In theory, you know you should eat more veggies. In practice? Choking down your daily allotment isn’t always easy, especially if you’re not a huge fan of their taste. That’s where smoothies can come in clutch.
Shakes can actually make for an effective vegetable delivery system, particularly for people who aren’t really into cooking or don’t like the texture of the produce, Deborah Murphy, MS, RDN, tells SELF. “You can definitely pack in more veggies in one glass than you might be able to eat in a sitting on your plate,” she says. By liquefying them along with other ingredients like milk, yogurt, frozen fruit, and nut butter, you can create a sweeter taste and still reap all the health benefits veggies bring: They’re great sources of antioxidants and fiber, a type of carbohydrate that not only keeps your digestive system running smoothly, but also can help prevent conditions like constipation, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and maybe even some forms of cancer.
Basically, there are plenty of reasons to eat more of the colorful stuff, and a green smoothie (or otherwise produce-packed one) can help you get it done. Overall, “it’s a great low-effort, no-extra-time-in-the-kitchen way to add some veggies to your diet,” Murphy says. Need some inspo? Here are 12 vegetable smoothie recipes that’ll deliver tons of necessary vitamins and minerals—along with some solid hydration and flavor.