09 May, 2012

Green Monster Smoothie

I recently repinned Iowa Girl Eats' recipe for Green Monster Smoothie from QBS's li'l sis, Molly Holzem and, it has turned out to be a healthy, low-cal, deeelish winner even earning a thumbs up from the très picky Babe...

1 sliced, frozen banana
1 T peanut or almond butter
1/2 c non-fat Chobani Vanilla Greek Yogurt
1 c Unsweetened (couldn't find) Vanilla Almond Breeze
4 c baby spinach leaves

Toss all the ingredients into a blender and mix. Easy peasy...

340 calories, 10g of fiber, 21g of protein (per Iowa Girl's calculations)

It's especially a snap when you prep ahead including, washing and spinning the spinach leaves...

Once I've spun all the water out of the leaves, I lay a couple paper towels in the bottom of the spinner to absorb any remaining moisture and just pop the spinner in the fridge for easy storing...

I also pre-cut the bananas, lay them on a baking rack (fyi, they're an absolute PILL to get off a flat surface like a plate or cookie sheet once frozen) and stick them in the freezer til mostly frozen...

*my mother just advised me that laying wax paper between the sliced bananas and a flat surface may help eliminate the sticking...

Then, individually bag each banana and toss back into the freezer for convenient grabbing in the morn...

Once your prep work's done, all that's left are a few simple measurements once smoothie making time rolls around...

Perf post Insanity workout fuel...

Green smoothie, green tea, pink straw. It's the new yummy breakfast of champions around here...

Kindness of Iowa Girl Eats for sharing the original recipe, Molly for pinning so I could poach it, and MPM of The Pink Clutch for my swanky bday cup and straw. Spinach never looked so preppy...XXOO

29 comments:

  1. I get the unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze at Trader Joe's. I have seen it in the grocery section at Target too. (I use it when I make my power oatmeal!)
    Now tell me more about your fun glass!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looks very teenage ninja mutant fighting dragon esque.
    I want one. Does it have super powers?
    pve

    ReplyDelete
  3. You look great - what is your exercise regimen and do you adhere to a specific diet? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  4. THANK YOU! Coincidentally, I posted yesterday about my smoothie challenges. So excited to try this!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love the cup and its fabulous green contents!! I will have to give the green monster a try .. I do heart a smoothie!!

    I am so glad you love the cup ... we use ours quite a bit around these parts! The polka straw just makes me happy!!! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  6. Perfecto!! Just created a Pinterest Smoothie board last night: http://pinterest.com/triciagriggs/smoothies/

    ReplyDelete
  7. mmm. I had almost the same thing, sans the spinach leaves, yesterday. Going to try it! xoxox

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sounds awesome - I would probably be able to get my kids to eat it, too!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yum!

    Long live the smoothie!

    We always have many bags of frozen fruit in the freezer and many flavors of the 0% Chobani in the fridge.

    ReplyDelete
  10. It looks good - what exactly does it taste like? I have replaced my old cereal standby with a smoothie every AM so I'd love to mix it up!

    ReplyDelete
  11. my inner Chef tells me to tell you to add a handful of raw walnuts & an avocado for an extra p u n c h of healthy goodness :) xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  12. I LOVE green monsters! I also add kale, blueberries and chia seeds to my smoothies! If you are looking to add protein, Vegan Chocolate Rice Protein is perfect for GM's! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I started drinking these last week after you mentioned it. To the Iowa girl's recipe I have added a "splash" of flax seed. Such a satisfying and pretty breakfast.

    PS: I forgot to let you know just how gorgeous my hubby's new Ledbury is! I sure hope most of your readers took advantage of your generous e-coupon.

    ReplyDelete
  14. That's wrong. On about every conceivable level. Now get me a da_n cheesburger while I call the Butt Police.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Alice,

    I make something very similar to this on a daily basis. I don't use an entire banana- truly only 2 pieces of previously cut up frozen (thirds or quarters depending on size of) banana suffice. To this I add about 1.5 cups Silk unsweetened Original or Vanilla Almond Milk which can be found in most grocery stores. Make certain you buy the *unsweetened* version (only 35 cals/cup!) To this I add 2 Tbsp. Nutiva Chocolate Hemp Protein (sadly they disco'd the Pomegranate/Berry :(. Add 2 Tbsps. Dr Schultz's Superfood (www/herbdoc.com) approx. 2 tsps. Maca (a.k.a. "hippie speed"...kidding, but some do refer to it as that. I have no such reaction to same, but it's a "superfood" from Peru) and sometimes I add some local bee pollen. Fills me up for hours!

    XoX Suzi

    ReplyDelete
  16. I need to try this! xo KGB

    ReplyDelete
  17. Looks good! I have a super greens powder that I add to my smoothies so I don't have to chop spinach or kale :-) You're right, so good for post work out breakfast!
    ~HMC

    ReplyDelete
  18. Do you know where she got your cup & straw?? Obsessed.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I just asked the gift giver and she's going to check her stock later this week when she returns from out of town and I shall report back then :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks so much!! Just bought an orange gigi ny clutch, per your fabulous fashion suggestions! Love it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Any word on the cup/straw?

      Delete
    2. Yes! She gave me permission to publish her email so please contact her directly with your order/inquiry. She does have a few available...XXOO
      mpmdesigns@gmail.com

      Delete
  21. Alice! I feel your frozen banana stickage pain, and I just couldn't NOT make sure you know about Bake-O-Glide.

    I recently attended a cooking demonstration/class at an Aga showroom, and the dessert was dark-chocolate-dipped raspberry sorbet pops, which, post-dip, had to be re-frozen on a baking sheet.

    To prevent frozen stickage, the instructor lined her sheets with something that looked like old brown scrap paper, but quickly explained that it was a British product called Bake-o-Glide. It turns any surface into a non-stick surface, despite the temp (which makes it superior to, like, a Silpat mat, which really only works on room temp or warmer).

    The pops slid right off the sheet after freezing. Super impressive! Best part? The sheets are reusable - the instructor insisted she had been using the same sheets for YEARS.

    Anyway, sorry for the lonnnggggg comment, just wanted to put you in the Bake-o-Glide know. I believe it is pretty hard to find on this side of the pond, but I procured mine from the Aga showroom here in Charlotte (http://www.agathyme.com/) and I bet they'd send you some if you asked!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Alice,
    Serious Eats Drinks has post What's your favorite green drink?
    BarbaraG

    ReplyDelete
  23. I need to try this and I love your salad spinner tip. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete