A mean green smoothie for breakfast is a great way to start your day. With the right fuel, your body is ready to run. I don’t mean literally running, but you get my meaning 😉
I like to have a cup of tea in the morning, but whenever I make a smoothie, I feel much more energized. So, today, I would like to share two recipes for a green smoothie, courtesy of Forks over Knives, the Cookbook.
Mean Green Smoothie
This mean green smoothie here is an excellent way to add more greens to your diet.
What do you need?
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, or water
- 1 cup frozen berries
- 1 banana, peeled
- 2 cups kale, ribs removed, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup pitted and coarsely chopped Medjool dates, or to taste
Now, don’t make a face because this recipe includes kale. I actually happen to like kale, but I know that many don’t. Even if you don’t like kale, though, in this drink you won’t taste it. The dates add sweetness to your smoothie. Dates are very sweet, so it’s up to you how many you want to add, wether 1/2 cup or less. In my opinion, 1/2 cup is just right.
Procedure
Put all ingredients in a blender and process until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
What good stuff is hiding in this smoothie?
Kale contains calcium, fiber, vitamin K, vitamin C, and iron. Berries are another health powerhouse. They are rich in antioxidants, high in fiber, they are good for your skin, help fight inflammation, may help lower cholesterol levels, and they have vitamin C, K, and manganese.
Dates not only provide natural sweetness to your smoothie, but they are also a great source of protein, fiber, iron, and vitamin B6.
Spicy Tropical Green Smoothie
If you’re missing azure blue waters, white beaches, and palm trees gently swinging in the breeze, but instead you are stuck in a cold, grey winter, then the next best tropical thing I can suggest is this smoothie. It even has a little kick in it.
Ingredients
- 2 cups tightly packed spinach leaves
- 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
- 1 cup frozen mango chunks
- a small tangerine, peeled and pitted, or juice of 1 lime
- 1 cup coconut water
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Procedure
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend on high until smooth.
Health benefits of this smoothie
Mango and pineapple are a tasty combination (I love them!) and both fruits are rich in vitamin C, exactly what we need in those cold winter months. Tangerines also have a good vitamin C content. Spinach contains vitamins B6, B9, E, C, and K; and it also has folic acid, iron, and carotenoids.
Coconut water also has many health benefits. It may have antioxidant properties and offer many other health benefits (according to Healthline, it may be good for your heart, kidneys, and more). It is also a delicious source of hydration. Coconut water is amazing in so many ways, and I love the taste of it.
Ready to Blend?
I hope that you like these smoothie recipes. Now that we are going through these cold winter months and are fighting of those nasty colds that tend to creep up on us sometimes, a vitamin bomb in the morning may be exactly what our bodies need 🙂
Happy blending!
Hi Christine! There is nothing better than a nice smoothie to start our day! I have really liked the Spicy Tropical Green Smoothie. I’ll prepare it today and tell you how I found it. I love mango and pineapple is one of my favorites so this combination must be nice. I haven’t tried it yet.
Knowing both fruits are rich in Vitamin C is good. I need it!
Hi Ann,
Yes, especially now, we all need vitamin C. Let me know how your Spicy Tropical Green Smoothie turns out 🙂
Hello Christine. Thank you for sharing this post to help Kickstart my day with energy. This green smoothie looks really energizing. I love what it is made of; I mean the ingredients used are welcoming. I love bananas, coconuts, pineapple and others. Giving both smoothie at different points wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Regards!
Hello Mr Biizy,
Thank you for visiting again 🙂
The ingredients are indeed good, yummy and healthy.
Hello Christine! I’m an active person, and I love fruits and vegetables! Kale is a vegetable full of vitamins, and I wanted to learn how to reap its excellent benefits. But kale is that one plant that’s hard for me to drink.
Long story short, I tried your spicy tropical green smoothie recipe, and it was the best! I didn’t taste the kale! Thanks, Christine, for sharing your recipe!
Now I know how to enjoy kale along with its powerful benefits in a tasty smoothie. Lastly, the mango chunks and pineapple with cayenne pepper were some mouth-watering ingredients! Thanks again!
Hi Josh,
Wonderful! I’m happy you liked it! I also love mango and pineapple, they give a delicious flavor. 🙂
I don’t have smoothies every morning but my makes a strawberry smoothie every morning and loves it. I love almondmilk though and use to make kale smoothies in the day so I might go back to doing it. Which type of milk is your favorite to use in smoothies and beverages? You have given the meaasurements by cups as well.
Hi Jon,
I like almond milk as well for my smoothies, and sometimes I also use soy milk, hazelnut, or cashew milk (those last two are a little creamy 😉 )
Many thanks to you for sharing such a beautiful article with us .We must have breakfast with something good to start our day .You have to keep yourself energized in the middle of the day .I love your green smoothie given in this article .So I’ll prepare it today and I’ll tell you how I made it .I love coconut and mango, which is one of my favorite foods .This combination will definitely be nice and I will never get tired of it all day long.
Hi Shanta,
Yes, mango is delicious in smoothies. It is one of my favorite fruits, and it has loads of vitamins 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing a beautiful article. I really liked your article. I think your article will benefit us all. I have really liked the Mean Green Smoothie. I will prepare this recipe today. I like mangoes a lot. I think this combination must be nice. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Hi Sabrina,
Let me know how you like the Mean Green Smoothie. It is a great combination of ingredients, I agree 🙂
Hi Christine,
Thanks for the detailed and step by step walk-through. The information you have provided on what good stuff is hiding and the benefits are very helpful. And makes these smoothies a must try.
I am interested with Spicy Tropical Green Smoothie and that’s the one I am going to try first. Dr. Raymond Francis in his videos talked a lot about the huge benefits and importance of Vitamin C since then I am interested in taking Vitamin C. And we all know the importance of fruits and vegetables.
Mango and Pineapple are my favorites! Thanks for the article I enjoyed it!
Hi Paul,
I’m glad you enjoyed my article. Let me know how you’ll like the Spicy Tropical Green smoothie 🙂