Staying healthy when you’re busy can be a real challenge. It’s too easy to skip meals or grab cheap fast food. College student and intern Maddie Brodell knows the struggle; she works from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m every day. But she doesn’t let that stop her from working out and eating right.

One quick way she sneaks fruit and veggies into her diet is by putting them into a smoothie, something anyone with a blender can do.

“Drinking a smoothie or a shake in the morning for me is a great way to start my day - since I am a college student and on-the-go a lot, it's so convenient to just fill up a cup with my drink and feel full, satisfied and not feel bad about what I put in my body,” she said.

Smoothies are delicious and can be healthy - but they’re only as good as their ingredients.

“Although a lot of people think that smoothies are good for you, they only are if you put the right things in! My go-to thing to put in mine is powdered peanut butter, mainly because I'm obsessed with peanut butter,” Maddie said.

Here’s Maddie’s favorite green smoothie recipe:

  • Half of a handful of kale

  • Half of a handful of spinach

  • 1 handful of blueberries

  • 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder

  • 1 tablespoon of powdered peanut butter

  • A dash of vanilla almond milk, to help the texture

  • 1 handful of gluten-free granola, for crunch (optional)

Add everything the the blender and hit pulse. Keep blending until it’s all combined, then pour the green goodness into a glass and enjoy. Maddie keeps her smoothie in a blender bottle with a shaker, so she can enjoy it throughout the day.

For more delicious ways to make vegetables part of your diet, check out Executive Chef Shane Henderson's monthly guide to making veggies fun.