PB&J Smoothie, by Diane

 

I ran out of greens for my typical morning smoothie at the same time that this recipe popped up on my instagram from @thefeedfeed- kismet! This was a little more time to make since I had to make 2 batches, but it was really good! My only advice would be to use as little liquid as possible because both batches were a little thinner than I would like. I also added a little stevia to the berry portion because it was too tart for me. I loved it though and would definitely make it again!

Ingredients:

1 whole frozen banana

1 cup milk of choice (I used almond coconut- start at 1/2 cup and go up as needed to blend)

2 dates

1/4 tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp nut butter (I used almond)

4 tbsp oats

protein powder of choice (I used collagen)

2 cups frozen berries

1/2 lemon, juiced (I might skip this next time since it was tart)

1 cup water (again I would start at 1/2 cup and go up as needed to blend)

Directions:

1. Blend the banana through protein powder in one batch until smooth and creamy. Pour into a large glass and set aside.

2. Blend the remaining ingredients berries through water until smooth.

3. Using a large glass or mason jar, start by pouring 1/3 of the berry mixture in, then 1/2 the pb mixture, then alternate until it's all in. You can swirl it a bit if you need. I actually really liked drinking it unblended because it was nice to get both tastes in just like a real PB&J! 

Banana, Mango, and Spinach Smoothie, by Cheryl

This has been my go to smoothie in the mornings! It's sweet from the mangoes and gives me a green boost from the spinach. An added bonus is that Julia loves this smoothie as well... I usually end up splitting it with her because she always wants more. Paired with an egg muffin from the previous recipe and it gives me the energy I need for a great morning workout, or a typical morning of chasing after Julia. Yum!

Ingredients:

1 cup coconut water
1 banana
1 cup frozen mango
chia seeds flax seeds
2 cups spinach (I've made it with kale as well)

Directions:

1) Pour coconut water and chia seeds into blender. Let sit for a couple of minutes in order for the chia seeds to absorb the water.

2) Add the rest of the ingredients and blend well.

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Malt, by Diane

This creation is my latest smoothie obsession, because it tastes exactly like a reeses peanut butter cup malt from an ice cream shoppe, and yet it's made from amazing healthy and energizing ingredients! This recipe is extremely customizable, you can add any types of protein powders, seeds, boosters or milks. I've found that making this smoothie with a greens powder, using energizing chia seeds, and using my homemade oat milk as a base works best. My booster of choice is maca, an amazing powder that both energizes and calms you at the same time. When I drink this smoothie, I typically feel extremely relaxed, like I can breathe a little easier, and yet at the same time I have the clarity and energy to get through my day. You can also use fresh bananas here, but the use of frozen bananas will get you that thick, ice cream consistency to make it even more like the real thing.

*Note: When storing frozen bananas, you need to peel them first as the peels will be extremely difficult to remove once frozen. I like to peel them and slice them into 5 big chunks before freezing to make it easier to fit into my blender.

*Also- sometimes I really want this to be chocolately so I'll sub 3 tbsp ovaltine chocolate malt mix instead of the cacao and malt powders. It's made from junk and is heavily processed, so I use it sparingly, but it makes this smoothie amazingly delicious!

Ingredients:

1.5 frozen bananas (7-8 chunks!)
1/2 cup oat milk
2 tbsp fresh ground peanut butter
2 tbsp maca powder
2 tbsp greens powder (I like amazing meal)
1 tsp chia seeds
1/4 tsp turmeric
2 tbsp raw cacao powder
1-2 tbsp vegan malt powder (depends on how much you like that malt flavor)


Directions: Blend in a bullet or other high speed blender until completely smooth. Add more liquid if desired.

Surprise "Eggnog" Smoothie, by Diane

I have stumbled upon something tonight in my kitchen that is unreal. I was originally intending to make a gingerbread smoothie, and just guessed at what ingredients might go into that. When I tried the end result, it tasted nothing like gingerbread. But I was okay with that, because to my surprise it tasted EXACTLY like a glass of one of my favorite holiday drinks- eggnog!!

I'm honestly not sure how this is possible, given there is no eggs or dairy in this smoothie and that there are flavors like molasses and banana in here! But this version is insanely healthier than the real version because there is no cream or sugar and instead there is a healthy banana plus the protein of almond milk and the anti-inflammatory spices.

Either way, this is delicious and a fantastic kitchen surprise that I'm already heading back to make a second glass of!!!

*Note: Had I not just run out of pumpkin for another recipe, I would have included it into this recipe. Having tasted this smoothie, I am even more sure that the end product would have been amazing!!

Ingredients:

1 ripe banana, chilled or frozen
1 cup vanilla sweetened almond milk
1 tbsp blackstrap molasses
1/8 tsp each cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, nutmeg
Sprinkle nutmeg

Directions:

Blend all the ingredients except the last until creamy and frothy, spinkle some extra nutmeg on top and sip!

Bluberry Banana Fig Green Smoothie, by Diane

I have quite possibly made the most delish green smoothie EVER this morning. I normally don't make creamier smoothies using almond milk, both for calories and because they are very filling, but this one is a definite exception. This smoothie tastes like candy and a milkshake combined! And it is filled with awesome superfood nutrients to boot, that happen to be wonderful for reproductive issues. YUM.


Ingredients:

1 banana
2 figs (I used mission figs here because they are sweeter!)
1/4 cup frozen blueberries
1/4 cup frozen zucchini
1 cup greens (I used a mix of spinach, chard, and kale)
Sprinkle of cinnamon, turmeric, and ginger
1 tbsp raw organic maca cacao powder (I love Terramazon!!)
3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk


Directions:

Blend all ingredients until smooth. Enjoy!

Green Trekker Smoothie, by Diane

At long last, I've finally found a way to make these green smoothies look as appetizing as they taste!

The problem with having a favorite smoothie from your local Whole Foods within walking distance (2 blocks away!) is that you wind up spending lots of money at Whole Foods for something you could easily make at home (and for way cheaper!). This smoothie is my latest in a long line of green smoothie obsessions. It's packed with greens, antioxidant-rich blueberries, potassium-rich bananas, electrolyte-balancing coconut water, and superfood energizers/anti-inflammatories maca and cacao powder. Because of these ingredient properties, this smoothie is great for managing dehydration, low energy, and inflammation. And the flavor is that banana chocolate combo that I crave all day long, naturally sweetened without any sugar. YUM.


Ingredients:

2 large handfuls of greens (spinach/kale/chard blend is my vote- or just spinach for beginners!)
1 large frozen ripe banana (for a milkshake consistency) or 1 large fresh ripe banana plus 1 cup ice
1/2 cup blueberries (I love Wyman's wild blueberries in the freezer section!)
3 dates (sometimes I skip these as they make the smoothie very sweet!)
2 tbsp raw cacao powder and 1/2 tbsp maca powder OR 2 tbsp of TerrAmazon Organic Raw Cacao Powder with Maca (this stuff is seriously delicious and tastes like dark cocoa!)
1 cup coconut water (or less/more for consistency)


Blend all ingredients until smooth- if using dates blend for longer!

*Note- to make this smoothie more energizing and anti-inflammatory, I usually add in a small amount of the following: turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and chia. You can't taste any of these except hints of cinnamon!*

*Girly Note- if it's that time of the month, definitely add the dates and consider upping the cacao for more chocolatey sweetness, also include 1/4 of an avocado for cramps and bloating. This should take care of any cravings/symptoms! :)*

PMS Smoothie, by Diane

When I feel under the weather, in any way, I always turn to food to help fix the problem. This week, I was inspired to tackle a certain monthly issue, and I came up with such an ingenious, delicious recipe I knew I had to share!

This smoothie is jam packed with ingredients aimed at easing PMS symptoms, and it is chocolate flavored because, hey, who doesn't want to drink a giant chocolate milkshake during that time of the month? So it covers the cravings issue as well :)

First, a little science behind my ingredient selections: Calcium and Magnesium are biggies for PMS symptoms, namely cramps, tenderness, and bloating. Magnesium is also good for mood symptoms. Vitamins E and B6 are great for alleviated mood symptoms as well as aches and fatigue. Anti-Inflammatories are great at reducing pain, swelling, and fatigue. Manganese is associated with reducing tension and irritability.

Now, for the ingredients: Avocado (magnesium, B6, and E), Banana (Magnesium and B6), Dates (Calcium, Magnesium, and B6), Tumeric and Cinnamon (anti-inflammatory), Almonds (Calcium, Magnesium), Kale/Chard/Spinach (Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese), Chia Seeds (Calcium, and natural energy!), Cacao (Calcium and Magnesium). Many of these foods also contain zinc and copper, two naturally occurring elements that fluctuate in bloodstream levels during PMS.

Another thing- this smoothie is dairy-free for a reason: Dairy is pro-inflammatory, meaning it promotes inflammation in the body which can lead to increased pain, fatigue, and swelling. Read: This makes symptoms worse!

So drink up, ladies, and enjoy! This smoothie is great for the week before and during your period, and will help ease your accompanying symptoms. Also, I promise you can't taste the greens in all the sweet chocolatey goodness. Hooray!!


Ingredients:

2 frozen bananas (fresh is ok too, but frozen bananas give a thick milkshake consistency)
1/2 avocado
2 tbsp sliced almonds
1/4 tsp each cinnamon and turmeric
1/2 cup greens (I used a mix of kale, chard, and spinach)
2 tbsp cacao nibs
3 tbsp vegan chocolate protein powder (my absolute favorite is vega one!)
4 dates
1 tbsp chia seeds
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (this smoothie is very sweet on it's own!)
1/2 cup water 

Blend all and enjoy!! (I am using a nutribullet which IMO is the best blender ever- even less clean up = even less moodiness!)

Pumpkin Pie (Green) Smoothie plus Homemade Applesauce, by Diane

Once again, a smoothie (like soup) is a very difficult thing to take a photo of and make it look appetizing. I make hundreds of smoothies and juices, and guzzle at least one of each a day. I try not to post too many of them, but THIS recipe is an exception. This by far is the best smoothie I have created, and it's a green smoothie which means it's uber healthy as well. I made it in a nutribullet (shown above), but you can do this in a blender very easily.

What makes this smoothie exceptional is the liquid that I used. Normally, I use coconut water, water, or almond milk. But, this weekend I made applesauce, including a satchel of mulling spices and cinnamon sticks, and there was about two cups of extra liquid in the bottom before pureeing the apples. This liquid gold is what I used for the smoothie, and as a result this tastes like fall in a cup. It is SO good!!! And, as a bonus, I can enjoy homemade applesauce too- the recipe I'll post below and is ridiculously easy.

For the applesauce: Cube 10-15 small apples and place in a large pot. Fill the pot with water until it covers the apples and then add 1-2 more cups. Using a tea satchel or cheesecloth, add mulling spices (or cloves) and cinnamon sticks and place on top of the apples. Boil until apples are fork tender. Reserve most of the liquid and puree the apples to desired chunkiness. Add in honey, sugar or any other sweetener if desired.

For the smoothie: Combine 1 cup pureed pumpkin, 1 cup spinach (or a bit less if you're a green smoothie newbie), 2 ripe frozen bananas, 1 cup applesauce liquid, 1 handful almonds (I recently found pumpkin pie spiced almonds so I used those!), and a splash of almond milk. Optional- 1 tbsp. protein powder (vanilla or chocolate work best!).

Greek Yogurt and Berries Smoothie, by Diane

I have been making breakfast smoothies using frozen fruit and skim milk for a while, but lately they have not been filling and energizing enough for me. I decided on a whim to add greek yogurt to my morning smoothies because greek yogurt is not only naturally good for you but it is filled with protein which means that it will fill you up and keep you going. Greek yogurt comes in all kinds of flavors, but I like to use the honey flavored one so that I don't have to add any sweetener. Plus, it is really thick and gives the smoothie a great consistency.

For the remaining ingredients, you can really play around with what you like to eat. I have found that frozen fruit gives the smoothies a better consistency than fresh. I love Yoplait Smoothie kits- they contain frozen fruit and some frozen vanilla yogurt and it makes things easy in the morning. Sometimes I chop and freeze fruit before it goes bad so that I can use it later in a smoothie as well. An unfrozen banana thickens a smoothie as well, or you can whip frozen chopped bananas in the blender/food processor for 4 minutes on high to create an ice cream-like consistency and then add in the remaining ingredients (or just eat it plain for healthy banana 'ice cream'!). Finally, organic popsicles such as fruit bars or sorbet bars are another healthy and natural way to add flavor to your smoothie!

My current favorite mix of ingredients is the Yoplait Smoothie Kit in Triple Berry flavor, honey flavored greek yogurt, skim milk, and half of a coconut fruit bar. The result is a milkshake-like consistency, which I love. I crave it when I wake up and sometimes have it later on again as a snack! It definitely gives me enough energy to workout and get through my day. I am including the recipe below for this mix.

Ingredients:

3 oz. honey flavored greek yogurt (I use Chobani, so this amount is half a small container)
1/2 packet Yoplait Smoothie Kit in Triple Berry flavor (strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry)
1/2 bar Edy's Creamy Coconut Fruit Bar
1/2 - 3/4 cup skim milk (you may need the higher amount to get it to blend properly in the blender)

Directions:

1. This may be obvious, but blend all ingredients in blender on high until smooth. Add in more milk if mixture will not spin properly in blender or is still too chunky. Enjoy!