Chocolate Peanut Butter Avocado Smoothie

Chocolate Peanut Butter Avocado Smoothie

What could be better tasting than avocados, bananas, and peanut butter?  Nothing once you try this smoothie.  You can feel good about making this high protein and healthy chocolate smoothie for your family.  I know my family loves it!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Avocado Smoothie
makes 2 servings

1 cup of milk (any kind)
1 frozen avocados*
1 frozen banana*
2 Tbs peanut butter or 3 Tbs peanuts (in a high powered blender like a Vitamix)
1 tsp vanilla 
2 Tbs unsweetened cocoa
2-4 Tbs sugar or organic raw agave (add sweetener to taste)

*If using fresh avocados or fresh bananas, add about 1/4 cup of ice

Put everything into your blender and blend until smooth.  If using a Vitamix with pre-programmed settings, set to smoothie and then push the start button. 

Tart Cherry Peach Smoothie

Tart Cherry Smoothie

Tart cherries are extremely healthy.  I'm naturally not a cherry person.  I think it was because as a child I would occasionally get a cherry coke and at the bottom was a pruney chewy cherry.  I also did not like any cherry flavored medicine as a child.  Yuck!  As an adult I have learned to like and appreciate cherries, especially fresh or frozen cherries.

You can buy frozen tart cherries at most major grocery stores.  They make an excellent smoothie.  

Tart cherries are high in beta carotene, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants. They also contain potassium, calcium, iron, vitamins A, C, B6, E, magnesium, and folic acid.  Tart cherries virtually have no fat or sodium.  Eating a diet that includes foods such as tart cherries can help fight cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and digestive disorders.

Vitamix Tart Cherry Peach Smoothie

makes 2 servings 

1/2 milk (any kind - cow, almond, coconut, etc.)

1 cup frozen tart cherries

1/2 cup frozen peaches or half a frozen banana

1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-2 Tbs sugar or agave (optional)

Put everything in the blender according the how it's listed and blend until smooth. 

Pineapple Cabbage Peach Juice

Pineapple Cabbage Peach Juice

This nutritious juice only takes a few minutes to make.  You can use any kind of cabbage you want, Chinese, Savory, Green or Napa.  The pineapple, peach, and dates give this juice a nice sweetness. If you don't have a powerful blender and want a thinner texture, pour drink mixture through a colander. If you want to turn this into a smoothie, add some ice or frozen pineapple.

Pineapple Cabbage Peach Juice

1/2 cup of pineapple
1/2 peach
1-2 handfuls of cabbage (any variety)
4 dates
1 Tbs flax seeds
1 handful of walnuts
1 cup of water

Blend until smooth and enjoy!  Makes about 3 cups.

Peach, Strawberry, Apple, and Banana Smoothie

Blue Rock enjoying the smoothie!

My family really enjoyed this smoothie.  We drank it for dessert after a kale, broccoli, and chicken stir-fry.

Peach, Strawberry, Apple, and Banana Smoothie

1 cup almond milk (or any kind of milk)
1 peach
4-6 strawberries
1 apple
1 frozen banana
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup ice
protein powder (optional)

Blend until smooth and enjoy!

Spinach Banana Smoothie

You will soon learn to know about my love for spinach...okay, it's not my favorite vegetable but the health benefits make it part of my family's regular diet. 

This is one of my favorite spinach smoothies.  If you don't have any bananas but have lots of spinach, try this recipe. 

Chocolate Spinach Smoothie

1 cup dark chocolate almond milk (or other kind of chocolate milk, if plain add cocoa) 

2 cups fresh spinach 

1 frozen banana

1/2 cup ice

1 scoop of protein powder (optional, I like Whey Protein)

Put everything in the blender and blend until smooth.  Makes 2 cups.

Spinach Banana Smoothie

Why eat spinach?  Spinach is extremely rich in antioxidants.  It's a rich source of vitamin A, C, E, K, magnesium, manganese, folate, betaine, iron, viamin B2, calcium, potassium, vitamin B6, folic acid, copper, protein, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids.  In fact, side-by-side, spinach has more iron than a hamburger!

Bananas are a good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Potassium, Manganese, and Vitamin B6.  

Bananas freeze really well.  If you catch them on sale, pick up some extras and throw them in the freezer.

Cabbage, Peach, and Carrot Smoothie

Cabbage, Peach, and Carrot Smoothie

I got the basis of this recipe from the Vitamix Savor Recipes book.  I have been wanting to make a smoothie with cabbage but wanted to use someone's recipe before venturing out on my own.  This smoothie is not very sweet but has a good taste.  If you are looking for a cabbage smoothie recipe, try this one out.

Cabbage, Peach, and Carrot Smoothie

1/2 cup water
1 cup green grapes (the original recipe calls for red grapes but I only had green)
3/4 cup sliced green cabbage
1 medium carrot, halved
1 yellow peach (or 1 cup frozen unsweetened peach slices)
1/2 cup ice cubes

Place all ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth.  I wasn't sure if my 3-year old would like this smoothie but he did.  It's more savory than sweet but not soupy.  What is your favorite cabbage smoothie?

Raw cabbage is very healthy and is rich in Thiamin, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Potassium, and is a good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Folate, and Manganese.

Strawberry, Banana, Orange, Carrot, and Kiwi Smoothie

It seems like most fruits are in season right now which is great because raw foods provide a great source of vitamins and minerals.  I got a really great deal on a box of oranges and have been eating oranges everyday as well and putting one in our morning smoothie.  I also found a great deal on strawberries and bananas. Today I made a Strawberry, Banana, Orange, Carrot, and Kiwi Smoothie.

Strawberry, Banana, Orange, Carrot, and Kiwi Smoothie

1 cup of organic soy milk (or other milk)

1/2 cup strawberries

1/2 frozen banana

1 orange

1 kiwi

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1 cup ice

Put all of your ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.  Enjoy!

What's in the fruit?

Strawberries: Rich in fiber, contain phenols, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, B1/thiamine, B2/riboflavin, B3/niacin, B6, B12, and Folic Acid. 

Bananas: Good source of dietary fiber, high amounts of potassium, and Vitamin B6.

Oranges: Dietary fiber, pectin, Vitamin C, Hesperetin and Narigenin, and good levels of Vitamin A and good source of B-complex vitamins such as thiamin, pyridoxine, and folates. Oranges also have a good amount of minerals like potassium and calcium. 

Carrots: Rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins and dietary fiber.  Rich source of carotenes and Vitamin A. They are rich in poly-acetylene anti-oxidant falcarinol, and Vitamin C, good amounts of many B-complex vitamins such as folic acid, Vitamin B-6, thiamin, pantothenic acid. Carrots also contain good amounts of minerals such as copper, calcium, potassium, manganese and phosphorus. 

Kiwi: Protects your body from some cancers and heart disease.  It has Fiber, Phytonutrients (which repair DNA), Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Calcium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, and Zinc.

Strawberry, Orange, and Carrot Smoothie

Strawberry, Orange, and Carrot Smoothie

Here is another delicious and quick smoothie to make.  This is rich in many nutrients especially Vitamins C and A.

Strawberry, Orange, and Carrot Smoothie Recipe

1/2 cup orange juice
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 orange
1 carrot
1/2 cup ice

Put everything in a blender and blend until smooth.  Makes about 2 cups.  Enjoy!

Chocolate Spinach Smoothie Recipe

Chocolate Spinach Smoothie

Sometimes it's hard to get kids to eat spinach. Hey, sometimes it's hard to get me to eat spinach. But spinach and other leafy greens are rich in nutrients. One easy way to get your family to eat more spinach is to make it into a smoothie.  This is my quick pick me up spinach drink that actually tastes good.

Chocolate Spinach Smoothie

1 cup dark chocolate almond milk (or other kind of chocolate milk, if plain add cocoa) 

1 cup fresh spinach 

1/2 cup ice

Put everything in the blender and blend until smooth.  Makes 2 cups.

Why eat spinach?  Spinach is extremely rich in antioxidants.  It's a rich source of vitamin A, C, E, K, magnesium, manganese, folate, betaine, iron, viamin B2, calcium, potassium, vitamin B6, folic acid, copper, protein, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids.  In fact, side-by-side, spinach has more iron than a hamburger!

Orange Banana Smoothie Recipe

Orange Banana Smoothie

An orange banana smoothie is one of my son's favorites.  It it simple and nutritious! I use four simple ingredients and it is a hit every time!

Orange Banana Smoothie Recipe

1 cup for organic vanilla soy milk (use can use cow or other kind of milk)
1/2 cup of plain yogurt (vanilla yogurt works well too)
1 frozen banana
1 fresh orange

Put everything in your blender and blend until smooth.  This makes two cups.  If you want it thicker, add half to one cup of ice.  Enjoy!

Health Benefits: Bananas are a good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Potassium, Manganese, and Vitamin B6. Oranges are have a good source of Thiamin, Folate and Potassium, and Dietary Fiber and Vitamin C.  Plain yogurt is high in protein, calcium, and is a good source of lactobacteria, or probiotics, which are beneficial live bacteria.  Soy milk is a good source of calcium and protein.

Chocolate Kale Milkshake

Chocolate Kale Milk Shake

I'm always trying to get my 3-year to eat more greens.  He likes cooked broccoli, spinach, and peas.  But he says "no thank you" to lettuce and raw broccoli, spinach, and kale.  He said no to kale until now.

I found that chocolate covers the taste of kale pretty well.  My son drank this up and wanted more.  

Chocolate Kale Milkshake

1/2 cup dark chocolate almond milk
1/2 cup plain almond milk
1.5 cups of low fat vanilla frozen yogurt
hand full of washed kale, stems removed

Place everything in your blender and blend until smooth.  For a thicker smoothie, add less milk.

If you don't have almond milk, you can substitute the milk for any kind you want.  If you don't have chocolate milk, add a little chocolate powder or syrup and enjoy.

What's inside Kale?

I find Kale to be a pretty perfect food, especially for kids but adults need it too.  Kale has essential nutrients such as calcium, lutein, iron, and Vitamins A, C, and K. Kale has seven times the beta-carotene of broccoli and ten times more lutein. Kale is rich in chlorophyll and fiber.