Why we love it
Don't judge a book by its cover - this may look like slime, but this ultra-healthy spinach and fruit smoothie is packed with yummy flavor and a ton of nutrients. Perfect for breakfast or a snack, this power smoothie is completely customizable based on whatever fruits you like best. Whether that's blueberries, mango, pomegranate or melon, you can play with this recipe to make it perfect for you. Plus, it gets you a healthy serving of spinach - without actually tasting like spinach.
Spinach and fruit smoothieWhat you need
¦ 1 frozen banana, cut in chunks (peel and slice before freezing)
¦ 1 cup grapes
¦ 1 cup vanilla almond milk
¦ 1 apple, cored and chopped
¦ 1 1/2 cups fresh spinach leaves
¦ 3 large strawberries, roughly chopped
What you do
Place the banana, grapes, yogurt, apple, strawberries and spinach into a blender. Cover, and blend until smooth, stopping frequently to push down anything stuck to the sides. Pour into glasses and serve.
Yield: 2 Servings
Health Benefits of Spinach
Your mom always told you to eat your spinach - and now there's science to back up her advice. Served raw, the green leafy vegetable is loaded with vitamins C and E, which studies have shown help to improve cognitive abilities. Spinach is fat free, cholesterol free and low in calories, and is a fantastic source of iron, fiber, folate and lutein.
The moral of the story? Your mom was right, so channel your inner Popeye and eat up.
Storage Solutions
To keep your greens from going bad before you can eat them, try making spinach ice cubes. Just fill your blender with fresh spinach leaves and add a bit of water to blend. Pour the finished product into an ice cube tray and freeze.
Once frozen, remove the spinach cubes from the tray and store them in a freezer bag. When you're ready for a smoothie, just take out a few cubes and throw them in the blender. No muss, no fuss.
CHILL OUT
Keep your drink warm or cold for hours on end with the Klean Kanteen 20oz Insulated Bottle. With its vacuum insulation and double-walled construction, this easy-to-clean bottle insulates hot beverages for up to six hours and cold beverages up to 24 hours so you can enjoy cool water through a Bikram yoga class or hot coffee during a winter hike.
$29.95, available at kleankanteen.com