Recipe: Microgreen Smoothie

Growing microgreens indoors on a windowsill is an inexpensive and easy way to ensure a year-round supply of fresh and nutritious greens. Now, in case you missed the memo, the term microgreens refers to the young edible leaves of green leafy vegetables and herbs, harvested and eaten just a few weeks after sowing, before they grow past their first seedling stage. In the past, these miniature greens were mainly used as a garnish by gourmet chefs, but in recent years, foodies have began to incorporate these nutrient-packed mini-greens into everything from soups to salads to smoothies. Below, we use microgreens as a key ingredient in a green smoothie! For this and other smoothie recipes featuring microgreens, it is best to use mild-flavored microgreens such as bok choy, chervil, purple or green orach, or miner's lettuce. If you can't find microgreens in the grocery stores in your area, not to worry—you can always grow them on a sunny windowsill at home (for instructions, click here).

In addition to microgreens, the recipe below calls for banana, baby spinach, ground flaxseed and frozen peaches. When peaches are in season, you can also replace the frozen peaches with fresh peaches and crushed ice. The ground flaxseed is added to the mix to provide your body with a hearty dose of omega-3 fatty acids.