About a year ago, I started making
Green Smoothies for my family.
There are truly a hundred reasons why this is the absolute BEST thing you can consume for Breakfast!!!!
If you look at my previous post and recipe for a
Green Smoothie, you will notice, it is simple and I kept it under 250 calories while still being full of nutrients. My new and improved version is closer to 500 calories, but being PURE nutrients, this should not be an issue to you, *even if you are a calorie counter*.
I have kept the essence of my recipe and routine the same, but added a few fantastic ingredients!
Here's the new and *Improved* Green Smoothie:
To keep time & budgeting in check, I purchase my ingredients at Costco & Whole Foods every 5 weeks and create at least 30 pre-packaged baggies at a time.
The Sandwich Baggie:
4-6 Strawberries: Costco- $10 for 1 Bag
1 large handful Fresh Spinach: Costco- $5 for 1 Bag
1 Cup Blueberries: Costco- 2 Bags @ $12 ea
The Snack Baggie:
2 Tbsp Ground Flax Seed ~$7
1 Tbsp Chia Seed: 2 lb Bag, Costco $14 (Use 1/2)
1/2 Tbsp *
Raw Reserve: Whole Foods- $40
1/2 tsp *Powder Probiotic: Whole Foods- $10
1/4 tsp Cinnamon: On hand
1 Scoop Protein: Costco- $42 (Will use half)
* Powder Probiotic
Yes, Probiotics are super easy to just take in Capsule form. If you happen to have the powder available, it is actually EASIER to make sure you consume your probiotic (like don't have to worry about remembering to take it) because you have put the dosage in the pre-made bags...... Zero remembering required.... Make Sense?
*
Raw Reserve
I purchased this for the first time at Whole Foods for $40 but I found it on Amazon.com for $25..... um yeah... ship it please!
This is BY FAR, THE MOST important ingredient in the Green Smoothie. You can research for yourself, but this 'green powder' is like a smorgasbord of super-foods all wrapped up into 25 calories of powder per serving (that tastes like grass) and is easily hidden in the smoothie!!! This is worth it's weight in GOLD!
The liquid Nettle leaf that is pictured here is just one of my special additions (catered to what I feel I personally need). There is actually Nettle in the Raw Reserve, so I wouldn't go as far as stating that everyone needs extra Nettle Leaf.
When you are ready to make your smoothie, put the following in the blender:
Two ripe (spotted) bananas- I purchase around 20 Bananas per week ~$5
1/2 Cup Organic Vanilla Yogurt - $3 per container, need 1 per 5 smoothie mixes
1 Pre-Made Sandwich Baggie Pack (See above)
1 Cup Vanilla Rice Milk: Costco- Case of 12 cartons is $15- I use 1 carton per 3 smoothies
1-2 tbsp Honey
Blend well then add ice.
Once the consistency is to your liking, add the Pre-Made Snack Baggie of dry ingredients and mix quickly and gently. *You do not want to over blend the mixture with the chia seed in it- as a natural pectin, your smoothie will end up Jell-Oish like.
This makes 2 large servings (Me & My Hubs) if one of the kids wants one, I add another banana and extra ice.
For 30 pre-made portions (60 servings) = Roughly $110.00 total or $1.80 each.
That's a pretty cheap Breakfast for a LOT of benefits if you ask me...........
