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3 Veggie-Heavy Smoothies That Will Boost Your Energy More Than Coffee

David Frenkiel
Author:
August 02, 2016
David Frenkiel
Written by
Photo by Green Kitchen Smoothies
August 02, 2016

We've been absolutely smitten with the recipe blog Green Kitchen Stories since ... well, about as long as we realized food blogs were a thing. For their third cookbook, Luise and David (a wife-and-husband duo) tackled one of our favorite healthy-eating subjects: smoothies.

Today we're sharing three smoothies from Green Kitchen Smoothies that will give your energy levels, workout, and fruit and veggie intake a big boost.

Greens for All

This is one of our absolute favorite green smoothies, and yet it's so quick and easy to make, with only a few ingredients. The sweet and juicy pineapple balances the grassy flavor of the spinach perfectly while the ginger provides a spicy punch.

Serves 2 (or makes 1 large serving)

Ingredients

  • 150 grams (5 ounces/1 cup) ripe pineapple, peeled*
  • 60 grams (2 ounces/1 cup) frozen spinach (organic if possible)
  • ½ ripe avocado
  • juice of ½ lime
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated (or ¼ to ½ teaspoon ground ginger)
  • 250 mL (8½ fluid ounces/1 cup) rice milk (or coconut water)

Preparation

1. Roughly chop the pineapple and add it to a blender along with the rest of the ingredients.

2. Blend on high speed until completely smooth. Taste and adjust the spiciness to your liking by adding more ginger if necessary.

3. Pour into two medium-size glasses and serve or store in a large airtight glass bottle to take on a picnic (as featured in the photo).

*If your pineapple isn't that sweet and juicy, you can always use more or add half a ripe banana.

Mocha Morning Buzz

Our chilled smoothie version of a morning cappuccino has the addition of dates for a little sweetness, a touch of cacao, and some rolled oats to make it thicker and more comforting so you'll last longer on it. It's a real treat and has a very round flavor.

We are leaving some leeway here with the amount of espresso and dates, so you can make it as potent or as sweet as you like. On hot summer mornings, we fill our glass with ice before pouring over the blend and call it a Mochaccino on the Rocks.

Serves 1

Ingredients

  • 3 to 5 soft dates, pitted
  • 2 teaspoons cacao powder
  • 3 tablespoons rolled oats (choose certified gluten-free if allergic)
  • 250 mL (8 fluid ounces/1 cup) unsweetened plant milk
  • 1 to 2 shots espresso (approximately 2 to 4 tablespoons)
  • 1 teaspoon cold-pressed coconut oil
  • 2 ice cubes

Preparation

1. Put all of the ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed until completely smooth.

2. Taste and adjust the sweetness and coffee flavor to your liking by adding more dates, espresso, or milk, if necessary.

3. Pour into one medium-size glass or cup (as featured in the photo) and enjoy right away. The swirl in the photo is simply a splash of extra plant milk stirred with a spoon.

Purple Performance

Beets (and other nitrate-rich vegetables) improve blood and oxygen flow in muscles and prompt them to use the oxygen more efficiently. Sour cherries are rich in antioxidants and help the body to recover from intense training as well as reducing delayed-onset muscle pain.

Drink beetroot and sour cherry juices and smoothies regularly to gain the physical benefits.

Serves 2

Ingredients

  • 1 small raw beetroot, peeled (approximately 80 grams/3 ounces)
  • 1 tablespoon dried sour cherries or sour cherry powder (or goji berries)
  • 60 grams (2 ounces/½ cup) frozen raspberries
  • 1 ripe banana, peeled
  • 1 tablespoon hemp seeds or hemp protein powder (or more if you like)
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated (or ¼ to ½ teaspoon ground ginger)
  • 350 mL (12 fluid ounces/1½ cups) almond milk (or unsweetened milk of choice)
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Preparation

1. Depending on the strength of your blender, roughly chop or grate the beetroot and add it to the blender along with the rest of the ingredients.

2. Blend on high speed until completely smooth. Taste and adjust the spiciness and sourness to your liking by adding more ginger or lemon juice if necessary.

3. Pour into two medium-size glasses and serve, or store in a large airtight glass bottle to pack into your gym bag (as featured in the photo).

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