Everyone loves smoothies but few make their own. Often times, the smoothies you get when eating out are filled with sugar and excess calories. This recipe is a great way to make a healthy smoothie and limit calorie intake and only takes about five minutes to prepare.
Spinach is a very nutrient dense food that provides a good source of iron, vitamin, C, K, folate, dietary fiber and calcium. Spinach is also packed with antioxidants that potentially may protect against some cancers. Spinach is good for cardiovascular health and helps prevent heart attack and stroke.
Ingredients
1 sliced banana
1 ½ cups of chopped spinach
1 cup milk (Prefer fat free or soy milk)
5-10 almonds
1 cup of sliced strawberries, pears, berries, peaches or mangos
Add crushed ice or water as needed
ALSO COULD ADD
2-4 baby carrots
Protein powder
Directions
Blend together the sliced bananas, spinach and about 1/2 cup of milk to make it a smooth puree. There should not be any lumps. Now add the remaining milk and almonds then blend it once again. You can adjust the quantity of milk and ice to get the desired consistency. Serve it immediately.
The smoothies mask the spinach’s boring, bitter taste with the fruit flavors making consumption of spinach an easy task!
-Submitted by SDSU Senior Dietetic Student Brett Delaney
