Spinach & Strawberry Smoothie

I haven't made a green smoothie in a while, so I thought I would try using spinach this go-around instead of kale. Spinach is a great alternative for those that don't care for the flavor of kale because the taste is not as strong.  I am a kale fan, but spinach is a nice change sometimes. It tastes great with pretty much any fruit you throw in the blender with it, but I think it is particularly good with strawberries and bananas. Like most smoothies, this is so easy to make and such a simple and great tasting way to fit in a large amount of leafy greens.

Spinach & Strawberry Smoothie

Makes ~6 (8oz) servings

Ingredients

4 cups fresh organic spinach leaves
1 cup frozen organic strawberries
1 fresh banana
1 cup orange juice
1 cup cold water
1 1/2 cups ice

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in blender and blend until liquified and there are no visible pieces of ice

2. Pour in a glass and enjoy!

What are the nutritional benefits of this smoothie? Spinach is very high in vitamins A and K, and also and excellent source of folate, iron, vitamin C, and calcium. Strawberries are packed with vitamin C, antioxidants and fiber. Bananas are an excellent source of potassium and vitamin C, and contain a prebiotic substance called fructooligosaccharide which ferments in the digestive tract, encouraging the growth of probiotics, and enhancing the absorption of calcium in the body. Orange juice tops it off with even more vitamin C.

Mango Strawberry & Chia Green Smoothie

This is one of my favorite smoothies I have made. The mangoes and strawberries go so well together and provide lots of natural sweetness. I really like adding chia seeds to my smoothies, especially if I am drinking them right before a workout. I made this about a half an hour before exercising, and I felt so energized during my workout!

Mango Strawberry & Chia Green Smoothie

Makes ~5 8oz servings

Ingredients

5 large organic kale leaves, stems removed
1 cup sliced organic strawberries
1 mango, sliced
2 Tbsp chia seeds
1 cup orange juice
1 cup cold water
1 cup ice

Directions


1. Place all ingredients in blender and blend until liquified and there are no visible pieces of ice

2. Pour in a glass and enjoy!

What are the nutritional benefits of this smoothie? Kale is an excellent source of vitamins A, C and K. It is also a good source of minerals calcium, copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorous. Strawberries are packed with vitamin C, antioxidants and fiber. Mangoes are an excellent source of vitamins C and A. Chia seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, antioxidants and calcium. The orange juice provides yet even more vitamin C.

Peach, Blueberry & Banana Green Smoothie

This week's green smoothie of leftover produce wasn't anything fancy, but sure turned out to be good. We often will make a green smoothie with blueberries and bananas, but this was the first time I added peaches, and they made a really great addition.  Our fresh peaches got yucky pretty quickly this week, so into the Vitamix they went!

Peach, Blueberry & Banana Green Smoothie

makes ~5 8oz servings

Ingredients

5 large organic kale leaves, stems removed

2 organic peaches, pitted

1 banana

1/2 cup organic blueberries

3/4 cup orange juice

1 cup cold water

1 cup ice

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in blender and blend until liquified and there are no visible pieces of ice

2. Pour in a glass and enjoy!

What are the nutritional benefits of this smoothie? Kale is an excellent source of vitamins A, C and K. It is also a good source of minerals calcium, copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorous. Peaches are high in  fiber, vitamins A and C, and the mineral potassium. Blueberries are packed with antioxidants, fiber and vitamin C. Bananas are an excellent source of potassium and vitamin C, and contain a prebiotic substance called fructooligosaccharide which ferments in the digestive tract, encouraging the growth of probiotics, and enhancing the absorption of calcium in the body. Orange juice tops it off with even more vitamin C.

Chocolate Green Smoothie

I came across a similar smoothie recipe to this on kalesmoothierecipes.com and had to try it. It was soo good! I was really in the mood for something chocolate, and this did the trick! It wasn't as rich as a chocolate milk shake but had all of the sweet chocolate taste I needed...definitely a healthy, nutrient-rich way to get your chocolate fix without the empty calories of ice cream.

Chocolate Green Smoothie

Makes ~3 8oz servings

Ingredients

3 cups baby kale leaves, rinsed

1 banana

1/2 cup cashews

1/3 cup chopped dates

3 Tbsp cocoa powder

1 cup cold water

1 cup ice

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in blender and blend until liquified and there are no visible pieces of ice

2. Pour in a glass and enjoy!

(Recipe adapted from kalesmoothierecipes.com)

What are the nutritional benefits of this smoothie? Kale is an excellent source of vitamins A, C and K. It is also a good source of minerals calcium, copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorous. Cocoa powder contains flavonoids, a type of antioxidant. Bananas are an excellent source of potassium and vitamin C, and contain a prebiotic substance called fructooligosaccharide which ferments in the digestive tract, encouraging the growth of probiotics, and enhancing the absorption of calcium in the body! Cashews contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and are rich in minerals copper, magnesium, tryptophan, magnesium, and phosphorous. Dates are high in minerals calcium, magnesium, selenium, and calcium, as well as carotenoid antioxidants.

Kale, Celery & Apple Green Smoothie

About once a week, we go through our refrigerator and pick out the produce that is starting to reach the end of its useful life and make a smoothie with it! Today, I pulled out a small bunch of kale, a lemon, some celery, a small bunch of red grapes, and some apple juice. So into the Vitamix it all went! And the end result was really tasty...

Kale, Celery & Apple Green Smoothie

Makes ~4 8oz servings

Ingredients

5 large organic kale leaves, stems removed, and torn into small pieces

4 stalks organic celery, cut into small pieces

1/2 cup organic red grapes

Juice of one lemon

1/2 cup apple juice

1/2 cup cold water

1 cup ice

Directions

1. Rinse kale, celery and grapes and place in blender with lemon juice, apple juice, water, and ice

2. Blend until liquified and there are no visible pieces of ice

3. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

What are the nutritional benefits of this smoothie? Kale is an excellent source of vitamins A, C and K. It is also a good source of minerals calcium, copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorous. Celery provides vitamin K and folic acid. Grapes are a good source of vitamins C, A and K. Lemon juice  and apple juice are packed with vitamin C.