Start the New Year Off Right: Super Healthy Green Smoothie

Happy New Year! I'm so excited about the thought of what 2014 will bring. After taking a week off from the blog for the holidays, I'm excited to be back to bring you fresh and fun ideas to help you enjoy this new year.

After a month of holiday eating (just look at my 12 Days of Christmas), I started feeling a bit sluggish. All those chocolate eclairs, macaroons, peppermint cheesecakes, chocolate lava cakes and glasses of champagne finally got to me. The day after Christmas, I woke up tired, bloated, broken out and sniffling with a cold I had been fighting for a good 2 weeks. My body was craving nutrients.

Lucky enough for me, I received a Vitamix blender for Christmas. Since then I have been working on the perfect "Green Smoothie." There are thousands of recipes out there and I have to admit the first couple I tried were hard to get down. I finally came up with the perfect balance of taste and nutrition and can't wait to start my new year off on the right foot.

Here's my favorite "Green Smoothie" recipe—delicious and incredibly nutritious. Your body will thank you.

The main ingredient in my Green Smoothie is kale. Not only is it totally on trend, it's an incredible super food full of iron, calcium, vitamins A, K and C, antioxidants and fiber. It is also a great anti-inflammatory (full of omega-3 fatty acids) and lowers cholesterol levels. SUPER. FOOD. I buy it pre-cut in the frozen vegetable section at the grocery.

Frozen mango chunks bring a sweetness to this smoothie (masks the flavor of the kale) and is rich in minerals, antioxidants, vitamins, fiber and digestive enzymes. Throw in a frozen banana (potassium and vitamin B6) and half a fresh orange (vitamin C and citrus limonoids) for even more tasty fruit flavor. I also throw in some ground flax seeds (another SUPER food) full of Omega-3 essential fatty acids, lignans and fiber.

For the liquids in the smoothie, I use coconut water and almond milk. I picked up this probiotic (helps regulate proper intestinal function and digestion - by balancing intestinal microflora) coconut water (which contains more potassium than four bananas and is super hydrating) at Whole Foods. The almond milk not only makes the smoothie richer but also adds vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, iron, fiber, zinc and calcium (and is much lower in fat and calories than cow's milk).

Katie's Healthy Green Smoothie 1 cup chopped frozen kale 1/2 cup frozen mango 1 frozen banana 1/2 fresh orange (peeled) 1 Tablespoon ground flax seed 1 cup probiotic coconut water 1 cup almond milk

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately. Serves one.

This Green Smoothie a great way to get a good dose of fruits and vegetables first thing in the morning. It'll give you a boost of energy, kick start your metabolism and it's also a really easy on-the-go breakfast. I've already switched my morning cup-of-tea routine for it and find it so much more satisfying.

My healthy nutritional kick doesn't end here … more healthy foods to work into your routine to come!