Orange Banana Green Smoothie

Orange Banana Green Smoothie

1 ripe banana
1 scoop strawberry flavored protein powder
1 cup orange juice
3 cups spinach (I like organic baby spinach)
1-2 cups ice
1 cup water (best to use filtered water)

Put everything in your smoothie blender and blend until smooth.

Drinking green smoothies is a great way to lose weight and feel better, have more energy and provide your body with essential nutrients.

Play around with making green smoothies. Once you learn about the flavors you like, you can make unlimited variations.

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Spinach is a popular ingredient used in green smoothies.

Vegetarians, vegans, and raw foodists have been making green smoothies for years, but now they are making their way into the main stream population. Why? Well, it starts with the health benefits of green vegetables. Leafy green vegetables contain tons of nutrients and vital minerals for good health. They are also low on the glycemic scale which makes them a very healthy choice for diabetics as well as those trying to lose weight.

Green smoothies are not only healthy, but also a very easy and tasty way to get those added nutrients, chlorophyll and enzymes. Chlorophyll, as well as enzymes, help to fight disease as well as cancer. And enzymes are necessary for proper digestion and metobolizing processes in the body.

Popular green smoothies may include the following:

• Spinach
• Kale
• Celery
• Parsley
• Sprouts
• Cucumbers
• Carrots
• Lemons
• Limes
• Ginger or cinnamon
• Additional fruits (adds flavor, but also natural sugars)

Many people will go on green juice or green smoothie fasts or cleanses – to help their systems become more alkaline or to lose weight. Try out a green smoothie and you’ll see why green smoothies are become more popular as time goes by.

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1 apple (you may leave the skin on for more nutrients, but make sure to wash thoroughly)
1 cup peaches (fresh or frozen). You may also substitute mangoes, nectarines or papaya
1 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen)
1 banana
1 cup orange juice (or water)
2-3 cups fresh spinach
2-3 cups kale
2 cups ice

Blend and enjoy!

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Green leafy vegetables contain tons of nutrients and antioxidants for better health, but most people either do not like vegetables, or do not get enough of them in our normal diets. Blending up greens into a smoothie not only can taste delicious but also provide those essential nutrients easily into our systems.

Enjoy green smoothies for more energy and better health.

The chlorophyll contained in greens will provide oxygen to your cells and place your body into a more alkaline state, where optimal health can be achieved. Good nutrition can lead to feeling better, having more energy, gaining a better outlook of life and simply having better health.

After several weeks drinking green smoothies, you may notice a change in your skin – including fewer blemishes, a more radiant glow and healthier tone. The reason is that the skin responds to what we eat and if we have good health our skin looks better – not having to dump toxins out through the skin as we take in unhealthy food choices.

Major benefits of green smoothies include more energy and weight loss!

Green smoothies can also taste delicious. Use a base of fruit (pears, apples, or bananas work well), and then simply add in your leafy greens. Note: Adding blackberries or blueberries help to mask the green color and kids love it – without even knowing they are eating their vegetables.

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For those of you getting started with green smoothies I have a few suggestions:

1. Start slowly. Use your favorite fruit smoothie recipe and simply add a few greens – spinach is a good addition to a green smoothie as the flavor does not overpower the taste of the fruit. Another benefit to starting slowly is that your smoothie can still look appetizing as well. (See the “green smoothie” recipe and photo below.)

2. Only add greens that you like as you get started making a green smoothie. If you hate the flavor of kale, you won’t love it in a smoothie either. Once in a while you can sneak a green into your smoothie (such as spinach) that you don’t love – if it has a mild flavor you can get the nutrients and antioxidants without spoiling the taste of your smoothie.

3. Try using a rich flavored protein powder to mask the stronger flavors of your greens. You might be surprised that even chocolate protein powders can taste good with greens. Strawberry and vanilla go extremely well in a green smoothie.

4. Build up from there. I still can’t stomache full blown green smoothies (with mostly greens and maybe a pear for sweetness). But I certainly can add greens to my favorite recipes. And .. the best part… kids love these smoothies too. So not only do you get great taste, you also get the benefits of extra nutrition. Not a bad combination.

Here is an example of a green smoothie I made today. Don’t be fooled by the purple color – it still IS considered a “green smoothie“.

A green smoothie can still look appetizing if you use berries for a rich purple or red color.

Green Smoothie

1 cup berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries)
2 cups ice
1 ripe banana
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup skim milk (optional – you may exchange for water)
1/2 cup water
1/2 fresh alfalfa sprouts (I sprout my own, but they can be purchased at most grocery stores. Make sure you rinse them well before adding).
2 cups fresh spinach (I prefer using organic baby spinach)
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional)

(You can leave out the protein powder if you prefer – I like to add it as it keeps you feeling satisfied longer and only adds about 90-120 calories to your green smoothie depending on the brand you use. This recipe could also be considered a protein shake.)

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Just ran across a new smoothie recipe I wanted to share it. Sounds interesting, and yet I’ve heard it’s amazing. I had not heard of using zucchini in a smoothie recipe before – so it should be fun to try. 

Ingredients: 

• zucchini
• pear
• apple
• cinnamon
• allspice
• ice cubes
• water

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Green smoothies can be delicious! They can be a great way to add vitamins and minerals to your diet that you may not get otherwise.

Some people truly enjoy green smoothies that only contain greens and vegetables such as spinach, kale, carrots, tomatoes, onions, sprouts, bean sprouts, and avocado.

However, the most popular green smoothies have a based in a fruit smoothie recipe and simply add a handful or two of some type of vegetable with a mild flavor such as carrots or spinach. If you mix the smoothie well enough, you should have a green-colored smoothie that tastes like oranges, strawberries, bananas or peaches (depending on whatever recipe you select as your base.)

It may take a bit to get over the fact that you are drinking something that has a green color, but if you experiment with various flavors, you will find that green smoothies can help boost your immune system, give you extra energy, help you to feel better, and provide your body with extra nutrition. The benefits of green smoothies will far outweigh any hesitation about the color.

Fresh spinach added to a fruit smoothie provides extra nutrients

My personal favorite is simply adding a handful of spinach to every smoothie I make. I can’t actually taste the spinach but I feel great after drinking it and am happy knowing that I am doing at least one more thing that will benefit my body.

I recommend you start slowly – just adding a small amount of greens to a fruit smoothie recipe – rather than going straight for the no-sweet fully green smoothie – as that may be too much for a novice. If you have never had a green smoothie, give it a try – you may find that you simply love green smoothies and never want to go back to the traditional pink or orange colored smoothies again.

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