Secret Ingredient Green Smoothie
Green Smoothie
(Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan)
Serves 1
I’m not sure why but, kale gets a bad rep. As an alternative to tossing leafy greens in your blender, try my secret ingredients for turning your smoothies green - matcha tea and/or cucumber! Matcha green tea is packed with antioxidants and caffeine yet won’t cause the afternoon crash that happens with coffee. Using cucumber is a great way to add veggies into your diet without being able to taste them. I now always keep chopped and frozen cucumber on hand for smoothies, along with many other fruits and veggies. Freezing is a great way to save produce you aren’t able to finish before it goes bad.
I love a good matcha latte but they’re mostly milk and usually sweetened with unnecessary ingredients when purchased at a coffee shop. Not only will homemade smoothies be much healthier since you are in control but, you’ll end up saving money. The first time I tried this I was surprised how refreshing the cucumber makes it taste.
Ingredients:
Almonds
Banana, frozen
Cucumber, frozen
Chia seeds
Honey
Water or non-dairy milk (almond, oat)
Oats, gluten-free
Protein powder
Cinnamon, turmeric
Instructions:
Soak the following overnight:
1/4 to 1/3 cup uncooked oats
Small handful raw almonds
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1 tsp matcha green tea powder
1 scoop protein powder*, optional
Cinnamon and turmeric
Cover with milk or water
In the morning add:
1/2 frozen banana
Handful of frozen cucumber
Honey, omit if vegan
Add more liquid if necessary
Blend until smooth
*Be careful with protein powders as there seem to be more unhealthy ones on the market than healthy. Make sure to read the ingredient list to know what you’re consuming. Many brands use added sugar, preservatives and other fillers. You can also use egg white protein powder which has no added ingredients. Please reach out if you have questions or concerns on this.
This smoothie has all the essentials - protein, complex carbs, healthy fats, fiber, that will keep you full until your next meal. Feel free to substitute any of the ingredients based on your taste buds and what’s available in your pantry. Smoothies are the perfect grab and go breakfast. They’re a great alternative to pre-packaged granola or protein bars and other breakfast wannabes. The more you can prep at night, the better chance you have of making healthful choices the following day and the faster you can get out of the house.
Let me know what you think!
- Mallory
