Banana Bread Green Monster Smoothie

Happy Monday Ya'll! It was a really fun weekend and it flew by fast. I spent as much time as possible outside enjoying this beautiful weather.

I have been drinking this smoothie for breakfast for almost two weeks straight and I finally thought I would post it. It's super simple and healthy, and keeps me feeling full for hours.

I've always loved banana bread and this smoothie taste just like the real thing. 

Ingredients:

1 Banana - Frozen

1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder

1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup Vanilla Almondmilk

3-4 Heaping Handfuls of Spinach

A Few Dashes of Pumpkin Pie Spice

Optional: Walnuts, Ground Flax, Greek Yogurt (to make it thicker), uncooked oats

Throw all of the ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.

Pour into a pretty glass and enjoy. 

Side note: I've made this with the ground flax and it gives it a bit of a bitter taste. I typically omit the flax unless I'm feeling particularly healthy that day. 

That's the beauty of smoothies, you can just throw in what you have on hand and omit others to make it exactly the way you want it and it almost always comes out tasting wonderful.

I've been pretty hooked on this tasty little concoction and it keeps me full until my late morning snack. 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 (without the optional ingredients)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 280 Calories from Fat 10

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 1.1g 2%

Trans Fat 0.0g

Cholesterol 2mg 1%

Sodium 150mg 6%

Total Carbohydrates 32.5g 11%

Dietary Fiber 6.3g 25%

Sugars 15.4g

Protein 31.8g

Vitamin A 227% • Vitamin C 76% Calcium 26% • Iron 22%

Nutrition Grade B+

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

What other things could you throw in here to make it taste even better?

Leprechaun (Spinach) Cupcakes

Okay, these are awesome! I found this recipe on Weelicious, for spinach muffins. (I love Weelicious. I love the kid's themed recipes. I refuse to grow up.) I figured that muffins are the breakfast cousin of cupcakes so I decided to just tweak it a tad and throw some Hungry Girl Frosting on it. Do not worry they do not taste like spinach or anything healthy. They really taste like a cupcake, a really dense, yummy cupcake. Best of all, they are only 138 calories with frosting!

Cupcake Ingredients:

1/2 cup applesauce (1 applesauce cup)

1 large egg

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 heaping cup fresh spinach - packed

1/4 cup Blue Agave 

2 tablespoons coconut oil - softened

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour (or wheat flour)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Frosting Ingredients:

1/4 cup fat-free cream cheese 

2 tbsp Splenda No Calorie Sweetener  

1/2 cup Cool Whip Free 

I just noticed that the Baking Soda is missing from the group photo. Sorry.

Throw the applesauce, egg, vanilla extract, spinach, agave, and coconut oil into the blender or food processor. 

Pulse until they are all combined and liquefied. 

Pour the liquid spinach mixture into a bowl and add the remaining ingredients. Stir all the ingredients together until it is all fully incorporated.

Pour the mix into a cupcake tin lined with baking sheets and bake at 350*F for 12 minutes. 

Take out and cool. 

While the cupcakes are cooling, place the cream cheese and Splenda in a bowl and stir until combined. Then, add the Cool Whip, continuing to stir until you have a creamy frosting. Take out the spoon/whisk and lick it clean. Soooo gooood. 

Frost each cupcake with 2 tsp of the frosting. 

Enjoy.

They're actually pretty easy to make. I really thought it would be more complicated. They are really yummy and really low in calories which is great. I think they would be awesome around Christmas time as Grinch cupcakes too. 

Please let me know what you think of them.

                                                                                          

                                                                                          What are your plans for St. Patrick's Day? 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 cupcake with 2 tsp frosting

Amount Per Serving

Calories 138 Calories from Fat 48

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 5.3g 8%

Saturated Fat 3.9g 19%

Trans Fat 0.0g

Cholesterol 21mg 7%

Sodium 173mg 7%

Total Carbohydrates 19.7g 7%

Dietary Fiber 0.6g 2%

Sugars 7.3g

Protein 2.6g

Vitamin A 7% • Vitamin C 1% Calcium 3% • Iron 5%

Nutrition Grade D+

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Green Pina Colada

Alright, so I did it again. I made another green smoothie. Had you told me last week that I would be making these things like crazy and loving them I would have told you to take your predictions somewhere else, you crazy psychic. 

With the weather being so amazing lately I was craving something tropical. I'm not normally a huge fan of Pina Coladas because I don't really like cream with my alcohol, but since there isn't any alcohol in this I loved it. 

When I was little we used to go to the Myrtle Beach every summer for the 4th of July. We had the same beach house every year that was right across the street from this resort that had a Tiki Bar on the beach. My mom would always get us Pina Coladas, mine was of course virgin. Tasting this drink reminded me of that. 

Here is my health-ified version of those amazing fruity beach drinks. 

Ingredients: 

1 Tbsp Coconut Oil -Softened (I like Trader Joe's brand because it has a subtle coconut flavor)

1 Cup Frozen Pineapple

2 Heaping Handfuls of Spinach

1/4 Cup Lite Thai Coconut Milk

About half a cup of ice

A couple splashes of water

This kind of coconut milk.

Throw everybody in the blender. 

I like my smoothies really liquefied so I ended up pressing the "smoothie" button twice. Of course if you like thicker smoothies you could probably only press it once. 

Side note: I don't know about regular blenders but the Blendtec has a specific button for smoothies.

I admit, it is a much more awesome color than a regular Pina Colada.

     

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 319 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories 252 Calories from Fat 158

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 17.5g 27%

Saturated Fat 14.9g 74%

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 88mg 4%

Total Carbohydrates 25.9g 9%

Dietary Fiber 4.2g 17%

Sugars 15.7g

Protein 4.2g

Vitamin A 171% • Vitamin C 166% Calcium 11% • Iron 18%

Nutrition Grade B

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

What is your favorite tropical drink?

Green Goddess Smoothie

When I decided to make just green food this week for St. Patrick's Day I did not plan on making a whole bunch of green smoothies but this one is really good and I just had to post it. Not only is it good for you but  it's super delicious. It has easily become my new favorite breakfast.  

This smoothie has a whole bunch of really delicious, fresh ingredients that are really great for you. 

Spinach, is great for your skin but it also promotes healthy brain function. 

Broccoli, boosts your immune system and fights cold virus'. 

Kiwi, is high is fiber and antioxidants, has been found to protect against cancer. 

Pineapple, improves digestion and strengthens bones. 

Orange, is rich in vitamins and minerals, lowers cholesterol and high blood pressure as well and boosts immune system.

Ingredients:

1 Kiwi (peeled)

1/4 Cup Fresh Broccoli Florets 

1 Cup Frozen Pineapple

1 Navel Orange

~4 Cups Raw Baby Spinach

1/4 Cup Water

Blend all ingredients until liquefied. 

Pour into a festive glass and enjoy.

I love this smoothie because it tastes more like a tropical cocktail than a ultra healthy smoothie. If you don't think it's sweet enough you could add a small sweet apple, like a honey crisp, or more pineapple. 

    Makes One Large Glass.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 557 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories 244 Calories from Fat 12

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 1.4g 2%

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 105mg 4%

Total Carbohydrates 58.6g 20%

Dietary Fiber 12.1g 48%

Sugars 40.2g

Protein 7.5g

Vitamin A 238% • Vitamin C 494% Calcium 24% • Iron 24%

Nutrition Grade A

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

                 What is the best smoothie you've ever had?