This Spring has been quite seasonal with plant sperm blowing like snow on my car windshield, across asphalt plains, and in my open windows. It has tainted my clothes, made a nest in my hair, and filled my nostrils with yellow dust. As I suffered through my 3rd sinus infection since January, I found myself with no apetite and feeling energy-deprived in 80+ degree-hot early May weather. How’s a healthy girl to get her greens without the ability to crunch while simultaneously breathing?? No carrots, barely an apple, deprived of salads, and with a couple of mangoes lying around, I lived off of the following smoothie recipe for at least 7 days. It was so good! It filled me with energy and left me feeling satisfied and refreshed. To get my 3-yr-old to try my bright green concoction, no other name but the “Incredible Hulk” would do. He loves it! My finicky 5-yr-old daughter who pushes away most fruits AND veggies drank this heartily!! Yeah… Score 2 for Mom!! A week later, I’m back to salads breathing better than ever. I can’t wait to try my smoothie again while on-the-go with kids, at the pool, whatever. Try it – it’s a great way for you and kids to get your greens!
Get-Your-Greens Incredible Hulk Smoothie-Shake (recipe makes (1), 8-0z smoothie. Adjust ingredients accordingly to make more or larger amounts. Freezes well!).
INGREDIENTS:
- Ice – 4-5 cubes
- Banana - half or whole (I prefer frozen to yield an icier texture and use only half to lower carbs)
- Mango – up to 1 cup (fresh/frozen – frozen will make drink icier)
- Spinach – up to 1 cup fresh leaves (washed & dried)
- Green tea – up to 3/4 cup cold; or, could use few tsps of Matcha powder
- **optional** Ice cream/Frozen yogurt/Greek yogurt - up to 1/2 cup (I prefer Soy Vanilla Ice Cream from Trader Joes)
- Protein Mix – 1-2 scoops (use your favorite brand – I use Nature’s Plus Source of Life Energy Shake full of whole food & vitamins from fruits, veggies with lots of iron, folic acid, B-Vits, etc.)
DIRECTIONS:
- Throw ice cubes and banana in blender pulsing with Ice-Crusher function.
- To ice-y mixture, throw in spinach, mango, and about 1/8 cup of cold green tea.
- Blend (try “Shred” function) these ingredients until spinach leaves are completely torn and integrated adding more green tea, as needed (up to 3/4 cup), while blending. Drink will now be dark green & thick.
- Add remainder of green tea (if any remains), ice cream, and protein powder.
- Blend again briefly, pour into glass, and drink… Mmmm so thick and creamy! Tastes like a mango-vanilla shake with hints of refreshing cucumber!
Note: Smoothie ingredients are flexible. Add more or less, replace other fruits or veggies that you prefer. Red berries will darken drink to a tan/brown. Carrots make a good addition, too!
