Green Goddess Smoothie

Hello darling,

In my ongoing search for the fountain of youth (aka, amazing health and boundless energy, and to be entirely open, a beautiful figure), I have had serious periods of smoothie-ing.

 I don’t even mean the kind of low-stakes smoothie-ing that looks like one smoothie added to lunch or one smoothie for breakfast. I mean, hard-core, all out, week without solid food kind of smoothie-ing. While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this as it isn’t itself a very balanced approach to eating, there was a reason why I repeatedly turned towards smoothies to solve my bloated belly and lethargy problems. Smoothies have the ability to provide you with a slew of vitamins and minerals that, quite frankly, your Standard American Diet (SAD) of hot dogs and fish fingers just can’t provide for you. 

I do recognize that the color green in food can be a bit…scary…especially if it isn’t St. Patrick’s Day (a holiday which usually includes foods dyedgreen; that’s what is really scary). Most parents tell their kids to eat their vegetables, but very few adultsactually get in their recommended servings of greens. Worry not, dear one! This smoothie features spinach, which is the mildest flavored of the leafy greens and will be a good gateway vegetable for your smoothies. Even the faint of taste bud will find this smoothie to be sweet and oh-so-delicious.

Though I myself have a love affair with my Vitamix, any blender should work for this recipe. Just be warned, the lower quality your blender, the less integrated your spinach will become (this is probably bad, unless you like chunks of pre-masticated spinach in your beverages). That beings said, spinach is much more readily blended than, say, kale, so you should be good!

Are you ready to take a step toward smoother digestion, glowing skin, and abundant energy? 

Are you ready to nourish your body with the fuel it needs to feel like your best, most badass self? 

My dear, I present to you the Green Goddess Smoothie:

INGREDIENTS:

2 frozen bananas

1 date

1 scoop of vegan chocolate protein powder (vanilla is yummy too, but chocolate is to die for)

1-1 ½  cups of water (start with one, check for desired consistency)

½ teaspoon vanilla extract (or you could be fancy and use vanilla stevia, omitting the date)

1-2 cups of spinach (depending on hardiness/ familiarity with leaves in your smoothies)

1 tablespoon cacao nibs (though TECHNICALLY optional, I would highly recommend)

Add all ingredients to the blender, with the exception of the cacao nibs. I would recommend adding the spinach in last. Start your blender on low, then gradually increase the speed. Blend for 45 seconds, or until the smoothie is… well… smooth. This may take a minute, due to the tenacity of dates to remain in their god-given form. 

Finally, toss in those nibs and pulse for several additional seconds. Ideally, the nibs will get chopped into tinier bits, but won’t be incorporated into your smoothie. If all else fails, stir them in with a spoon at the end. The idea is to have a bit of a chunky, (almost) mint-chip texture.

NOTE: if you are taking this smoothie with you for later (easy work/school lunch), don’t put the cacao nibs in until you are ready to drink your smoothie. Otherwise, they’ll get soggy and weird. I know, they are a high maintenance food; like most high maintenance things in life, they’re worth it.

ANOTHER NOTE: Optional ways to up your green smoothie game are to add spirulina powder (fantastic for all my vegetarian guys and gals out there, as this green algae is extremely high in B12). 

ANOTHER ANOTHER NOTE (I know, this is getting a bit excessive): My favorite vegan protein powder is made by Sunwarrior, but any plant-based powder will do. Please darling, don’t go mucking up your life-giving nectar of the gods with animal based protein powder. 

 That’s it! This is the ideal beginner’s green smoothie.

Drink up, then go forth and enjoy your beautiful day!

Love,

                                    Lola