Orange Vanilla Spinach Smoothie

Green smoothies are nothing new and have been sweeping the nation for quite some time now.  They have been a big part of my life for awhile now and definitely are not going anywhere.  With so many versions out there everyone should be able to find a combination that they enjoy.  For me it is not only about eating more leafy greens but I also love smoothies as a vehicle for getting more super foods into my diet.  A simple and tasty drink that packs a nutritional punch in just one glass.  The obvious benefit of green smoothies is getting more leafy vegetables but something else you may not know is that it is really great for your digestion.  The blender does a lot of the work for you so that it is much easier on your body.  You know how after you eat a really big meal you tend to feel tired?  This is because a lot of your energy is going to your digestive system to work on breaking down the meal you just consumed.  So lets now say that you started your day with a green smoothie instead of bacon, eggs, and toast…  You probably won’t feel tempted to fall asleep at your desk.  You may even find yourself having much more energy.  Who doesn’t want more energy?

Again, there are so many smoothie recipes out there and if you do a internet search I am sure that thousands will pop up.  I like to make different combinations in order to vary my diet and vary the nutrients I am getting.  But once in awhile I blend up a concoction that is so tasty that it is worth the effort of posting it for everyone to enjoy.  My husband even agreed that this one was yummy.

Coming up with great smoothie combinations usually happens by chance.

My favorite greens to use in smoothies is spinach because I feel like I get a creamier texture and milder flavor.  I don’t have a high speed blender as of yet, so for me that is important.  Feel free to change up the greens to whatever you like.

I went to a local farm the other day and picked some organic citrus so I had some oranges on my counter that were just screaming to be used.  I always recommend using seasonal ingredients when possible.  The flavor is at its best and the nutrients are at their peak.  When I have organic citrus I try to find good uses for the zest…waste not want not.  The bonus when adding citrus to greens is that they help tame any grassy flavor they might add.

Smoothies for me always include fresh ginger.  I love the flavor and oh the anti-inflammatory properties are pretty cool too.

I’ve been adding turmeric to everything lately so throw some of that in there too.

As for the rest of the smoothie I just started adding things that sounded good…vanilla powder, baobab powder (has a citrusy flavor).

Now for a boost of nutrients…matcha powder.

Some sweetness without sugar or overloading on fruit…banana.

It needed some creamiest and healthy fat to keep me satisfied longer…avocado.

The result= one of the best smoothies I ever made.

I seriously crave this smoothie now and look forward to waking up in the morning or finishing a workout just so that I can have this smoothie.  I think this Orange Vanilla Spinach Smoothie may do the same thing for you.  What are your favorite ingredients to put in smoothies?