Mango Lime Smoothie

By Jess Kehoe

I don't know about you, but it has been too hot to cook these past few weeks!  Now, I'm not saying this smoothie is a great option for dinner, but it sure is refreshing in the afternoon, after a morning run, or following some yardwork in the sun.  My family is a big on smoothies.  When my kids were really little it was a great way to "sneak" lots of veggies into them, without them even knowing, and this is by far the most requested combo.  The dates are a great way to add sweetness to a smoothie without using a sweetener, but I do think a high-powered blender is best for really pulverizing them.  The avocado adds healthy fats and really adds a nice creaminess to the consistency.  For this particular version I had kale, but it's also great to use spinach.   

Ingredients:

1 cup water
1 ripe mango, peeled and pitted.  (If using frozen, 1-2 cups will work)
juice of one lime
1/2 avocado
2-3 dates, pitted
1 cup kale, hard stems removed (for spinach you can put in even more 2-3 cups)
1 cup ice cubes

Instructions:

Place all the ingredients into your blender, usually I put the ice in last, and blend on high for 30-60 seconds.

​Enjoy!