Green Monster Super Smoothie

Green Monster Super Smoothie

This simple, creamy, and delicious green smoothie has your nutritional bases covered and then some. The only challenge is the elusive perfectly ripe avocado – though I have a solution for that!

Each ingredient pitches in to the winning combination:

  • Banana: A balanced mix of carbs: starch for longer lasting energy and sugar for yum (plus, it masks any hint of bitterness from greens!):
  • Avocado: High in fiber and polyunsaturated fats.
  • Soy milk (or other milk): High in protein (some fat too). Nut milks work too, though off-the-shelf brands tend to be heavily diluted so offer little protein.
  • Greens: Extra fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants.

Don’t be afraid to serve this to kids that ‘don’t like’ avocados. My toddlers say this yet they suck back this smoothie with glee!

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup soy milk (try unsweetened first and see if the banana does the trick)
  • 1 banana (frozen)
  • 1 avocado (fresh or frozen)
  • 1/2 cup greens (baby spinach or kale) – or more if desired

Optional ‘boosts’

  • Extra sweetener to taste (likely not needed if your milk has sugar).
  • Cocoa powder: add a Tbsp or so and you have yourself a brown swamp monster for chocolate lovers!
  • Oats: Add 1/4 cup of raw quick oats for extra fiber!
  • Ginger: A tsp of minced fresh ginger (or juice) adds zing for more sophisticated palates.
  • Protein powder. Not recommended for kids, especially if using a protein-rich milk.

TIPS

  • Keep a few perfectly ripe avocado 1/2 avocados in the freezer to avoid having to wait for that single moment of ripeness. Remove the pit and skin before freezing just the green stuff in a baggie or freezer safe container.
  • keep chunks of banana in the freezer (1/3 of a banana is my fave size as this is all I need in my fruitier smoothies). Again, peel first then place in freezable container.

NUTRITION

Per ~ 1 cup serving (1/2 recipe)

Green Monster Super Smoothie

Note: This profile is based on Silk soy milk (1/2 unsweetened and 1/2 original).

The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. They often do not apply to children.