Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

While I was in Seattle last fall visiting my sister Brittany, she introduced me to this DELICIOUS and healthy smoothie and I have been making it ever since.   It is the perfect treat without the guilt.  No fattening ice cream is used, but you can't tell!  I normally use 1% milk, all natural peanut butter and agave to sweeten.  Seriously fabulous!  It tastes like you are indulging in a thick ice cream parlor shake, but with far less calories.  Try this the next time you need a mid afternoon pick me up, or swap this for your milkshake splurge.  YUM!

I believe this recipe came from the Blendtec recipe book that came with our blender.  I LOVE our Blendtec Blender and recommend it wholeheartedly:)  It is such a powerful blender, that I can easily and quickly make a Green Smoothie or Frog Nog almost every day for my family (such a great way to sneak in some greens:).

So, I am trying to stick to my New Years resolution to be more healthy.  So far so good.  I have been doing this 30 minute workout which I love.  I would love to get some more ideas for quick but effective workouts.  If you have any suggestions, let me know!  Have a great week!

Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
submitted by Melanie

1 cup milk
2 bananas
1 TB cocoa powder
2 TB honey or agave
3 TB peanut butter
2 c ice cubes

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend.  Pour in a glass...enjoy!

Greena Colada Smoothie

Ever since we got the Blendtec a few months ago, we have turned into a green-smoothie-slurping family!  The blender was a gift to my husband from his loving wife... and I will never, not in a trillion, million years, live it down!!   It doesn't matter that he had been saying for a year that he wanted it.  It doesn't matter that he is the healthy one of the family. It doesn't matter that he is very disappointed if he doesn't have a green smoothie every single morning now.  No, none of that matters because the fact remains that I gave him a kitchen appliance for Christmas!!  :)  Of course he was grateful and gracious but I could tell from the look in his eye that I was going to be teased til kingdom come for pulling this!  Kind of like the year he bought me a handgun for Christmas, when I specifically and repeatedly had told him I DO NOT WANT ONE!  Well, pay back is sweet! :) J/k.  I knew he would love his blender and he does (and of course I knew I would love it too, hee hee)! 

So anyway, this is one of our very favorite green smoothies.  It's cool and delicious, light and refreshing.  And there is no way you can taste the spinach in this one.  Personally I love the citrus-y kick from the lime juice, yum!  Just ignore the fact that it's a lemon in the picture.  Occasionally I improvise but it's best with lime!  Greena Colada is a creamy, guilt-free, green twist on pina coladas that you will love!

Greena Colada Smoothie
submitted by Brittany ~ The Sister's Cafe

3/4 cup light coconut milk
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1/2 lime, juiced
3 1/2 cups pineapple chunks, frozen or well chilled
2 cups spinach
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 Tb agave nectar
1 cup ice cubes

Add ingredients to blender in order listed.  Blend until smooth and serve.  Makes 4 servings.

*If you don't have a heavy duty blender like Blendtec, you may need to increase the amount of coconut milk, especially if you are using frozen pineapple instead of fresh.

 

recipe source: adapted from Blendtec's Fresh Blends recipe book

Frog Nog (True Green Smoothie Recipe)

 

We absolutely LOVE green smoothies around here. I usually make one with lots of berries which turns it purple or pink camouflaging the greens. When I use fruit that is light colored and the smoothie remains green we call it "frog nog". My boys love the name and the flavor and therefore slurp it down! Watching my children drink up all those healthy greens and fresh fruit makes this mama happy, you know?! And it also makes up for the lame lunch of nachos that I provide sometimes:) 

PPS Also here is my orginal "green smoothie" recipe post

Frog Nog (Green Smoothie recipe)

submitted by Melanie

2-4 cups spinach or other greens (I use 4 cups organic baby/ or kale)

1-2 cups of water (depending how thick you like it)

1-2 bananas (I use 2)

1 heaping cup frozen pineapple chunks

1 cup frozen mango, peaches or other light fruit (I have used strawberries)

1 Tb honey or agave (optional for sweetness)

First I fill my trusty blender (I use the Blendtec) with spinach--lots of it! Then I fill the container up to the 2 line with water filling in around the spinach. Pulse to blend into a bright green water.

Next add your bananas, frozen fruit ans sweetener, if using. I push the 'whole juice' button and the blender purees it all for me into a wonder smooth green drink. What ever blender you have, just be sure to blend it for a good amount of time to make sure it is as smooth as possible. Pour into glasses and serve!

Green Smoothie: Our Family Tradition submitted by Melanie

(I know it does not look green--but those greens are there!)

Since our new home is under reconstruction and I am not quite unpacked enough to be "back' in the normal cooking and baking routine--I thought I would take this opportunity to share with you our families morning tradition. Every morning I whip up a healthful smoothie (full of greens, berries, bananas, flax) for my boys and they LOVE it and I love that they do! Seeing my boys drink up all that heart healthy stuff, makes me very happy!

First of all I highly recommend this amazing blender the BLENDTEC. It is pricey, therefore it was my Mothers Day/Birthday/ Anniversary present last year. I love it!! It was worth every penny. And even my hubby agrees (now) and that is really saying something!

(I purchase my fresh and frozen greens and fruits at Sams or Costco. We go thru a lot each week and it is much cheaper to buy in bulk!)

Step #1 THE GREENS

Puts lots and lots of greens in there--I usually use fresh organic baby spinach and we love Kale. If you use Kale remove the stem. Next pour some water in --up to the 2 line.
Then pulse until you have a beautiful bright green "water" Now your ready for the fruit...

(i usually add at least one more handful of spinach than is pictured)

Step #2 THE FRUIT

First I always add a fresh banana or two. Then I put in lots of various fresh and frozen fruits, such as:

Fresh:

*a whole organic apple (seeds and all)
**fresh pineapple--do not core it--great fiber**this is my favorite ingredient!

*orange--just remove rind

Frozen:

(sometimes I skip the fresh fruit --but I always add frozen berries)

*Strawberries-the berries are a must for us!
*Blueberries--if you add this smoothie will not be green

*Mixed frozen fruit from Sams or Costco

Step #3 THIS & THAT

I like to add a big spoonful of frozen Juice concentrate, such as orange or pineapple for sweetness. This insures that my boys LOVE it and want seconds!

Sometimes instead of juice concentrate, I add a little Agave --that is a natural sweetener that is very low on the glycemic index.

I also add a scoop of ground flax . You can grind flax seed yourself in a little coffee grinder (my grinder was $10 at Walmart) and keep it in the freezer or purchase ground flax seed at Costco.

Step #4 PUSH THE WHOLE JUICE BUTTON

This is of course my boys very favorite part!:)

ENJOY!!