Healthy Green Smoothie
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Before my wedding, I was all about that juicing and smoothie train. I drank my calories instead of chewing them. My skin was the best it has ever been (until recently because your girl has finally found a skin care regime that actually works), and I always seemed to have energy (which is a must in those final few hectic weeks leading up to wedding time.) Then I got married, made a couple of smoothies and random juice concoctions and moved on with my life.
The problem I regularly faced was pretty common: without the use of unhealthy sweeteners, not all smoothies are actually good. And since I no longer had to fit into a wedding dress, I didn’t see the point in continuing to make something I didn’t actually enjoy. Until this smoothie recipe magically fell into my hands after a bout with a winter cold.
While the original hand scribbled recipe called for bananas, I go out of my way to avoid them, so I swapped bananas for frozen mango. banana > mango. The rest of the recipe I mostly left in tact, minus using spinach in place of kale (I couldn’t find any.)
Made from a base of coconut water, spinach, frozen pineapple and frozen mango, half an avocado (shhh don’t tell my husband!), plain Greek yogurt, and lime juice, this is a green smoothie that actually tastes good. I know everyone always claims their green smoothies are delicious, but this one actually is, which is quickly and easily proven by sliding a mason jar full of frozen green goodness in front of someone who hates green smoothies and/or veggies… such as children or husbands who think avocados are poison.
I opted to use frozen fruit in place of ice cubes as I wanted to pack more nutrients into the recipe (ice cubes = less space for fruit chunks in the blender.) If you prefer to use fresh pineapple or mangos, be sure to add those ice cubes.
1 cup coconut water
1 cup spinach leaves, washed
1/2 cup frozen diced pineapple
1/2 cup frozen diced mango
1/2 avocado, pitted and diced
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Combine all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth or desired consistency is achieved.
Serve this caramel apple with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream for an untraditional Thanksgiving dessert that will surely knock the socks off of everyone.