I remember the first time someone tried to put kale in my smoothie. If it was similarly inconceivable for you, I imagine you remember the time as well. 

I was in Gallup, New Mexico—hardly a fertile crescent—and my friend Ellen was offering to put this tough stalk with its curly green fringe into my fruit smoothie. Like it was a favor to me! She would have taken off the leaves, said you couldn’t even taste it, that she did this kind of crazy health nut stuff all the time.  

Like hell I was going to ruin a perfectly good smoothie with lettuce! 

But oh, how times have changed. Ellen gets the last laugh on this one. Hardly a smoothie goes by without the addition of spinach, wheatgrass, avocado or—believe it or not—kale. I’ve seen the light. 

It’s an easy way to get more greens into your diet and you really can’t taste them, especially if you incorporate certain sweet and sour flavors for balance, like I’ve done here. This is one of my all time favorites. 

The great thing about adding spinach, kale, mint and the like to your smoothies is  you don’t need to go to the store just for these ingredients. If I can’t finish a container of spinach or a packet of herbs, pop them in the freezer as is and use them just like that for smoothies. No need to throw out good greens! 

Blueberry Pineapple Smoothie
Makes 1

1 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 handful spinach
3-5 mint leaves
Spoonful of Greek yogurt
1/2 avocado
1/4 cup pineapple juice, plus more as necessary

Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.