I try to force myself to drink a green smoothie about once a week because I believe (perhaps unreasonably) that it will keep me healthy. I’ve invented a couple recipes over the years that makes them more bearable, but I had yet to find the magic formula for a truly enjoyable green smoothie that doesn’t make me want to barf. All that changed this morning.

I had some kale in the fridge and a perfectly ripe avocado, so I blended them with a handful of frozen pineapple, a few frozen kiwis, almond milk, coconut probiotic yogurt from The Coconut Cult, a drizzle of honey, and a banana. I’m not going to lie to you: I was very nervous about this concoction. The last time I tried to make a green smoothie, I basically choked it down. It was my fault though because I didn’t have a lot of ingredients so it turned into blended spinach leaves and frozen berries with almond milk.

When I took a sip of the green smoothie this morning, I started reeling. “Oh my god,” I said to myself. “This is incredible.” I stopped drinking it long enough to take a picture and sprinkle some hemp seeds on top. Hemp seeds make most things look better.

The star ingredient in this smoothie is the coconut probiotic yogurt. I splurged on it the other day at a local health store because it looked and sounded so good. The saleswoman described it as “effervescent,” and I’d tend to agree. It has a very bright flavor. It’s also considered a dietary supplement so you’re only supposed to use a tablespoon or two in a smoothie or with granola. I used two tablespoons and the flavor was subtle but present.

Plus, you can feel extra good about this smoothie because it’s full of probiotics. It’s really hard this time of year to get all the vitamins and nutrients you need so I count on products I actually enjoy eating to keep me healthy.

Before I start sounding like I joined a health cult, I’ll leave you with the recipe for this green smoothie. Feel free to tweak it. I’m sure spinach leaves would also work well, and frozen fruit such as peaches would be a nice addition.

Here’s a song to get you started on your green smoothie journey.

The Best Green Smoothie Ever

Ingredients

1 handful kale leaves (baby kale or red kale works well)
1 cup frozen pineapple
1/2 cup frozen kiwi
2 Tbsp coconut probiotic yogurt
1 banana
drizzle of honey
1/2 cup-1 cup regular almond milk (depending on how thick you want the smoothie)

Directions

Blend all the ingredients together in a blender on high. Pour into a tall glass and top with hemp seeds. Enjoy!