Continuing the theme of my post-vacation shape up, I went home and drank my veggies for lunch in the form of a Green Monster Spinach Smoothie!
Green Monster Spinach Smoothies are one of my top secret diet weapons, because although they’re packed with baby spinach, which make my skin, hair, nails, and overall self feel totally great, they do not taste healthy at all. I repeat, they do not taste healthy at all.
PLUS!
- Spinach is fat free, cholesterol free, low in calories, and very low in sodium
- Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin A, C, K, iron, fiber, folate, and lutein
- Leutin is an antioxidant that promotes good eye health, and may help prevent cancer of the liver, ovaries, colon and prostate, and even dementia.
- Dole lab tests found spinach juice has twice the chlorophyl, eight times the calcium, six times the magnesium, 10 times the potassium, 15 times the vitamin C and 43 times the vitamin A of wheatgrass juice!
Are you convinced yet? Well channel your inner Popeye and get to blending already!
First add 1 sliced frozen banana, and 1 Tablespoon peanut butter in a blender. Tip: PEEL and SLICE your bananas before you freeze them.
Next add bulking agents for staying power, like protein-packed vanilla Greek yogurt, and creamy unsweetened vanilla almond milk. You could use any kind of milk you want – cow’s, rice, soy, etc.
PS I started calling cow’s milk, well, cow’s milk, after I stopped drinking it last year in favor of almond milk and it freaks. Ben. out. So hysterical.
Fill the blender the rest of the way up with baby spinach. I think I fit about 4 cups in there today!
Start the blender on “high blend” until everything’s mixed up, then switch it over to “liquify” to get the Green Monster velvety smooth.
Pure green gold!
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Green Monster Spinach Smoothie
Description
Green Monster Spinach Smoothie is packed with good-for-you ingredients — it's my favorite way to start the day!Â
Ingredients
- 1 frozen sliced banana
- 1 Tablespoon peanut butter
- 1/2 cup 0% Vanilla Chobani Greek yogurt
- 1 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze (or other kind of milk)
- 4 cups baby spinach (or more, or less)
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I almost feel guilty enjoying one of these babies, as it tastes like a sweet, indulgent ice cream shake. It’s perfect for breakfast, lunch or even a snack.
Try throwing in different kinds of greens, protein powder, and any frozen fruit or berry combo under the sun. The sky’s the limit with this ultra-healthy, not-healthy-tasting Green Monster Spinach Smoothie!
*Sources: Dole, WH Foods, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Karen 01.27.2012
Ok – I tried this with frozen strawberries and raspberries, a fresh banana, cows milk and 2 cups of spinach. The taste was very blank and didn’t taste like anything not even the fruit. I added ice and agave nectar and still nothing. What did I do wrong?
GApeach 01.26.2012
Do you know how many carbs are in this?
Oilfield Wife 01.26.2012
What if you dont like peanut butter…any suggestions?!?
Farm girl 01.26.2012
I have tried adding a jar of baby food to the original recipe it adds extra veges. Tastes great….carrots, pumpkin,squash(peas were really bad), any of the fruits.
Have lost 10lbs and feel great since I started drinking these green monsters (and modified the rest of my eating habits and exercising :D).
ali 01.26.2012
Just wondering if you have ever tried using frozen spinach?
Nicole 01.26.2012
I do not like bananas. Has anyone very tried something else that makes this just as yummy and not spinach tasting….Thanks!!!
Iowa Girl Eats 01.26.2012
You can use any kind of frozen fruit in place of the banana!
Kelly 01.26.2012
You have a lot of comments, but just in case you didn’t get this one, check out the Green Smoothie Revolution – greensmoothierevolution.com. There are more recipes in the book than online.
Cory 01.26.2012
Hi, this was soo good! I used low fat vanilla yogurt instead of greek yogurt. And I used a green banana instead of a ripe one because I read that green bananas make you feel fuller and help you burn more fat because they contain resistant starch.
Amanda 01.26.2012
How much fat and carbs is this? I would like to calculate WW points + this is. Thanks.
Kat 01.25.2012
I make my green smoothie with 1 frozen banana, 1 pear, 2 handfuls of baby spinach, 1 to 1 1/2 cups vanilla almond milk and if you need it sweeter just a tsp of honey. I love to blend this and drink it for lunch. The frozen banana is so much smoother than using ice. also aprox 4 WW points.
Marcy 01.25.2012
baby spinach
1/2 banana
1/2 cup frozen pineapple
1/2 cup frozen mango
1 1/2 cups filtered water
yummy!
Ira 01.25.2012
Spinach is great, but if you are looking for a good source of iron, protein, calcium and beta-carotene, look at Spirulina. It’s blue-green algae, tastes like nothing, and is basically the real version of lembas bread. It’s one of the healthiest food supplements in the world.
Kristin 01.25.2012
Like others have said, the recipe for “green” smoothies is really flexible. I usually just throw stuff in rather than measure. My kids don’t like it when it is green so I usually use strawberries, blueberries, spinach, a bit of yogurt (not Greek) and a touch of milk. It turns out purple. If I have protein powder or flax meal I add that as well. If you don’t follow the recipe exactly it is not the end of the world. Don’t like Greek yogurt? Use regular. Can’t have peanuts? Leave it out. Don’t like bananas? Try a different fruit.
Depending on the size of the smoothie the calories could be a bit high but the amount of nutrients is also very high. If you are doing WW it would be low in points, but I would figure it out based on your actual ingredients (amount of milk and yogurt, peanut butter, etc). I usually make a batch and then freeze it in 8 oz Ball freezer containers (they are plastic). This works very well.
I like the sound of the original recipe here and am going to try that tomorrow. I wouldn’t have thought to put peanut butter in. Thanks for the recipe!
Kiera 01.25.2012
I love these!!! They are so easy and before I work out I add 1/4 c oatmeal to it as well. Thanks so much for posting this!
Christi 01.25.2012
How much weight can you lose? Has anyone lost weight?
Emily 01.25.2012
Can this smoothie be made in advance and frozen?
Iowa Girl Eats 01.26.2012
It can. I’ve made it the night before, then hacked away at it in the morning. More like frozen treat than a smoothie!
Chris 01.25.2012
I agree…spinach smoothie is my diet secret weapon. I have this for breakfast and stay full all morning. My version: 1/2 banana, 2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1/3 cup rolled oats, 2 T. vanilla Carnation instant breakfast, handful of other fresh or frozen fruit (strawberries, blueberries, mango all work well), handful of ice, two big handfuls of spinach. Only 250 – 300 calories depending on the fruit you use. I recently swapped out the instant breakfast for Jillian Michaels protein powder…more protein, less sugar, same calories. Sometimes I add ground flax seed, but that makes it a little bitter.
libby 01.25.2012
OH my gosh can’t wait to try this!! would you happen to know the fat and carbs? Im doing weight watchers so just wondering. thanks for posting this!
libbybonjour@gmail.com
Miriam 01.25.2012
Do you happen to know how many carbs are in this?
LM 01.25.2012
Random question – where did you get your Dole travel cup?
Iowa Girl Eats 01.26.2012
I got it at the Dole Healthy Lifestyle Blogger Summit! https://iowagirleats.com/2011/11/03/no-coast-to-west-coast/