Why is the Tropikale Smoothie so GrowingGreat?

St. Pius X St. Matthias Academy student, Esmeralda and a friend.

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 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 created by Nutrition Specialist, Sarah Minkow. At the beginning of the Cooking Club meeting, some students were a bit nervous to try kale in a smoothie while others were excited by the idea. I interviewed two students and here are their thoughts on kale and the Tropikale smoothie:

Veronica: Have you ever tried kale and do you like it?
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 tastes 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.

(left) Esmeralda trying to drink the TropiKale smoothie, setting her fears aside. (right) Esmeralda tries the Tropikale smoothie and she likes it.

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: info@growinggreat.org.

Here is the recipe:
Tropikale Smoothie

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup milk (dairy, soy, almond, or coconut)
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 2 heaping cups kale
• 2 medium bananas, previously peeled, sliced, and frozen
• 2 cups fresh or frozen pineapple chunks

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!