I’m not a stranger to the green smoothie. It didn’t excite me, so its presence in my diet didn’t last long. Earlier this week, I saw
a tweet from my dude Chaundon – my interest sparked again (check out this dope weight loss blog, too). In my quest for better health & nutrition, I thought I’d give it another try. I spent a few hours researching green smoothie recipes – from the refreshing to the repulsive (i.e., kale, peanut butter and chocolate protein is NOT the move) – until I came to the realization:
I’m an artist in all aspects, even culinary…make your own recipe.
I took the most appealing parts of the recipes I found and created a green smoothie recipe that is simple and very tasty. This is the kind of smoothie that boosts your energy and provides a perfect morning salutation without sitting heavy in your stomach. I made it today and was pleasantly surprised.
Fave’s Go Green Smoothie
- 1-2 bananas
- 3-4 strawberries
- 1/2 cup frozen mango
- 1 cup of frozen spinach
- water/ice cubes
Make sure your blender game is imperial - a subpar blender that can barely break an ice cube will not give you the smooth consistency required for a…smoothie. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just effective. I have a GTC blender I bought at H-E-B for under $15 and it emulsifies in ways you wouldn’t believe.
Bananas give the smoothie a very silky consistency. I used to use plain yogurt back in the day, before my body decided to become lactose intolerant. Spinach has a mild flavor that plays well with the other ingredients although I heard kale is a good green to use as well. I like my green smoothie to have that nice “Kermit” green color and this is achieved by using lighter colored fruits (e.g., mangos, pineapple, etc.) versus berries. I like strawberries, but in the recipe above I use them sparingly. Otherwise your kermit green smoothie will turn to snufalufugus real quick.
This recipe makes about 32oz. of green, smooth goodness and will definitely fill you up without making you feel too full. There’s no calorie-counting and if you’re time starved like I am, it’s the quickest thing ever to do in the morning when you’re rushing out the door.
This is a great way to incorporate a nutrient dense burst of energy into your life. If you choose to ‘go green’ – my prayer is that it is one step of many towards a happier, healthier life.
Until next time…