14 September, 2015

Back to Basics Green Smoothie

Name: Back to Basics Green Smoothie
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 heaping cup baby spinach; 1 heaping cup kale leaves (stems removed); 1/2 cup diced pineapple; 1/2 mango (pit and skin removed); 8-12 basil leaves; 2 inch cucumber (diced); 1 cup coconut water

I can’t take 100% credit for this green smoothie recipe. I got the idea from a similar version that I tried at my local Whole Foods. They always say that you shouldn’t do your grocery shopping hungry so on occasion I will order a juice or smoothie and sip it while I shop. I saw the ingredients in this smoothie and just knew that I had to give it a taste. Most of the ingredients in here are pretty typical of smoothie recipes except for one surprise ingredient…basil. I love basil but was not sure how it would work in a smoothie. One taste and I knew I had to recreate it at home.

Basic green smoothie that tastes anything but basic @organicRD

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Basil is not just for pesto people! Herbs are not only a great addition to recipes because of the flavor they add but they add loads of nutrients as well. Basil in an excellent source of vitamin K and manganese; a very good source of copper, vitamin A, and vitamin C; and a good source of iron, calcium, folate, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids. The volatile oils in basil have been shown to provide protection against bacterial growth and have anti-bacterial properties.

My philosophy when it comes to smoothies is definitely the greener the better. I like mine with loads of veggie and just enough fruit for sweetness. If you struggle with glucose intolerance, diabetes, or regulating your blood sugars then a smoothie loaded with fruit may not be the healthiest idea. My Strawberry Lemonade Smoothie has less than 10 grams of sugar and my Green Monster Mojito Smoothie utilizes lower sugar fruits.

This is my Back to Basics green smoothie because it goes back to the traditional recipes I tried when I first started making smoothies like my Vanilla Orange Green Smoothie. The greens are still the star of the show while pineapple and mango make it just sweet enough to be delicious. If you have blood sugar issues I recommend adding half of an avocado, some full fat coconut milk, or nuts for better regulation. Either way this is a fantastic way to get more greens, fiber, and nutrients into your diet. It is beauty in a glass.