Green Smoothie Heaven: Dinner or Dessert?

I have been on a huge smoothie kick lately. They are perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and I have so much fun coming up with different combinations. Sometimes, it's hard for me to believe that there is practically a whole salad in this smoothie. Not that salads aren't also delicious, but this smoothie tastes like a dessert!

I never make the same smoothie twice, because I don't measure the ingredients. I just throw things in, blend, and then add various items until the smoothie tastes just how I like it.

Here is the one I made tonight!

I started off with:

large handful of kale
1/2 avocado
3 cucumber slices
5 celery sticks
1 handful of broccoli
1 kiwi 
1 small handful of almonds
1 handful of grapes
1 spoonful of coconut oil
1 teaspoon of chia seeds 
1 pour of almond milk
1 squirt of agave nectar
few dashes of cinnamon

(These are all estimates. I never actually measure any of the ingredients. If it doesn't turn out right, it's never too late to add something else to alter the taste.)

Now, it's time to blend. I just use a regular old blender that I found at a yard sale. It takes a little while to blend completely, but after stirring it around with a spoon a few times and blending again, it will create a nice smooth texture. If your smoothie is not smooth enough or thin enough, you can always add more almond milk (or coconut milk) or water. The use of avocado and bananas give a smoother texture. Also, if not using either of these fruits, I often add oats when I want a smoother texture. For sweeteners, I always start with fruit. However, you can only add so much fruit before the calories go through the roof. So, when I want a little more sweetness, a little bit of agave nectar or raw honey goes a long way.

This one needed a little sweetness, so I added two strawberries and four raspberries and one more squirt of agave nectar.

After blending, pour it into your favorite glass and ENJOY. I like to garnish the top with a few things as well. Not only does it make it pretty, but it also gives it a nice crunch, which I kind of enjoy. This one is topped with cinnamon, flax seeds, shredded coconut, pecans, and raspberries. And it was DELICIOUS.

Give a green smoothie a try. My boyfriend always wrinkles up his nose in disgust as I throw the veggies in the blender, but when I make him try a sip, he is always pleasantly surprised. It's a great way to enjoy a nice, smooth, dessert-like dinner while getting all the nutrients of a salad... Not to mention the extra goodness you get from the added ingredients like coconut oil, chia seeds, and flax seeds. Be creative, and have fun with it.  What ingredients do you add to your favorite smoothie?