Food Ambassadors Make Spinach Good Enough to Drink!

The Food Ambassadors, CHAH's healthy cooking club, has been active this year, making over twenty different healthy recipes so far and learning how delicious nutritious foods can be! To join in St. Patrick's Day festivities, they had a green themed dinner, making a Green Smoothie and Huevos Rancheros with Salsa Verde and Avocado.

The goal of Food Ambassadors is to introduce CHAH students to cooking technique and healthy, affordable ingredients that can be purchased in local grocery stores. Students do all of the prep, cooking, and cleaning.

While the Green Smoothies brought on some initial trepidation ("We're drinking spinach?" "The smoothie looks just like the salsa... I don't know if I want that!"), all doubts faded away as students took their first sip ("This smoothie is life!")

The Huevos Rancheros brought together two different vegetarian protein sources-- black beans and eggs-- and were topped with a simple, fresh homemade salsa verde and fresh avocado puree.  It was a happy St. Patrick's Day, indeed!

Want to add a nutrition boost to your own smoothies? Try out our recipe below!

Green Smoothie Recipe (serves 4-6)

2 cups fresh spinach, packed

2 cups water

1 can 100% pineapple juice concentrate or 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks

2 mangos, skins and pit removed

2 bananas, peeled

2 cups ice cubes

1. Place the spinach and water into a blender and blend until all the spinach is liquified.

2. Add the fruit, pineapple juice, and ice, and blend until smooth.

3. Serve immediately.