In theory, you should Eat more vegetables. Reality? It’s not always easy to swallow your daily vegetable allotment, especially if you don’t really like the taste of vegetables. That’s where smoothies come in.
Shakes are an effective way to get your veggies in, especially if you’re not a big fan of cooking or don’t like the texture of vegetables, Deborah Murphy, MS, R.D., tells SELF. “You can pack more veggies into one glass than you could eat in one sitting,” she says. You can make your shake taste sweeter by liquefying it with other ingredients like milk, yogurt, frozen fruit, or nut butter. and You’ll still get all the health benefits vegetables have to offer: They’re a great source of antioxidants and fiber, a type of carbohydrate that not only helps your digestive system work better, but also helps prevent diseases like constipation, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even some cancers.
Essentially, there are plenty of reasons to eat more colorful foods, and green smoothies (or any veggie-packed smoothie) can help you do just that. Overall, “it’s a great way to add veggies to your diet without a lot of fuss or extra time in the kitchen,” says Murphy. Need some inspiration? Here are 12 veggie smoothie recipes that will get you plenty of essential vitamins and minerals, plus plenty of hydration and flavor.
