6 Surprising Vegetable Smoothie Recipes
Drinking vegetables can sound like a bitter pill sometimes. Even for the most fanatic veggie lovers, a cup full of astringent greens can be a little bit intimidating, but if you strike up the right combination of greens, fruits and add-ins, a vegetable smoothie can be refreshing and downright appetizing. Vegetable fanatics and critics alike can find something to love in a vegetable smoothie. These combinations will make you forget that you're actually getting a daily dose of vegetables in a glass. It's also a clever way to use up some of those extra vegetables you harvested this season- especially the ones that you stowed away in the freezer! (For more on preserving vegetables, including freezing methods, click here)
The Recipes
The main elements of a well-rounded smoothie are the fruits, the vegetables, herbs or spices, and your preference of nut milk. There's always room for nutritional add-ins like chia seeds, hemp hearts, and shredded coconut too, so don't hesitate to add in your own twist to the recipes.
Instructions
These recipes are written to yield 1 serving.
Blend and enjoy. Easy.
AVO + GREENS
1/2 Cup Spinach
1/4 Avocado
1/2 Banana (Frozen and sliced)
1 Tsp Chia Seeds
1 Cup Nut Milk (recommended: Almond)
ZUCCHINI BREAD
1 Banana (Frozen and Sliced)
1/2 Cup Zucchini (Peeled and chopped)
2 Tbsp Almond Butter
1/2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 Cup Nut Milk (recommended: Almond)
KALE + BROCCOLI
1/2 Cup Honeydew
1/2 Cup Kale
1/2 Cup Broccoli Florets
2 Sprigs Mint
1/2 Lime (Juiced)
1 Cup Nut Milk (recommended: Coconut)
CARROT CAKE
1 Cup Chopped Carrots (Steam if your blender can't handle raw carrots)
1/2 Cup Banana (Frozen and sliced)
1/4 Cup Frozen Pineapple
2 Tbsp Flaked Coconut
1/2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 Cup Nut Milk (recommended: Cashew)
HOT GREENS
1 Banana (Frozen and sliced)
2 Cups Spinach
1 Cup Mango
1/2 Tsp Jalapeno (Chopped and seeds removed)
1 Lime (Juiced)
1 Nut Milk (recommended: Coconut)
BUTTERNUT SQUASH
1/2 Cup Cooked Butternut Squash
1/2 Banana (Frozen and sliced)
1/2 Cup Frozen Mango
1" Piece of Ginger (peeled and grated)
1/2 Tsp Turmeric
1 Cup Nut Milk (recommended: Almond)
The Benefits
We've been told all our lives to eat more vegetables, so vegetable smoothies might seem like a no-brainer, but here are some health benefits you might not have considered:
Consume More Vegetables
This one is a given. Even if you are a serious vegetable fanatic, drinking a cup of a colorful smoothie is just plain easier than cooking up a whole dish. A vegetable smoothie in the morning can help give you a head start on your recommended daily dose of 3 Cups of veggies.
Trick Your Taste Buds
If you happen to struggle to enjoy the earthy, bitter flavors of some vegetables, blending them up with other fruits and flavors can really make you forget that your tasting vegetables at all.
Form a Habit
If you happen to struggle to enjoy the earthy, bitter flavors of some vegetables, blending them up with other fruits and flavors can really make you forget that your tasting vegetables at all. On top of that, eating whole and raw foods without added sugar trains your body to crave less sugar and processed fats. Your not-so-healthy cravings can really lose their edge, and if you are working on weight loss goals, this can make all the difference.
Vitamins
Compared to your average fruit-only smoothie, vegetable smoothies, especially ones with leafy greens, tend to be a richer source of Iron, Magnesium, B-Vitamins, Vitamin E, and Folate. These vitamins are beneficial to your body and mind at large, but especially beneficial for your immune system, hair, skin, bones, and even mental clarity.
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