The Banana Muscle Smoothie

So we are done with the first week of New Year's Resolutions. How many of us are still sticking to our goals? How many of us haven't even started? Just me? Good to know.

I honestly HATE New Years resolutions. Why do we think that during the freezing cold winter while re-budgeting after Christmas debt is the right time to make ourselves better? Me, I would rather change in the spring, when the grass is getting green and the flowers are blooming and I can be outside.

But that doesn't mean that I think making small changes and healthier choices after 2 months of gluttony is a bad idea. This morning I made one of those choices.

I pulled out my Clean Green Drinks cookbook by Candace Kumai this morning. I have always loved smoothies, but never gotten on the green smoothie bandwagon. I should have, because if they taste like this one, they are super yummy.

That bright green color comes from the spinach. DON'T stop reading. It does not taste like drinking a salad. (I was worried about that.) It tastes like a banana/vanilla milk shake. The vanilla comes from my protein powder, which can be a little overpowering. 

And just in case you are wondering, over 80% of the ingredients offer health benefits. I don't consider ice to have any real benefit, besides hydration. 

• almond milk: low calorie, doesn't raise blood sugar, strengthen bones
• baby spinach: iron, calcium, magnesium, diabetes management, cancer prevention
• bananas: high fiber, increases heart health, eases digestion, high source of potassium
• almond butter: antioxidants from vitamin E, helps lower cholesterol, magnesium
• protein powder: rich in iron, promotes muscle growth, helps keep you feeling full

You just put all the ingredients in a blender, hit the crush button, pour it into a couple glasses and drink. Poof you are off to a healthier you, and you can enjoy it. 

Seems simple enough, right? So here is the recipe. 

The Banana Muscle Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 c unsweetened almond milk
• 1 c baby spinach
• 1 1/2 frozen bananas
• 2 TBSP almond butter
• 1 scoop protein powder
• 1 c ice

Directions

     Put everything in the blender. Push the crush button and blend until smooth, pushing down the sides with a spatula as needed. 

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3
Amount per serving
Calories	173
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g	10%
Saturated Fat 1g	5%
Cholesterol 22mg	7%
Sodium 90mg	4%
Total Carbohydrate 17.7g	6%
Dietary Fiber 3.2g	11%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 10.9g
Vitamin D 0mcg	2%
Calcium 152mg	12%
Iron 3mg	16%
Potassium 470mg	10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet.2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Recipe analyzed by

The cookbook says it makes four 6 ounce servings, but I was happier with three 8 ounce servings. Do what works best for you. 

I have a hard time remembering to eat breakfast, but I always want a smoothie. Let's see how long this craving lasts, and what other recipes we can try together in the future. 

Kristie