Welch's® Fresh: Frozen Grape Acai Smoothie

Fresh fruit is an amazing treat. It's a treat to our health + our taste buds. Naturally sweet, kids love this nutritious food. Fruit is perfect in smoothies + this recipe easily disguises a green leafy vegetable, spinach, that is often difficult to get kids to eat. Welch's® Fresh grapes take center stage in this recipe. It's one I'm sure your whole family will enjoy.

Did you know grapes are packed with important nutrients + have many health benefits?

Grape Nutrition:

Grapes are a good source of the essential trace mineral copper, which is crucial for energy production.
One cup of Welch's® Fresh grapes contains only 104 calories.
Grapes are a good source of phytonutrients which are thought to have health protecting qualities such as, fighting free radicals that are known to cause damage in the body. Phytonutrients are so important that The American Cancer Society + The American Heart Association recommend eating a diet high in fruits + vegetables too ensure a high intake of phytonutrients.
Grapes are a good source of riboflavin (B2). Riboflavin helps the body metabolize fats + protein. Riboflavin also helps the body convert B6 + folate into usable forms in the body.

For more nutrition information, visit eatright.org

Welch's® Fresh: Frozen Grape Acia Smoothie Ingredients:

2 Cups Frozen Welch's® Fresh Grapes

2 Cups Frozen Raspberries

1 Cup Frozen Blackberries

1 Cup Filtered Water

1/2 Cups Welch's® Frozen Grape Juice Concentrate

1/2 Cup Fresh Spinach

1/4 Cup Frozen Marion Berries

1/4 Cup Frozen Acai Juice or Concentrate

2 Tbsp Hemp Seeds

2 Tbsp Ground Flax Seeds

To create a Smoothie Bowl, Top with any of the following options:

1/4 Cup Edible Flowers

1 Tbsp Hemp Seeds

1 Tbsp Ground Flax Seeds

1/4 Cup Fresh or Frozen Grapes

1/4 Cup Seeds or Nuts

Directions:

Wash Welch's® Fresh grapes under cool water in a colander. You can use a little salt or baking soda to help wash off any debris from Nature's elements. Peel the grapes off the stem + place in a ziplock bag. Measure out two cups + extra for snacking. Do not dry off, place in the bag with a little moisture. Place in the freezer for 3-5 hours or overnight.

In blender add: frozen grape concentrate, spinach, hemp seeds + flax seeds. Next, add the frozen fruit: frozen grapes, frozen raspberries, frozen blackberries + marion berries. Next, pour in water + acai juice. Place the top on the blender + blend on your smoothie setting or on high for 30 seconds. Check the consistency, then add a little extra water if needed or blend for an extra 20-40 seconds.

For a quick smoothie drink: pour into glasses + top with a straw + enjoy!

Directions for a Hearty Smoothie Bowl:

Pour blended smoothie into a bowl. Arrange edible flowers in your bowl. Top with flax + hemp seeds. For extra crunch + protein add: seeds + nuts, granola + some frozen Welch's® Fresh grapes. Enjoy!

The frozen grapes are such a nice touch to this smoothie. They give the smoothies a great chill, just as ice cubes do, but with more nutritional benefit. The frozen grape concentrate brings a natural sweetness to the smoothie as well as a little tart kick. My kids honesty love this smoothie + continue to ask for it. They generally don't eat a spinach salad, but they help put the spinach into the blender + love it! My kids think it is a lot of fun to watch the grapes change their consistency when frozen. I love that they are able to learn about healthy plant-based foods as children. I think touching the food, talking about it + helping prepare it will help them to develop a life-long value for health + wellness. That sure is my goal, so bring on the frozen Welch's® Fresh grape experiments!

We love Cooking with Welch's® Fresh grapes at our house + we hope you will too! You can enter the Welch's® Fresh Great Grape Shape-Up Sweepstakes by entering Here. You could win a $100 Visa Gift Card! Cheers!

This post was sponsored by Welch's® Fresh. These opinions are my own + I hope my honest thoughts + recipe help you in your kitchen!