I have always been one to love a good fruit smoothie, especially when I know it’s packed with nutrients that will help me start my day off right. For the longest time, I was so turned off by the thought of something green like kale or spinach in a fruit smoothie. Like what person would do such a thing?! Until a few years ago, I realized how much I actually love these leafy greens in my meals, so why not give them a try in my smoothie!
In my hometown, we had this cute little amish market that was know for having the freshest products and the best place to grab lunch. One day my coworker and I were short on time, so we stopped to grab one of their smoothies as a pick-me-up. She ordered “The Green Machine” smoothie and I was skeptical. Wait until you hear what was in this things, you’d be weirded out by it too.
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The Green Machine
- Banana
- Pineapple
- Avocado
- Kale
- Spinach
- Cucumber
- Celery
- Coconut Water
- Vanilla Why protein
That’s right, avocado, kale, spinach, cucumber, and celery were in this thing! I thought what an odd combination of ingredients to put in a smoothie. After trying my coworkers smoothie, I was no longer skeptical…I freaking loved it! Moral of this story, don’t knock it until you try it…or at least that’s what I tell myself with trying new things. As amazing as this smoothie was, I moved and can’t get it anymore. I did find a local place that makes a modified version of this green smoothie and it’s so easy for me to make at home or work.
The Best Green Smoothie
- 10-12 oz. of Coconut water / almond milk (if you like it more creamy)
- 1 Frozen banana (make sure to remove the peel before freezing fresh bananas)
- 1/2 cup Kale without the stem / spinach as a substitute
- 1/4 cup Frozen pineapple
- 2 scoops of Vanilla Protein Powder (I like the Orgain plant-based protein)
The Benefits
Coconut Water – Packed with electrolytes, coconut water is a great source of hydration which is keeps your skin nourished and glowing. It’s a great source of fiber, vitamin C, and potassium, as well as helps to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and liver fat.
Bananas – As we all know, bananas are high in potassium which is great for reducing muscle cramps, especially for active individuals. Bananas also are a great source of fiber, vitamin A, iron, have amino acids that help with boosting memory and brain function, and is a natural energy booster. They also help with digestion, lowers blood sugar, and eases inflammation in the body.
Kale – Loaded with powerful antioxidants, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and much more. Kale reduces heart disease, lowers cholesterol, and improves eyesight with antioxidants that help prevent macular degeneration and cataracts.
Pineapple – Wow! this super fruit is packed with quite a bit of vitamins and minerals our body needs – vitamin C, manganese, vitamin B6, copper, thiamin, folate, potassium, magnesium, niacin, riboflavin, and iron. Pineapple also helps with digestions, has anti-inflammatory properties, and is great for post work-out muscle recovery.
Orgain Vanilla Protein Powder – This is by far my favorite protein powder I like to use for shakes and smoothies. It’s low carb, vegan, gluten free, no added sugar, and is packed with plant-based protein. They have different flavors to choose from like chocolate, peanut butter, and a superfood vanilla. The one I tend to use often is their vanilla bean flavor so I can make any shake flavor I want.
Overall, this green smoothie has so many health benefits and it’s a great pick-me-up to keep hustling through your day. I hope you enjoy this smoothie as much as I do, so leave me a comment below of what you think!
Rachel Sopak 
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