BLUEBERRY KALE SMOOTHIE

Happy Wednesday, friends! The beautiful fall weather is finally making its arrival and I couldn't be happier! The gentle crisp air of fall breathes new pumpkin spice latte filled life into each Autumn day. The South likes to take a slow and steady approach to the cool weather shift. I blissfully frolicked off in my leggings, oversized sweater, and scarf, only to be slapped in the face with an eighty degree day.  But that was several weeks ago, and I'm finally donning such apparel without breaking out in a sweat!  Amen! Hallelujah!

I'm somewhat of a picky eater so I have to find creative ways to get my fruits and vegetables in. My favorite way to get some healthy goodness is to whip up a smoothie.. a smoothie that tastes good. You know those pretty green smoothies that beam with spinach filled radiance? Yeah, those don't taste so great. In honor of the few warm days left, I'm sharing my go-to smoothie recipe. This simple blueberry kale smoothie is tart and refreshing! There's not just kale and blueberries in their either, a little carrot to add some sweetness, and tart cherry juice to boost the flavors are delightful additions to the recipe. The perfect healthy treat to keep you full and energized. And hey, who says you can't have cool treats during the brisk weather months!

THE BENEFITS 
• Blueberries are loaded with fiber which keeps you full longer. Just a handful can satisfy your daily fiber requirement. Blueberries are also a great source of manganese ( a mineral that is found in nuts, seeds, legumes, tea, leafy green vegetables, and whole grains ) which plays an important part in bone development, as well as converting carbohydrates and fats into energy! Blueberries are also a fantastic source of Vitamin C; containing almost 25% of your daily value. 

• Kale is high in iron. Iron is essential for good health; it aids in the transporting of oxygen to various parts of the body, proper liver function, cell growth, and much more! Kale is also high in Vitamin C, A, and K. It is also an anti-inflammatory food. One cup of kale contains omega-3 fatty acids, which help fight against arthritis, autoimmune disorders, and asthma. 

• Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A in the liver. Beta-carotene has  been shown to protect against macular degeneration. The high levels of beta-carotene also aid in the repair of cell damage done to the body through regular metabolism. So it essentially helps slow down the aging of cells. The Vitamin A found in carrots helps prevent acne, dry skin, premature wrinkling, and uneven skin tone. 

•  The components in tart cherries and tart cherry juice have been shown to deliver high levels of protection against degenerative and inflammatory diseases like cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.  The anti-inflammatory properties in tart cherries also help prevent muscle injury ( for my fellow gym rats ), as well as, offering relief from arthritis. 

BLEND IT UP

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1 cup of frozen Blueberries
1 cup of Kale
1 small carrot peeled and chopped
1 1/2 cups of Tart Cherry Juice

Bend frozen blueberries, kale, carrot, and tart cherry juice until smooth. The frozen blueberries keep this smoothie nice and cold. Because of the blueberries and tart cherry juice, this smoothie will turn a delightful burgundy color. This smoothie is quite tart. You can play around with this a bit if you're not really fond of tart things. You can cut the Tart Cherry Juice down to 1 cup and add 1/2 a cup of Orange Juice or water to take it down a notch. Of course, if it is too thick for your taste, just add a touch more liquid. You can also use mixed berries instead of just blueberries!

+ Also, I use my Ninja blender to make smoothies so this turns out super smooth for me. If you have a different setup it may have bits of berry or kale not quite pulverized. So make sure you blend it long enough!