Drinking a glass of green smoothie each morning is a great way to incorporate an extra serving or two of leafy greens into your daily diet. Leafy greens like spinach and collard greens are packed full of important minerals like iron and calcium, and they’re also high in vitamins A and K. When making green smoothies, it’s important to remember to vary the greens that you use. Doing so will ensure that you obtain the widest array of beneficial nutrients possible. There is no better time than today to adopt a green smoothie habit. Here are a few tasty recipes to get you started.
Banana Mania Green Smoothie
This recipe is perfect if you’re new to the world of green smoothies because the bananas and pineapple give it plenty of sweetness. Begin by placing 2 cups of baby spinach in the bottom of your blender. Add one banana and 1 cup of frozen pineapple chunks. Pour in 1 – 1 ½ cups of coconut water or plain filtered water and ½ cup plain, organic yogurt, and then blend until smooth.
Colossal Collard Smoothie
Collard greens have a stronger flavor than spinach, so you may want to try this smoothie after you’ve experimented with spinach smoothies for a while and have adapted to their flavor. If you find this smoothie is too strong for your taste, feel free to replace half of the collards with spinach.
To make the Colossal Collard Smoothie, combine four large collard leaves, 1 cup of green grapes, and 1 cup of frozen peaches in your blender. Add 1 cup of orange juice, ½ cup filtered water, and ½ cup plain, organic yogurt. Blend until smooth. The collards are one of the tougher greens, so you may have to blend for a little while longer in order to reach a smooth consistency.
Green Smoothie in Disguise
Including blackberries and raspberries in this smoothie makes it appear more purple than green, but rest assured – there are plenty of nutrient-rich greens in that glass! This is a great smoothie to serve to children who you think may be turned off by a smoothie that’s actually green in color. It also includes flaxseed, which contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and fiber.
To make this almost-green smoothie, place 2 cups of spinach leaves in the bottom of the blender. Then, add 1 banana, 1 cup of raspberries, ½ cup of blackberries, 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed, 1 cup of soy milk and ½ cup filtered water. Blend until smooth, and enjoy.
Refreshing Summer Green Smoothie
Parsley is an often-overlooked green that is high in vitamins A and C along with folate, which is essential for reproductive and cardiovascular health, especially in women. It has a strong flavor, but using it in moderation and in combination with kale in this smoothie makes for a refreshing, slightly sweet summer beverage.
When you’re ready for some refreshment, combine a small handful of parsley (leaves and stems), 4 kale leaves, a 3-inch section of cucumber, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 cup of green grapes and 1 cup of frozen berries of your choice in the blender. Add 1 ½ cups of coconut water or plain filtered water, and blend until smooth. For an extra refreshing beverage, you can blend in a couple of ice cubes.
Green Smoothie Tips
It’s easiest to make smoothies in a high-speed blender, but don’t let lack of one stop you from making green smoothies! They can easily be made in any general purpose blender; you may just have to blend for a little longer or add a little more liquid to get the ingredients moving. For easier blending, make sure you add the greens to the blender first, and then put the fruit on top. Feel free to stir your favorite health food supplements into any of these smoothies for an extra boost. A spoonful of spirulina, flax seed or chia seed is easily camouflaged by the fresh, sweet fruit used in these recipes. Lastly, make sure you enjoy your green smoothies at least several times per week. Including more greens in your diet is a great way to boost your energy levels and retain your youth.
