Green Monster Smoothies!

March 23, 2012 in Drinks, Featured

I’ve been wanting to try this whole smoothie thing for a long time. It seems so healthy and amazing and so easy! Just throw everything in a blender and boom! smoothie. So, I took the first step and bought a cheap $40 blender at Bed Bath & Beyond (it’s the Oster 8-speed one) and….. that’s where it ended.

When I think smoothie, I think “strawberry and blueberry concoction with a creamy base and smooth as can be!” But those berry things? Yeah, those are expensive. And that whole creamy thing? Not the healthiest thing in the world (usually… until now! Keep reading…). And my blender? It’s great, but it’s no Vitamix, and it doesn’t like when I overload it. Which I have a tendency to overdo… Poor thing!

So basically, 1+1=2 and I got over it. Then my friend gave me a sample of her Shakeology powder (by Beachbody) because they came out with a new vegan flavor. While I loved the ease and accessibility of the stuff, it wasn’t exactly my cup of ~~tea~~ smoothie. It didn’t blend up so well, and didn’t seem quite like a real smoothie. I think I like it fresh much better.

Then, by a stroke of luck (actually, by a stroke of actually pay attention to what’s on the websites you read every day), I noticed a button on the sidebar of Oh She Glows that said Green Monster. Ooookay, I’ll click it because that’s what I do! And click I did. And my (smoothie) world has changed.

Angela tells an amazing story about how these smoothies came to be. In a last-ditch effort to keep out her old under-eating habits and to help keep her spirits up in her stressful job, Angela invented these Green Monster smoothies. They helped her feel a little better and a little cleaner each day. Over time (and a lot of recipe work!) they went from strange-scary-concoctions to one of the most flavorful drinks that has ever come out of my kitchen. They use almond milk (which I have just been introduced to… we had an awkward look at each other in the store but never actually come into contact because you’re made of almonds relationship before now) which gives it a really creamy texture and a great taste. I also used almond butter because, just like the almond milk, it is my newest favorite thing. And the kicker? Spinach! No, you can’t taste it. Yes, it is so healthy for you! It is the green ingredient in the smoothie, and it makes for an easy way to shove an extra serving of greens into your diet.

These are so easy. Here’s the recipe:

1 cup non-dairy milk (almond!!)
1 Tbsp ground flax seed
1 Tbsp nut butter (hello again, almonds)
2 handfuls of spinach
1 banana
3 ice cubes

Just blend the milk, flax, nut butter, spinach, and banana together until smooth (add them to the blender in that order). Add the ice cubes and blend again. Done! My blender had no problem with this recipe. You can change it up all you like and no doubt get amazing new smoothie combinations.

Angela’s Green Monster Movement website has over 200 reader-submitted green monster recipes, so go check it out and see if there’s something that catches your eye. As for now, I’m perfectly happy with the original recipe – so simple, yet so good!

I’ve made these two days in a row, both after my exercise. It helps keep me full for about 2-3 hours, which is a long time for me! I also eat it with another piece of fruit and a handful of nuts. Perfect snack!