by Joanna | Green Smoothies
I think I may have bought the bunch of the GREENEST BANANAS that were ever sold on the Eastern Side of the continental US (specifically, in New Jersey). I wrote a couple of days ago about the Peach Avocado Smoothie that I made and how I laugh at those who say they don’t buy green bananas (or, even worse, sing it).
But here I am. Two days later, and still no ripe bananas. š
So I ended up making a smoothie with some peaches, papaya, avocado, cucumber, plus collard greens and dandelion greens (shown in the photo), and the smoothie turned out quite green, even for my taste. I mean it was okay, but nothing to rave about.
So, does that happen to you and what do you do in such situations (other than closing your eyes and gulping it down as quickly as possible)?
I wrote before about various ways to fix a smoothie that doesn’t taste so great, but what’s your go-to method?
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
by Joanna | Green Smoothies, Smoothie Recipes
Have you ever heard someone say āI donāt buy green bananasā? I suppose it’s a reflection on getting older, when there is no guarantee that we’d still be alive tomorrow, so we don’t make plans that far ahead. Apparently there is even a song that refers to that:
‘I don’t own an umbrella, if it rains, I guess I’m gonna get wet. I don’t buy green bananas because I don’t plan that far ahead.’
I don’t subscribe to that dim view of the future, and I usually buy bananas in all stages of ripeness, including green, since I only go shopping once or twice per week. Today, however, I found myself with no ripe bananas in my kitchen. All I had were really, really green bananas, which left me with a dilemma: to blend or not to blend.
You see, lately my morning smoothie routine depends heavily on ripe bananas. I have to admit that I use them all the time. Especially now, in the cold wintertime, I depend on them on filling me up with their sweetness and calories.
I decided to treat it as a challenge to come up with a smoothie that’s filling and delicious, and yet banana-less, using the ingredients I had in my fridge and pantry. Here is the result and the recipe, if you decide you want to try it too :-).
Peach Avocado Celery Smoothie with Strawberries and Dates
- 1.5 cup peaches, frozen
- 1 cup strawberries, frozen
- 1/2 small avocado
- 1 head of romaine lettuce
- 3 celery stalks
- 6 dates
Blend in your favorite blender until smooth.Ā Enjoy!
To find more recipes for smoothies without bananas read this post.
by Joanna | Green Smoothies
Check out my ebook on Kidle: Super Easy Smoothie Recipes for Kids: This smoothie recipe ebook is meant as an introduction to green smoothies, but even if you have been drinking smoothies for a while, you will find useful tips and tricks that will encourage your kids and other family members enjoy green smoothies with you. It’s packed with tips and tricks to get your kids (and adults too!) started with this healthy habit.
In my opinion, green smoothies are the most natural, 100% safe, and absolutely most effective way to help your kids eliminate bad cravings, reprogram their taste buds, and help them truly enjoy healthy foods now and later on as adults.
The foods we eat have an enormous impact on our mood, strength, energy level, weight, focus, immunity, and overall well-being. And whole foods – like smoothie ingredients – are some of the healthiest foods you can find. Check out some of the smoothie recipes on this site and happy blending!
For all my blending recipes – including smoothies, soups, nut butters and milks, I use Vitamix. If you donāt already own a VitaMix, I strongly encourage you to check out what this machine is capable of! For more information about VitaMix you can go directly to the VitaMix website. You may also want to read my post about the Best Blender.
I LOVE my VitaMix and highly recommend investing in one if you are ready to make serious changes to your diet. I have had mine for almost 5 years and use it daily!
If you decide to purchase Vitamix – be sure to use Promotional Code 06-004554 to get free shipping.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
by Joanna | Green Smoothies
Even though I often make a pitcher-full of smoothie for myself, my son and my husband, I rarely make the same recipe twice.Ā I have a basic formula that I follow, but the rest depends on what greens, fruits, seeds, and nut milks I have in my kitchen (and I encourage you to do the same!).
Lately, I have been drinking lots of really creamy smoothies, with oats and peanut butter. However, if you don’t love peanut butter in your smoothie, or are allergic to peanuts, a wonderful alternative to peanut butter is … tahini.
So, last night when I was filling the blender up with the ingredients, the jar of tahini caught my eye and I ended up with a really delicious concoction: a Tahini Berry Smoothie.
It so happens that sesame seeds – the main ingredient in tahini; contain important B Vitamins…B1, B2, B3, B5, as well as a great supply of calcium. They also have beneficial trace elements like copper, magnesium, iron, phosphorus and manganese, as well as both omega 3 & 6 that improve the health of the brain. And let’s not forget zinc,Ā a powerful immune strengthening nutrient that can be added to smoothies to help you fight colds and flu, and all kinds of nasty viruses as well.
Just what the doctor ordered for the winter season!
Tahini Berry Green Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients:
2 bananas
1 cup frozen berries (mine were cherries, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries)
3 handfuls spinach
2 tablespoons tahini
1 1/2 cups water or plant milk of your choice (more or less, depending on how thick you like it)
Method:
Blend until smooth and creamy. Enjoy!
You can also simply add unhulled sesame seeds to your smoothie, and blend all ingredients really well. Unhulled seeds are better, because they provide more nutrients.
Sesame Seeds and Other Food Sources of Zinc
Sesame seeds, sunflowers seeds and pumpkin seeds are all excellent sources of zinc.Ā Zinc is an essential mineral that plays an important role in immune function. It is a nutrient that many people are bordeline deficient in. Zinc deficiency increases susceptibility to infection.
According to dr. Fuhrman, there is considerable evidence to suggest that regular supplementation with zinc or deliberate consumption of foods rich in zinc is useful to improveĀ immune function and fight off both infections and cancer.
If you are serious about your health and boosting your immune system, then check out his book:
Super Immunity: The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body’s Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease Free
Simply put, zinc decreases the duration of colds and flu, and the severity of common cold symptoms, but regular zinc use also works to PREVENT colds, leading to fewer absences and less antibiotic use in children.
Zinc is also key factor in making many parts of the reproductive system work properly.
The RDI (recommended daily intake) for zinc is 15 milligrams a day.
Raw, unhulled sesame seeds, 2 oz – 4.4 mg
Raw or roasted pumpkin seeds, 2 oz – 4.2 mg
Raw pine nuts, 2 oz – 3.6 mg
Raw cashews, 2 oz – 3.2 mg
Raw sunflower seeds, 2 oz – 2.8 mg
Tahini, raw, 2 tbsp – 1.4 mg
Other foods rich in zinc include:
Adzuki beans, cooked, 1 cup – 4.1 mg
Wild rice, cooked, 1 cup – 2.2 mg
Edamame, cooked, shelled, 1 cup – 2.1 mg
Black beans, kidney beans, cooked, 1 cup -1.9 mg
Shiitake mushrooms, cooked, 1 cup – 1.9 mg
Fava beans, cooked, 1 cup – 1.7 mg
Broccoli, cooked, 2 cups – 1.6 mg
Kale, cooked, 2 cups – 1.2 mg
You can buy tahini or organic unhulled sesame seeds on Amazon and add them to your smoothies and other recipes:
Kevala Organic Raw Sesame Seeds 2Lbs
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
by Joanna | Green Smoothies
Many people ask me should they go with Blendtec or Vitamix when choosing an blender.
The two blenders are in tight competition for the green smoothie makers market :-). Although many people may choose a more affordable option (such as Omni , Ninja, or other) I found that a cheaper blender just wasn’t doing the job when it came to blending tough greens and veggies (and nuts, and seeds…).
So if you can afford it, the investment is well worth the money.
As far as which blender to choose: Vitamix versus Blendtec?
Well, I can assure you personally that both these blenders make green smoothies like champs! They turn spinach, kale, almonds, sunflower seeds, berries, bananas and water into delicious green smoothies in a matter of seconds (for realzzz).
The bottom line:Ā
Both blenders are great choices if you want to become a hard core, green smoothie drinking machine like I am. No leafy chunks with either blender and the smoothies were made in easily under 2 minutes.
If you like more features, care how it looks/fits on your counter and like frothier smoothiesā I say go with the Blendtec.
If you prefer creamy smoothies, a simple look, and a super solid blenderā go with the Vitamix.
Both have 7 year warranties, blend like kings and will make your green smoothie days even more exciting.
Save some money and help the environment!
If you need to save some money, you can buy the refurbished version right through Blendtec and Vitamix. They still come with the rockinā warranty and look brand newā itās really a great way to save some money!
Buy a Blendtec Total Blender
.
For all my blending recipes – including smoothies, soups, nut butters and milks, I use Vitamix. If you donāt already own a VitaMix, I strongly encourage you to check out what this machine is capable of! For more information about VitaMix you can go directly to the VitaMix website. You may also want to read my post about the Best Blender.
I LOVE my VitaMix and highly recommend investing in one if you are ready to make serious changes to your diet. I have had mine for almost 5 years and use it daily!
If you decide to purchase Vitamix – be sure to use Promotional Code 06-004554 to get free shipping.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
by Joanna | Green Smoothies, Smoothie Recipes
Since I started experimenting with nut butters in smoothies, I find myself craving them more and more as the weather gets colder. After this banana-almond butter smoothie, I’m trying all kinds of nut and seed butters, including sunflower, cashews, tahini, and – of course – peanut butter.
Now, when buying peanut butter pay attention to the label. You don’t want any ingredients that don’t belong there. Ideally, you should see only peanuts.
If you never tried adding peanut butter to a smoothie, you are in for a treat!
It adds delicious creaminess and decadence to the smoothie that makes it perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth.
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie Recipes
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie (with Oats & Greens!)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup almond milk, or any other dairy free milk
- 3 bananas
- 1/2 cup oats (I use uncooked quick oats)
- 1 cup peaches or other fruit, fresh or frozen
- 2 cups mild greens, such as lettuce
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla butter or extract (optional)
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients until very smooth, pour and enjoy!
3.1
https://greenreset.com/peanut-butter-banana-smoothie/
Variation:
Simple Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
For a super simple chocolate variation, use chocolate soymilk, or try this simplified version:
2 cups light chocolate soymilk or other non dairy milk
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 large banana
3-4 ice cubes (optional, if you want a cold smoothie)
Ground cinnamon and fresh nutmeg help this smoothie taste like banana bread.
The banana-peanut butter smoothie combination may be the most popular variation of this recipe, but don’t stop there. Hazelnut, macadamia, cashew butter, tahini, sunflower, pumpkin, etc. – adding any of this will make your smoothie deliciously rich, creamy and distinctly buttery.
Health Benefits of Peanut Butter in a Smoothie
The good fats in the peanut butters will help with absorption of nutrients, and slow down the release of the fruit sugar into your bloodstream. They will also provide additional calories in the smoothie – which may be something you’re looking for – or NOT. For my nine-year-old son – it’s perfect. He is not a big eater in the morning, so a smoothie with nut butter, with some oats, is a great option for breakfast or snack.
But even if you are looking for smoothie recipes for weight loss, you don’t have to avoid peanut butter in your smoothies.
This may be counter-intuitive, but adding peanut butter to a smoothie (and other nut butters) may actually help you lose weight. Even though they contain up to 200 calories per serving, all the fiber (2 g per serving) and protein (8 g per serving) will fill you up and keep you feeling full longer, so you eat less overall. Plus, there’s nothing more indulgent than licking peanut butter off a spoon–and indulgence (in moderation) helps dieters fight cravings and stay on track.
Peanut butter is also packed with nutrition. A serving contains 3 mg of the powerful antioxidant vitamin E, 49 mg of bone-building magnesium, 208 mg of muscle-friendly potassium, and 0.17 mg of immunity-boosting vitamin B6. Scientists point out that consuming peanuts can decrease your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic health conditions. One study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that consuming 1 ounce of nuts or peanut butter (about 2 tablespoons) at least 5 days a week can lower the risk of developing diabetes by almost 30%.
A Cup of Compassion??
If you read the title carefully, you may be wondering what’s with the cup of compassion.
Well, it simply means that you’ll be using a cup (or two) of VEGAN-ONLY milks for the smoothie – no animal’s milk please!
Choosing to use plant-based milk is a true sign of kindness and compassion towards millions of animals who needlessly suffer to satisfy our desires and tastes.
It’s not about deprivation, but abundance. You can drink soy, almond, coconut, rice, oat, or hemp milk, to just name a few. Many of these alternatives even come in different flavors, such as sweetened, unsweetened, vanilla, or chocolate! There are so many options, and it’s fun to taste-test a few in order to determine which one you like best.
Plus, there are many more non-dairy, cruelty-free sources of calcium – check them out here.
For all my blending recipes – including smoothies, soups, nut butters and milks, I use Vitamix. If you donāt already own a VitaMix, I strongly encourage you to check out what this machine is capable of! For more information about VitaMix you can go directly to the VitaMix website. You may also want to read my post about the Best Blender.
I LOVE my VitaMix and highly recommend investing in one if you are ready to make serious changes to your diet. I have had mine for almost 5 years and use it daily!
If you decide to purchase Vitamix – be sure to use Promotional Code 06-004554 to get free shipping.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
