In early March students at Mills River Elementary School in Henderson County sampled spinach smoothies as a part of the school’s ‘Jump Rope for Heart’ day. Throughout the day groups of kids cycled through the gym, where they set new jump rope records; and the media center, where they made green smoothies!
After a short lesson about how local farmers grow spinach in the winter and helping to make the smoothies, each child had the opportunity to vote on if they loved the smoothies, liked the smoothies, or didn’t like them (yet). The verdict? Only a handful of the 475 students didn’t care for the green smoothies, with most of the students choosing to cast their vote in the ‘love’ column. One kid even exclaimed, “these aren’t the best smoothies in the country, they’re the best smoothies in the UNIVERSE!”
The recipe was given to teachers to send home and many students report that they look forward to making the tasty treat with their parents and siblings. Ready to mix up a green smoothie of your own? Check out the recipe below!
Ingredients
- 2 bananas
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 cup apple juice
- 1/2 cup ice
- 1/2 cup frozen fruit (strawberries, mangos, blueberries, etc)
- 1 generous handful local spinach
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender. Mix thoroughly and enjoy!
The event at Mills River was funded through a USDA Farm to School grant.