This post is by blog team member, Kelly. To learn more about Kelly, check out our team page!
In some of my posts you’ve heard me talk about “crowding out” the processed food in your diet by adding more vegetables. I love focusing on what TO eat that helps me look and feel my best rather than depriving myself of foods I love. Non-starchy vegetables, and leafy greens in particular, are the one food that pretty much all nutrition experts agree that we can, and should, eat to our heart’s content! And we’re not just talking about lettuce here. 🙂
There is a whole world of leafy greens out there to try! Some of which include:
- arugula
- beet greens
- bok choy
- broccoli
- broccoli rabe
- collard greens
- dandelion greens
- green cabbage
- kale
- mustard greens
- napa cabbage
- spinach
- swiss chard
- watercress
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day–and in addition to a little chocolate!–why not give your body the leafy green LOVE it deserves? As I shared in a recent post, one of the easiest ways we can start consuming more leafy greens is by incorporating them into Green Smoothies. Because a truly “green” Green Smoothie contains mostly greens! I follow this simple formula:
Appetite for Healthy Change™ Green Smoothie Formula:
2 cups leafy greens + 1 cup frozen fruit + 2 tablespoons protein/healthy fat + 1 cup liquid
Today I’m sharing another one of my favorite Green Smoothie recipes. This one also incorporates cucumbers which are very hydrating, and one of the best foods for your overall health. I call it my Coco-nana Cucumber Kale Green Smoothie. It’s absolutely delicious, and a super way to nourish your body while enjoying a refreshing drink!
Made with fresh kale, cucumbers, frozen bananas, chia seeds, and coconut, these real ingredients pack a powerful punch of nutrition that your body will enjoy! Here’s the recipe!
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Coco-nana Cucumber Kale Green Smoothie
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 16 ounces 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh kale
- 1 cup cucumber
- 1 cup frozen banana
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut water
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a high-powered blender and blend until well combined.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy!
Notes
We recommend organic ingredients whenever possible.
If you don’t have a high-powered blender, try blending your greens and liquid together first, then adding the remainder of the ingredients.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverages & Drinks
Green Smoothies are just one of the ways I add more veggies to my diet. And I’m going to let you in on a little secret… I wasn’t always passionate about spreading the leafy green love. In fact, I eat more veggies now than I ever did during my seventeen years as a vegetarian! I recently compiled some of the tips and recipes that have helped me transform from a ‘lettuce and tomato on my sandwich’ to a ‘broccoli for breakfast’ kind of girl in the form of an e-book. If you or a loved one are looking for some inspiration to start happily eating more veggies too, feel free to download my FREE e-book here.
Kelly Harjes is a Certified Holistic Health Coach and founder of Appetite for Healthy Change™. Her mission is to inspire others to look and feel their best, feed their families well, and help improve our food system.
Kitchen Tips and Resources from Bruce:
- Most traditional blenders have enough oomph to mix up green smoothies, but investing in a high-powered blender is a great choice if you’re starting a green smoothie habit! Personally, I’m a huge fan of my Blendtec blender, but I know Kelly loves her Vitamix blender. And if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly high-powered blender, check out the Ninja—it has a lot of loyal fans out there too!
- If you’re looking for a sturdy, reusable, safe, and environmentally friendly straw, check out these glass straws from Hummingbird.
- Traditional mason jars (or ones with handles) are a fun way to serve up green smoothies.
