the lactose in the milk and give out healthy probiotics. This leaves the milk protein and fat which my son's metabolism and brain actually need. We've noticed significant changes in his diet and behavior- but that's for another post. 

Secondly, my husband and I have very soft teeth. We've both been cavity prone for many years. In order to resolve this I've been looking in to adding fermented cod liver oil (FCLO) and coconut oil to our diets. FCLO is not an easy thing to eat straight up, so we try to disguise it as best we can. Smoothies offer a beautiful cover for a multitude of yucky tastes (ie; liver!).

Third and lastly, in the last trimester of this pregnancy I've had to deal with minor liver issues. My body is just exhausted and stressed. In order to help out my digestive friends I've decided to incorporate foods that will boost energy and detox my liver and give over-all support. Here is where the Young Living Lemon essential oil comes in. Lemon is a great detox-er. It helps to balance pH, is an anti-septic, antioxidant, and flushes out the system! We love our lemon oil! I try to incorporate it where I can in my foods. Not to mention, it gives me just a little energy boost that I need with two active boys and a baby on the way! 

But, what about the other ingredients on the list? Do they have a purpose? YES! They absolutely do! I would not incorporate ground flax seed in to my smoothie for kicks and giggles... its a pain the the neck to rinse out of sippy cups after it has sat for any length of time- with a toddler, this is quite common. With boys, one of my goals has been to always give them as many healthy fats as possible. Knowing that boys need more Omega's in their diet, I try to provide that. There has been some debate over the efficacy of flax as a great Omega 3 source... but I still incorporate it on a semi-regular basis. Like I said, its a pain the neck, so sometimes I don't. Especially if I know they are getting their FCLO which is extremely high in the Omega 3's. :-)

Coconut oil has so many beneficial effects... I don't know that I can begin to cover them all. But, one of the reasons I do really like it in my smoothies is for the taste and the way it can cover up any bitter flavors. It is yet another extremely healthy fat to give to little boys for their growth and development, especially in the brain. So, we down the stuff. :-)

The berries and kale/spinach are self explanatory right? Well, other than taste they are a great antioxidant and supply your body with so many vitamins and minerals its hard to pass up adding more fruits and veggies to your diet when they can taste so good.

Enjoy creating your own smoothie mix! And, remember, healthy can taste good. Don't buy the lie that "if it tastes bad it must be good for you." The less refined foods you put in your body, the more your taste buds will adapt to the natural flavors found in good, whole, God-made food!