This smoothie is one of my favorite go-to breakfasts and THE go-to breakfast when I've veered off course a bit too much, too long, and need to course-correct and feel better fast, for example, after the holidays. It's packed with nutrient-dense, easy-to-prep-ahead ingredients and delicious. It's also a fantastic way to sneak more leafy greens into my diet.
Side note on leafy greens. Leafy greens are a super duper food, they are high in vitamins, minerals and fiber, and low in calories. Ladies with painful menstrual periods, listen up - eating more fiber (30-50g daily) can dramatically reduce or even eliminate the pain associated with your menstrual period. Painful periods are often linked to higher amounts of estrogen in your body and eating fiber helps to naturally usher that estrogen out. I learned this after 20 years of excruciatingly painful periods and I am now living proof that fiber is your friend! I went from sleeping with a heating pad and extra-strength Tylenol (if I could actually even sleep at all due to the pain) to no pain at all, zero. It's life changing to say the least.
Easy, yummy, and potentially life changing... what else is there to say? Give it a try, I hope you enjoy.
GO-TO GREEN SMOOTHIE
1 medium organic apple, cored, skin on
1 medium frozen banana, cut into pieces (I cut and then freeze, usually a big bunch at a time.)
2 cups (approx. 2 ounces) organic spinach
1/4 (1.5 ounces) avocado
2 tablespoons chia seeds
2 cups filtered water
2 tablespoons chia, hemp or other plant-based, unsweetened, protein powder (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend on high for about 1 minute, until mixture is smooth. For a thinner texture, just add more water.
TIPS
- I cut my bananas up into quarters first and then freeze them. I also usually do a big bunch at a time.
- I've used both frozen spinach and fresh, and both work just fine. If I do use fresh, I usually portion it out
and freeze in bags ahead of time to save time in the morning and ensure the spinach doesn't go bad
before I can use it all.
- If your avocados are always "not quite ripe" or "unusably over ripe", try your freezer section for "just
right" avocado chunks every time.
- For better digestion and nutrient absorption, soak the chia seeds overnight.
- Buying organic ingredients is always the best choice but it can get expensive! Check the EWG's dirty
dozen list (spinach is almost always on there) and try to at least buy these items organic if you can.
Otherwise, even the non-organic version is better than not eating these nutritious, delicious produce
items at all.
Side note on leafy greens. Leafy greens are a super duper food, they are high in vitamins, minerals and fiber, and low in calories. Ladies with painful menstrual periods, listen up - eating more fiber (30-50g daily) can dramatically reduce or even eliminate the pain associated with your menstrual period. Painful periods are often linked to higher amounts of estrogen in your body and eating fiber helps to naturally usher that estrogen out. I learned this after 20 years of excruciatingly painful periods and I am now living proof that fiber is your friend! I went from sleeping with a heating pad and extra-strength Tylenol (if I could actually even sleep at all due to the pain) to no pain at all, zero. It's life changing to say the least.
Easy, yummy, and potentially life changing... what else is there to say? Give it a try, I hope you enjoy.
GO-TO GREEN SMOOTHIE
1 medium organic apple, cored, skin on
1 medium frozen banana, cut into pieces (I cut and then freeze, usually a big bunch at a time.)
2 cups (approx. 2 ounces) organic spinach
1/4 (1.5 ounces) avocado
2 tablespoons chia seeds
2 cups filtered water
2 tablespoons chia, hemp or other plant-based, unsweetened, protein powder (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend on high for about 1 minute, until mixture is smooth. For a thinner texture, just add more water.
TIPS
- I cut my bananas up into quarters first and then freeze them. I also usually do a big bunch at a time.
- I've used both frozen spinach and fresh, and both work just fine. If I do use fresh, I usually portion it out
and freeze in bags ahead of time to save time in the morning and ensure the spinach doesn't go bad
before I can use it all.
- If your avocados are always "not quite ripe" or "unusably over ripe", try your freezer section for "just
right" avocado chunks every time.
- For better digestion and nutrient absorption, soak the chia seeds overnight.
- Buying organic ingredients is always the best choice but it can get expensive! Check the EWG's dirty
dozen list (spinach is almost always on there) and try to at least buy these items organic if you can.
Otherwise, even the non-organic version is better than not eating these nutritious, delicious produce
items at all.