I am a firm believer that you are what you eat. So that must mean I’m green, high in iron, calcium and vitamin C? I’m good with that!
I got into the “green smoothie” trend five years ago when everyone in my family made a face when they saw the color of what I was drinking. Now, they’re the ones telling me what kind of smoothie they made for their breakfast. This is a trend I am happy to have everyone take part in! I mean, how can you not? They’re delicious, portable, and PACKED with vitamins and nutrients that help you feel your best.
I have never done the meal replacement shakes that you mix with water in one of those shaker bottles. I tried one once, and that was it. It didn’t taste good, and I would much rather drink some fruits and vegetables with an added protein powder that I enjoy! These days people’s biggest issue with eating healthy is that they don’t have the time to prepare or find the right things to eat. Well, you can’t get any quicker than a blender. And most of them have smoothie settings these days, so one push of the button and you can still multitask while your meal is being prepared. There you go! Problem solved.
But let’s get back to the good stuff, literally. All the good stuff that you can find in most of these smoothie recipes. When you go the “green” way, you’re likely opting for spinach or kale. Those dark leafy greens are packed with iron, fiber, antioxidants, vitamin C and vitamin K. I know! So much good stuff! My usual fruit accompaniments are: mango, pineapple or banana. I find that the flavor of those fruits balance the taste of the spinach and kale. But be careful if you’re opting for frozen fruit. Make sure to look and make sure there is zero added sugar. Fruit already has a good amount of natural sugar, so you don’t want to ruin a perfectly good recipe by choosing the wrong bag of frozen fruit.
Another popular trend these days are Acai Bowls. And they’re delish! But you can also make them as smoothies at home. The reason Acai is known as a health food is the fact that this berry is jam-packed with antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and E as well as healthy fats like omega fatty acids (omega-3, -6, -9, stuff like that :-D). Plus, it tastes good! There are tons of great Acai powders on the market, but I have found an amazing Acai puree that I usually find at Whole Foods. It’s by Sambazon and they have a few different varieties, which makes these smoothies even quicker to make. Other things you can add with this puree or the flavor of Acai? I love: cherries, blueberries, raspberries plus some banana. Talk about a whop of antioxidants!
A lot of people ask what liquids I use to blend my smoothies. Which is sometimes a forgotten ingredient in your smoothies and can make a huge different. I always tell people to opt out of the juice choice. By using juice alone, you could put a days worth of sugar into just one smoothie, and taking your taste buds down the sweet-tooth path for the rest of the day. My top two choices that I ALWAYS have in the house are unsweetened almond milk and coconut water. You can experiment with other milks like cashew milk, soy milk, or whatever you find tastes best and suits your digestive system. But there are so many good ones on the market you are bound to find the perfect match! I use almond milk for heavier recipes and ones that I want to taste a little “creamier”. I will use coconut water for smoothies that I want to taste a little sweeter and lighter.
Now, this isn’t to say that I NEVER use juice in my smoothies, but sparingly. In my green smoothies that have pineapple or mango, I put a quick shot of pineapple juice in there, just for an extra little taste. In my acai or berry smoothies? I add a little pomegranate juice. Again, not a lot, no more than about 1/4 cup. And I always opt for the organic juices. Less preservatives, less added sugar, and more likely to come from the actual fruit itself!
Now, last but not least: the protein. Don’t forget the protein! Having a healthy balance of protein to fat is a key factor to your diet as a whole, and in these smoothies it’s just as important. Without the protein you end up with a drink heavier in sugar, carbs, and fat. Now, they’re all healthy sugars, carbs, and fats, but you need the protein to build and repair tissues and muscles. My choice is always EBOOST. It is grass-fed whey, added probiotics and digestive enzymes, no artificial flavors, and no added sugar. Plus, IT’S DELICIOUS! Seriously, this protein powder is not the kind that will ruin your smoothie the second you add it. Because really, who wants to drink chalk?
Now, let’s get to blending!
GO-TO GREENS
1 cup spinach
1/2 cup kale
1/2 cucumber
1/2 green apple
1/2 cup frozen pineapple
Wheatgrass – I get frozen wheatgrass shots from Whole foods and use one in this smoothie. You can find them with the frozen fruits and vegetables.
Unsweetened Almond Milk
a dash of pineapple juice
1 scoop EBOOST Vanilla Prime Protein Powder
ACAI+CHERRY JUBILEE
1/2 cup frozen cherries
1/4 cup frozen red grapes
1/4 cup blueberries
1 packet of Sambazon Acai Puree
Unsweetened Almond Milk
splash of pomegranate juice
1 scoop EBOOST Chocolate Prime Protein Powder
MANGO TROPICAL SMOOTHIE
1/2 cup frozen mango
1/2 cup frozen peaches
1/2 peeled cucumber
2 pitted dates
Unsweetened Almond Milk
splash of pineapple juice
1 scoop EBOOST Vanilla Prime Protein Powder
*I also like to put a pinch of Camu Powder in this one. Camu is packed with more natural Vitamin C than any other fruit on the planet :-O
the hydrator
1 cup frozen watermelon
1/2 peeled cucumber
1/4 cup strawberries
2 tbsp chia seeds
Coconut Water
THE SUPER GREENS
1 cup kale
1 stalk celery
1/2 tsp fresh grated ginger
the juice from 1/2 lemon
1/2 green apple
Coconut Water
