Green Smoothies Are Yummy!

Creamy, fresh, earthy, sweet and tangy is the best way to describe my Favorite Green Smoothie. Baby kale, spinach, mangoes, protein powder, matcha powder and almond milk combine into a special combination of deliciousness. This has become my family’s go-to smoothie. My 14 year-old daughter came home from school today and said she’d been thinking about this smoothie all day, and asked if she could make one, like right now?? That made my heart sing. Then I became elated when my son quietly leaned in to his twin sister and said, “Hey, can you make enough for me too?” Teenagers, craving a kale and spinach drink!

Making Friends with Kale

But I have a confession to make. I do not like kale in salads. There. It’s out and I’m feeling a little bit uncool. Kale is the It-Girl, the Darling of Leaves, the current big-man-on-campus of the UofGreens. Basically, kale is having a moment, a very long moment, and for good reason. (Does anyone else remember when this crown was worn by baby spinach?) I am fully aware that kale is an absolute stud, superfood, nutritional powerhouse.

So how could I not like something adored by so many and bursting with wholesome goodness for my body? It’s a texture thing. Fully grown kale leaves are too tough and stretchy for my liking. They distract me as I’m trying to enjoy the rest of the salad, being all fibrous, extra chewy and in the way. I hardly ever buy kale. If it’s offered at a restaurant, I’ll choose something else. However, baby kale is very different from its grown up self!

Baby kale works beautifully, blended into my Favorite Green Smoothie. It’s an unobtrusive player in this symphony of nutrition and flavors. It provides awesome benefits without overpowering, and blends nicely. I love it!

What the Heck is Matcha Powder Anyway??

Match powder is another ingredient in my Favorite Green Smoothie. It’s new to me. I’ve been reading about matcha benefits and wanted to give it a try. Similar in taste to a cup of green tea, it adds a nice flavor element to My Favorite Green Smoothie. Matcha is a little pot of powdered greens. It’s too soon to tell, but I wanted to see if it might aid in weight loss that some have reported. A little bit of matcha goes a long way. Also, it can be expensive. I found the 5.5 oz matcha jar in the picture on sale for $16 at my local Sprouts grocery store.

I hope you enjoy my Favorite Green Smoothie as much as my family and I do. Please give it a try and let me know what you think.

Jessica

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Favorite Green Smoothie

Lovely blend of fruits, greens, matcha powder and protein, this smoothie has it all! Easy to make and perfect for breakfast, snacks and post-workout. 

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword almond milk, baby kale, baby spinach, banana, easy, kale, matcha powder, protein powder, smoothie, spinach, vanilla protein powder

Prep Time 5 minutes

Servings 1 people

Author Jessica Nelson

Ingredients

• 1-2 cups fresh baby kale
• 1-2 cups fresh baby spinach
• 1-2 scoops vanilla protein powder approximately 1-2 tablespoons
• 2 tsp matcha powder
• 1/2 banana
• 6-8 chunks frozen mango
• 1 cup almond milk use 3/4 cup for a thicker smoothie or 1 1/4 cup for a thinner smoothie

Instructions

1. Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Depending on your desired thickness, use more or less almond milk. 

2. Serve immediately. This smoothie does not keep well and separates if left sitting out too long.