smoothie – Inspired by Miranda

Rise & Shine Green Smoothie

Servings: 2
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 0 mins
Difficulty: Easy
Rating: ★★★★★
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We all know the importance of a healthy breakfasts, but what if you're not an 'egg & veggie' type of a breakfast person. What if you're not a breakfast person at all? Enter the breakfast smoothie! It's a great option for those who just can't stomach solid foods in the morning or prefer to start their day with something on the sweeter side. And, best of all, allows us to pack in loads of nutrient-dense foods, such as veggies, seeds and healthy fats. I also love breakfast smoothies because they are quick and easy to make, you can even batch prep your ingredients and store them in individual serving bags - all you have to do is pop them in your blender in the mornings.

Tips: Feel free to experiment with different fruit & veg combinations. The key thing is to make sure your smoothie includes: protein (e.g. nuts, seeds, beans, collagen or protein powder), fats (nuts or seeds butters, coconut or MCT oil, etc.), veggies (frozen cauliflower and baby spinach are great for beginners), and a liquid for hydration (e.g. nut milk, water or herbal tea). Add a small amount of fruit for sweetness and some herbs or spices for extra flavour!

Ingredients

2 stalks celery
½ cup broccoli florets
2 small cucumbers
1 cup baby spinach
1 cup (or more) water
1 banana, frozen
2-3 sprigs parsley
2-3 sprigs cilantro (coriander)
1 tbsp collagen powder
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp tahini
Pinch of cinnamon
1 tbsp maple syrup (optional)

Directions

Chop celery, broccoli and cucumber.
Place spinach, broccoli and water in blender, blend on high for 10-15 seconds.
Add cucumber and celery (and more water if needed), blend on high for 10-15 seconds.
Add banana, fresh herbs, collagen powder, coconut oil, tahini, cinnamon and maple syrup if using, blend on high for 10 seconds.
Pour in your favourite glass and enjoy the green goodness!

Nutrition

Per Serving: 237 calories; 11.4g fat; 25.4g carbohydrates; 7.3g protein; 6g Fibre; 205% DV for vitamin K; 162% DV for vitamin A; 51% DV for manganese; 41% DV for vitamin C; 39% DV for potassium.

By Adrianna McDonald

So many of us are in a rush in the morning, having just enough time to grab a coffee and leave the house without breakfast. Numerous studies prove that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Swap your morning coffee for this amazing smoothie and start the day the right way!

The best thing about it is that you can’t taste the spinach but you still get the benefits of its nutritious nature. This combination will keep you full for long and offers lots of energy making it perfect before workout as well.

Let’s learn more about the ingredients:

1 banana: It’s a versatile fruit that comprises many vitamins, including A, B, C and E, and minerals like potassium, zinc, iron and manganese.
1 tbs goji berries: These are rich in antioxidants that boosts our immune system. They also help fight free radicals that contribute to cancer & ageing and are high in beta-carotene improving vision & prevents cataracts. Goji berries provide our bodies with vitamins B1, B2, B6 and E and contain another 22 minerals and 11 amino acids. They prevent and fight both fatigue and tiredness, reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and stimulate release of human growth hormone (anti-aging). And finally, goji berries are high in natural plant based protein and iron.
3-4 cubes frozen spinach: Spinach is a low-calorie food yet very high in vitamins, minerals and other phytonutrients. Its packed with good-for-you nutrients, such as vitamin K, vitamin A, magnesium, folate, phosphorus, vitamin E, C, B3, B6 and potassium. It’s also a good source of protein and is loaded with flavonoids that protect the body from free radicals. Spinach helps prevent arthritis, osteoporosis, migraines, headaches and asthma and more.
1 tbsp of peanut or almond butter: Nut butters are high in protein, fiber, healthy fats, potassium, magnesium and antioxidants. The list of good things about peanut butter just go on. One serving of peanut butter will give you at least 3 mg of the antioxidant vitamin E. Additionally, you will also get magnesium (about 49g) which is excellent for bone building and muscle recovery and a small but still important amount (0.17 mg) of vitamin B6 that will help boost your immunity.
1 scoop of protein powder (vanilla flavor works best)
1 gls of almond, coconut or other milk
Ice cubes