WHY IS THE TROPIKALE SMOOTHIE SO GROWINGGREAT?
A conversation with the Cooking Club
by Veronica Sanchez, GrowingGreat Program Assistant
On April 22nd, St. Pius X St. Matthias Academy (PMA) Cooking Club met in the kitchen, to learn the benefits of “Superfoods”, and how to nutrient dense-foods, how to include nutrient-dense foods in their diet by making a Tropikale smoothie with PMA Teacher Ms. Kaitlin Collins. “Superfoods” is one of the six lessons in the GrowingGreat Chefs high school program by Nutrition Specialist, Sarah Minkow. At the beginning of Cooking Club meeting the students were a bit nervous to try kale in a smoothie while others were willing to try kale for the first time in a smoothie. I interviewed two students and here are their thoughts on kale and Tropikale smoothie:
Veronica: Do you like kale and have you ever tasted kale?
Esmeralda: No. I tasted kale by itself at school. The school cafeteria sold kale in a box, I tried it. I didn’t not like it at all.
Valerie: “No. I never tasted kale, but I was planning to make kale chips.
Veronica: What are your thoughts about making this Tropikale smoothie?
Esmeralda: The smoothie is going to taste nasty and weird because it has kale.
Valerie: It’s going to be good but I am nervous to try it.
Veronica: Now, what are your thoughts after tasting the Tropikale smoothie?
Esmeralda: Now, it taste good; everything mixed in it makes it taste good. I would taste this smoothie again and share this recipe with my dad.
Valerie: After I tried the Tropikale smoothie, I loved the taste, and I am surprised I am not able to taste the kale. I will share this recipe with my mom. We have been trying to find a good green smoothie
The GrowingGreat Chefs program is made possible by our generous donors. Please support us by attending our Farm to Table Benefit on June 4, 2016 in Playa Vista. For ticket information, click here. If you would like GrowingGreat Chefs to come to your high school, please contact GrowingGreat for more information at: in**@**********at.org.
Here is the recipe:
Tropikale Smoothie
Tools Needed:
Chef’s knife
Cutting board
Colander
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Blender
INGREDIENTS
1 ½ cups milk (dairy, soy, almond, or coconut)
2 medium bananas, previously peeled, sliced, and frozen
2 cups fresh or frozen pineapple chunks
2 heaping cups kale
¼ cup olive oil
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Add all ingredients to a blender in the order listed. Blend on high until well blended. Add more milk if it is too thick. Serve and enjoy!
