What do Beast Light and kale have in common?

Feeding a toddler is an interesting adventure. One day Madilyn despises strawberries and the next day she eats an entire container. I can’t keep up rinsing and slicing them as she yells “Mum, Mum!” begging me for more. Since she was 6 months old she has loved bananas. This week she has been spitting them out.
This got me thinking. How do we acquire tastes? What makes one person love beans and someone else gags at the thought of them? What makes someone acquire the taste for coffee, hot dogs, and soda?
Think back to when you had your first beer. I am sure I had a few in my high school years. I remember thinking it was disgusting. College, though, is where I acquired a taste for it. Milwaukee’s Best Light. AKA “Beast Light”. That is what you got at fraternity parties. If you can acquire a taste for Beast Light, you can acquire a taste for anything.

If you can acquire the taste for beer, whisky, cigarettes, cigars, coffee, whatever… you can acquire a taste for my favorite, dark leafy greens like kale. I know, I am obsessed. I am trying to kick my seasonal allergies to the curb this year without Nasonex. Believe me, I used to cringe at the thought of blending up kale in a blender and adding some fruit and *gasp* drinking it. Now, I crave it. I love it. It has changed my life.
Smoothies have become this trendy drink just like lattes and frappuccinos. I have seen them as expensive as $7. Wowza! Some are nothing more than sugary, syrupy concoctions… don’t be fooled. You are smarter than that. My challenge for you this week is to make this quick smoothie once. Just once. It will take you like 30 seconds. I like to drink it first thing in the morning. It gives you that morning energy you are craving without any nasty side effects. It costs pennies. Word!

Green Goddess Smoothie
2 giant leaves of kale, all ripped up (the stems too!)
1/2 cup of pineapple (the pineapple makes this smoothie so delicious — helps cover up the kale flavor)
2 TB flax seed
1 handful of raspberries
1/2 cup to 1 cup of water, coconut water, almond milk… whatever strikes your fancy
Blend away and enjoy the burst of natural energy. I used my Magic Bullet blender for little cleanup. You know you have one buried in your pantry. Dust it off and use it. 🙂
What is your favorite smoothie?