Last week we went to South Carolina and visited Charleston and Folly Beach.  We needed a few days to get away just the two of us, for some rest and relaxation!  We did just that, including eating our way through both towns.  By the end of the week we realized that vegetables took a vacation from our lives as well...oops.  This week my body has been craving all things good for me after eating heavier meals while on vacation.  I always feel like a detox is in order after vacation.  You don't eat enough veggies, drink enough water, or exercise as much as you should even if you went with good intentions.  My kale and cantaloupe smoothie is just the drink to help feed my body the nutrients that it missed out on last week!  It's hydrating, full of vitamins, and really delicious!

Smoothies are a great way to sneak good for you ingredients into one yummy drink.  You won't even realize you are drinking something that is really benefiting your body because you will love how it tastes.  The key is to balance sweet fruit with your veggies and to make sure you aren't adding unnecessary sugar outside of your fruit!

Since right now I am all about the melons,  I buy cantaloupe on a weekly basis, which at this point you probably already know.  I recently made a Cantaloupe Salty Dog cocktail and I gotta say it's the best summer drink!  But if you aren't in the market for an alcoholic drink like this pregnant mama to be, then this smoothie is right up your alley.

Kale is a super food that should be a part of our regular diets.  It can be hard to get enough of it without cooking it for dinner every night, and let's be honest we would all get tired of that!  However if you throw some in a smoothie from time to time, you can get your daily allotment of vitamins contained in dark leafy greens.  Cantaloupe is also great for you also with it's ability to hydrate, increase your energy, and lower the risk for diabetes and heart disease.  Mix the two together and you have one vitamin packed drink!

Make this smoothie for the perfect afternoon snack and find yourself with the energy you need to get through the rest of the day!

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups of Kale
• 1 Cup of Cubed Cantaloupe
• 1 Cup of Coconut Water
• 1 Tbsp. Chia Seeds
• 1/2 Cup of Ice

*Optional- add 1 tbsp honey if needed.  This will depend on how sweet your cantaloupe is.

Directions:

• Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
• Serve immediately, makes two servings.