Summer time is smoothie time. At least it is in my house! I love a cool smoothie, preferably thick and in a bowl, on a hot summer day. Perhaps even better than the smoothie itself are the toppings. Mmmm toppings… Smoothies are nothing new and most of us know how to throw some fruit and nondairy milk together to make one. But have you ever thought about adding vegetables?
The one downside to many smoothies is they can quickly become sugar bombs. You don’t need to forgo fruit entirely, but adding a few vegetables can add even more nutrition to your smoothie. Don’t worry, you won’t taste the vegetables at all and in some cases, your smoothie will be even better with your veggie addition!
Here are a few of my favorite vegetables and some recipes to get you started!
Cauliflower
We’ll start with one of the latest trends in veggie smoothies: Cauliflower. Yeah, I know it sounds like an awkward veggie to blend into your drinks and I had to experiment with it a little to get it just right. The key is to get the cauliflower as small as possible BEFORE you add it to your smoothie. For the best cauliflower smoothies, I use frozen cauliflower rice and blend it with whatever liquid I’m using before I add anything else. This helps the rest of the smoothie stay nice and creamy.
Try Lee From America’s Classic Cauliflower Blueberry Smoothie. You can use any protein powder you have on hand or leave it out if you want.
Romaine 
I know that spinach and kale are the darlings of the leafy green world, especially when it comes to smoothies but I think romaine gets unfairly left out. It’s got a ton of vitamin A & K plus it’s a good source of folate and manganese. The best part about adding to romaine to your smoothie? You will not taste it at all and it blends well even without a high-powered blender.
Try the Power Smoothie from VegKitchen.
Celery/Cucumber
I like adding either frozen cucumber or celery to my smoothie because they act like ice cubes without totally watering it down. Celery and cucumber also help keep you hydrated, which is important during the hot summer months. Both these vegetables have little to no taste but add a ton of nutrition!
Try Real Simple’s Celery, Cucumber, and Pineapple Smoothie to give both of these vegetables a chance.
Squash 
I don’t know why it took me so long to add squash to my smoothies because they are one of my favorite vegetables! Not only do they make smoothies super creamy, but they even add a touch of sweetness. My favorites are butternut or kabocha squash but give acorn or pumpkin a shot too!
Try Oh She Glows’ Velvety Butternut Cinnamon Date Smoothie and dream of the cooler fall months ahead.
Vegetables might not be the first thing you reach for when you make a smoothie, but you might be missing out on some tasty, and delicious, combinations!
