Go-to green drink

Making Green Smoothies is EASY! 

When you’re looking for a healthy immune boost, that helps to regulate hormones, this is a great and easy way is to think GREEN. Whether you have a juicer or are more inclined to make a smoothie (like me!) this recipe is full of essential vitamins like E and C, as well as, tons of fiber and antioxidants. Green smoothies are not only easy to make, they have so many more benefits, like:

1. Gives you more energy

2. Aids in digestion

3. Reduces sugar cravings

4. Helps to stabilize blood sugar

5. Improves mental clarity and focus

6. High in phytonutrients, key in building a strong immune system

7. Keeps you hydrated

8. Easy way to consume vegetables

The recipe below details an easy way to make your own smoothie at home.

What You Need 

When you’re selecting the base for your green smoothie, pick a vegetable that isn't too dry. This will provide a base for your recipe so you can easily build the flavors and nutritional content. A good example would be a cucumber, apple or spinach. The rest of the drink should consist of other green vegetables, like avocado, kale, or celery, along with sweetener, like honey, maple syrup, stevia, or monkfruit.  Add dairy-free milk to give it a smoother texture. You can always opt to add in fruit for sweetener but just be careful as fruits like bananas are high in sugar and you want to avoid insulin spikes.  Opt for a small section of banana or add in berries – the darker the better (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries). For even more protein try adding in your favorite nut butter like almond or peanut butter.

Blending Your Drink 

One of the best things you can invest in is a high-powered blender like a Magic bullet or even a Vitamix. These types of blenders are powerful and can give you a lot of options and utility when it comes to making these kind of drinks. Select your main vegetable base, add in optional sweetener, and dairy-free milk (I choose cashew from Elmhurst, only 2 ingredients and no added sugar!) and you have a delicious and healthy drink ready to go in just a few minutes. 

Erin’s Recipe

• 1 C densely packed spinach (everyone’s handfuls are different, I prefer to pack it into a 1C measuring cup to get the right amount)

• 1.5 C dairy-free milk (almond, cashew, oat, coconut, hemp)

• 2 T nut butter (almond, peanut, sun)

• 1/4 t nutmeg

• 1/4 t cinnamon

• 2 t grated ginger (try fresh, it really is better)

Add together in your blender until you reach your desired consistency, should be smooth with a creamy texture.