Super Berries Green Smoothie

This vitamin-packed Super Berries Green Smoothie is definitive proof that not all green smoothies necessarily have to be green...

Post updated 2/2/18- This vitamin-packed Super Berries Green Smoothie deserved some updated photos. I did leave one of the originals down below just so you all can see for yourself why this recipe so desperately needed a little face lift. ;)

My Super Berries Green Smoothie is definitive proof that not all green smoothies necessarily have to be green. I know that I have had more than one reader or follower tell me that they just can't get past the green color of green smoothies to enjoy them. Let me introduce this tasty solution to you all then! :)

It is a well noted fact in the medical and health community that berries of all kinds are super foods- rich in antioxidants and fiber, packed with Vitamin C, and they are also considered a "juicy food" meaning they contain mostly water, are filling, and are awesome for helping with weight loss. (If you want to read a little more on the health benefits of berries, Joy Bauer breaks it down by individual berry in her Health Benefits of Berries article.)

Afternoon Pick-Me-Up Green Smoothie

I know some of you all may be viewing the whole green smoothie craze as just that... a fad that will just fade away as soon as we roll into February.  

And for some (maybe many), that will be the case.

But I have actually found that I am loving green smoothies!  I have one just about every day for a healthy afternoon snack.

Okay, so some of you may not have heard of a green smoothie before.  Basically it a fruit smoothie with a handful or two of fresh leafy greens blended in.  Often times, it will give the smoothie a green tint (thus the name ;) ), but you really can't taste the greens at all.  People use a variety of greens in their green smoothies- from kale to swiss chard.  I personally prefer spinach- it is a softer leaf and more mild in taste so it usually just completely disappears into my smoothies.

(Pssssttt... moms! This a genius way to get your kiddos to eat more veggies and fruits without them even knowing it.  It even works with green veggie-phobic husbands. Shhhhh... ;) )

Green Smoothie Week {Win a Smoothie Blender For You & One For a Friend!}

If you happen to follow me on Instagram, you have to be well aware by now of my obsession with concocting and making new green smoothie recipes.  I am pretty sure I post at least two photos of tasty frozen smoothies on there every week.  And I have had several requests for the recipes.  ;)

Well, guess what??  I am going to share them all with my readers this week during my Green Smoothie Week on the blog!  And not only will I be sharing FIVE new green smoothie recipes with you, but myself and a few of my blogger friends are giving you all the chance to win two of my favorite blender for smoothies- one for you and one to give to a friend! :) I really do love this blender! The blender cups are the perfect smoothie portion so you can just unscrew the cap off, pop a straw in, and enjoy.  And it is a powerful blender- no worries about little pieces of spinach or kale showing up in your green smoothies. 

20+ Tasty Green Smoothie Recipes

I have gathered up over 20 of the best, most delicious, healthiest green smoothie recipes from some of my favorite food bloggers for you all...

  

Personally, I am a huge fan of green smoothies. I love that I can get in most of daily servings of fruits & veggies in just one creamy smoothie. 

I do have just one tip to share with you all for blending one up minus the chunks of leafy greens- tear the leaves of your greens & place them the blender with the liquid for your smoothie first. Puree that on high until it looks like you have a green juice in your blender. 

Then add in your additional ingredients. Want a little extra boost of nutritional goodness? Add in a tablespoon or two of chia seeds.  

So, I have to know... After this week's Green Smoothie Week on the blog, are you all sold on green smoothies yet?

Have you tried any of the green smoothie recipes I have shared this week?  

And most importantly, are you hooked on the green smoothie craze now?

If so, then you are hitting the green frozen goodness mother load today, folks! :)

Because I have gathered up over 20 of the best, most delicious, healthiest green smoothie recipes from some of my favorite food bloggers for you all...

Oatmeal "Raisin" Cookie Green Smoothie

Sneak extra leafy greens and healthy fruit into your daily diet with a creamy, low fat green smoothie that tastes just like one of your favorite baked treats...

I have a sweet tooth.  There is no question about that.

And sweets have always been my weakness when it comes to healthy snacking.

So, I went on a mission to create a few smoothie recipes that taste like some of my favorite sweet treats. 

The idea for this Oatmeal "Raisin" Cookie Green Smoothie came to me after I had tried a sip of my daughter's prune juice.  The first thing that came to mind was how much it tasted like raisins to me.  Hmmmmm... raisins. How could I use this prune juice in a green smoothie?

Honestly, I am not a huge fan of raisins, but I do like a good oatmeal raisin cookie... so the wheels started spinning and this Oatmeal "Raisin" Cookie Green Smoothie was concocted and taste-tested. 

And yum! :)

Strawberry-White Beet Green Smoothie

Packed with vitamins, nutrients, & antioxidants, this thick & creamy Strawberry-White Beet Green Smoothie is the perfect way to get in those leafy greens...

This recipe first appeared on the Bridgeport Farmers Market Let's Get Fresh site.

I am on a mission once again this outdoor farmers market season to show you all how you can create a delicious recipe purchasing mostly locally grown & raised produce and meats at your local farmers market. I started this locally inspired recipe series in the summer of 2017, and I am thrilled to be continuing the series this year as well. Each month I will be sharing a recipe here to the blog inspired by and featuring some of my own personal favorite fresh & local finds from my local market. 

For the month of June, I am sharing the recipe for this vitamin & nutrient packed Strawberry-White Beet Green Smoothie. Since I started on my journey to a healthier lifestyle a few months ago, smoothies- especially green smoothies - have become an integral part of my diet. I start out most days with a creamy smoothie blended with lots of the good stuff- frozen fruit, leafy greens, green tea, & chia seeds. 

Blackberry Lemonade Green Smoothie

Juicy blackberries & freshly squeezed lemon come together perfectly in this creamy, delicious, & good-for-you Blackberry Lemonade Green Smoothie...

Post updated 3/21/18- This tart & sweet Blackberry Lemonade Green Smoothie deserved some updated photos. I did leave one of the originals down below just so you all can see for yourself why this recipe so desperately needed a little face lift. ;)

In case you all are curious, I am still on my green smoothie kick.  It did not end with my Green Smoothie Week.

Although I do have to admit that I am not having one every afternoon like I used to. 

But they are still my absolute favorite way to sneak in some extra leafy greens for myself and for baby girl.  Seriously you all- she sucks them down like they are the best thing ever.

Like she would have a green smoothie over an Oreo almost any afternoon.

I will take that any day. ;)

Tropical Green Goddess Smoothie

This delicious & dairy-free Tropical Green Goddess Smoothie gets its rich creaminess from a surprise secret ingredient- avocado!

Post updated 1/30/18- This creamy Tropical Green Goddess Smoothie deserved some updated photos. I did leave one of the originals down below just so you all can see for yourself why this recipe so desperately needed a little face lift. ;)

I am bringing you all a different kind of green smoothie today. The green in this Tropical Green Goddess Smoothie not only comes from the leafy greens this time. The green in this creamy, tangy, & sweet healthy smoothie also comes from a little mashed avocado! 

Yep, folks.  Avocado.

Avocados are already so creamy and have such a mild taste that they work perfectly into fruit smoothies. And because the avocado makes this smoothie so darn creamy, I left out the yogurt when making this one resulting in a delicious dairy-free option for Green Smoothie Week on the blog. :)

(P.S. You can make any of the green smoothie recipes I am sharing this week dairy free by subbing soy or coconut milk yogurt for the low fat or Greek yogurt.)

Peach-Mint Green Smoothie

As a Blue Diamond Tastemakers blogger, I am sharing with you all this recipe for a refreshing & healthy Peach-Mint Green Smoothie. This post is sponsored by Almond Breeze Almondmilk.

In late spring of each year, I get down into the dirt and start planting seedlings and seeds in a spot in our backyard with dreams of having a garden brimming with homegrown veggies come July and August. And almost every summer, I am met with a little disappointment. A few tomato plants seem to do well early on, and then for what seems like no reason at all they just dry up and never produce another tomato. Pumpkin vines start sprawling through half my garden making me excited for all the fun (and free) pumpkins we would have in October only to have them bloom and produce cantaloupe sized pumpkins... in mid August. This year I decided that I needed a break, so we didn't plant a garden. Then a very strange thing started to happen late last month... plants just started appearing on their own.

First, it was the parsley plant I had dumped over the side of my deck railing at the end of last fall. It came back to life. Then it was a single pumpkin plant in what was my garden last year. And after a few good rains here the past couple of weeks, I now have an abundance of fresh, beautiful garden mint at my disposal. I have come to the conclusion that maybe I am better at accidental gardening than purposeful gardening. ;)

Now when I say I have an abundance of fresh mint, I am not exaggerating. I have a TON, folks. Since peaches are so affordable right now due to it being peach season, I knew I wanted to create a healthy and summer perfect recipe combining those sweet peaches with the refreshing crispness of the mint. And that is just what I did with this Peach-Mint Green Smoothie... 

Almond Joy Green Smoothie

I would venture to say that it is no secret to my regular readers and followers that I have a crazy mad sweet tooth.  I have been making strides to eat healthier more often, but I do try to live by a moderation and not deprivation rule as far as my daily diet goes. To curb and satisfy those frequent sweet tooth cravings, I like to create a few lower calorie and lower fat versions of some of my dessert favorites. 

And one of my fave ways to do this is with simple & creamy green smoothies. 

While there are a handful of candy bars that I crave, Almond Joys often top my list.  Creamy coconut & crunchy almonds coated in sweet milk chocolate...

I am pretty happy to report to you all that my Almond Joy Green Smoothie comes pretty close to the real deal. ;)

Perfect for when you need a sweet treat without overindulging...

Blueberry Almond Chia Smoothie

Boasting both anti-inflammatory & healing properties, this thick & creamy Blueberry Almond Chia Smoothie is just what your body needs to recover after a good sweat session...

I was provided with a copy of The Protein Smoothie Bible for review. I was not compensated for this post in any other way. All opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own. This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

For the past few months, I have been making a conscious effort to get to the gym more, to get back into my yoga practice, & to really pay attention to just what it is that I am putting into my body. 

Call it a gradual epiphany of realizing that I really needed to focus a little more time on bettering myself & my health following my divorce. Once the dust had settled & my world had calmed down a little, I was finally able to get back to me.

And it isn't just about getting back to a healthier version of myself for me. It is also about becoming the best version of myself for both my son & my daughter. Sometimes having to start a new chapter in your life will inspire you to make the changes for the better that you have been putting off.

One of the first steps I took when I decided to take back charge of my health was to incorporate more healthy smoothies into my diet. 

Smoothies are a fantastic & easy way to pack in most of your daily requirements of fresh veggies & fruits. I usually start most of my mornings each week with a vitamin & protein packed green smoothie. 

Matcha Chia Pudding Green Smoothie

This thick & creamy Matcha Chia Pudding Green Smoothie is protein-packed and loaded with antioxidants, Vitamin A,  & Omega-3 fatty acids. The perfect pre-workout meal!

Not that this should be a shocker to anyone who has ever read a game day recipe post of mine, but I did not watch the Super Bowl on Sunday evening. Honestly, I could have cared less who won or lost. And if I had attended a party to watch the game (which I didn't), then I would have only been there for the snacks, my friends. ;)

But there is one thing about the Super Bowl that I do like hearing about and watching the next day, and that is the halftime show. The halftime show the past couple of years didn't really impress me much even though I have always been a big fan of both Justin Timberlake and Maroon 5. 

But when I heard that both Jennifer Lopez and Shakira would be performing at this year's show, I was actually kind of sad that I had cut the cord on cable last year and would have to wait to watch it until later on my laptop. 

I have been a longtime fan of both of these ladies for many years. WAY back in the day, JLo and Shakira were some of my favorites to hear played when I went out to the dance clubs with my friends. Their upbeat, high energy music pretty much made up half of the soundtrack for my early to late twenties. 

Chocolate Raspberry Chia Seed Smoothie

This creamy & healthy Chocolate Raspberry Chia Seed Smoothie only tastes like a decadent treat...

I am partnering with Hamilton Beach today to bring you all this recipe. As always, all opinions expressed below are 100% my own.

I have had a love/hate relationship with making smoothies. I love sipping on smoothies and packing them full of the good stuff. But I have often found myself hating actually having to blend them up. 

You do that first pulse of the blender just to have to take a spoon to scrape down the sides of the blender cup and scoop up what is laying on the bottom to get it all blended in and smooth & creamy. And often times I have to repeat that once or twice more. 

I know that a fancy pants high tech blender would solve my little blender conundrum, but have you all seen the price tags on some of those blender models?? Yikes! 

When Hamilton Beach approached me about giving their new Wave-Action® Blender a whirl (see what I just did there ;) ), I was all in. I mean, what did I have to lose? Besides possibly my smoothie/blender frustrations. 

And the first thing that I whipped up in my new sleek & shiny Wave Action Blender was this smooth and creamy Chocolate Raspberry Chia Seed Smoothie. 

I kind of have a thing for making smoothies that tastes just like desserts since my mean sweet tooth can often get in the way of my attempts to eat healthier. ;) This creamy and chocolaty smoothie satisfied my sweet tooth without the guilt...

10 Delicious Blender Recipes {& A Blendtec Blender Giveaway!}

Let's celebrate the New Year with some tasty recipes & a giveaway for one fabulous blender...

Happy 2015, friends! I am joining forces with some of my favorite blogging friends to bring you some amazing blender recipes for batters, smoothies, dressings, and more, but one of YOU will also win a Blendtec 725 blender, Twister jar, and a $115 Paypal cash! That is about $885 value! 
And after you have won that shiny new Blendtec blender, you are going to need some new recipes to make with it. We got you all covered with these 10 Delicious Blender Recipes... ;)

Pina Colada Smoothie {Greek Style}

Take your taste buds on a guilt free getaway to the tropics with this creamy & low fat Pina Colada Smoothie...

Our beach vacation is just one and a half months away.  And I will admit it- I want to look good in my bathing suit. Who doesn't?  

But I also have no desire to give up my sweets.  (You all have perused the recipes on my blog, right? ;) )

So, I am not cutting out all sweets.  I am still baking cookies and making homemade ice cream.

But I am trying to to replace some of the sweets that I love with some healthier alternatives here and there.

My coupon to try FAGE Total Greek Yogurt for free as a newly appointed BzzAgent came just in time. ;)

Honestly, when I took my first bite of the FAGE Total 0% Greek Yogurt I was FAR from sold. It wasn't sweet at all.  But I quickly learned it was fabulous with a drizzle of honey topped with crunchy almonds and sweet dried cranberries. ;)

And then I started baking with it.  And then I start making smoothies with it... 

Veggie Packed Butternut Squash Soup

A favorite fall soup gets a tasty vegetarian & vegan friendly update in this creamy Veggie Packed Butternut Squash Soup...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Silk. The opinions and text are all mine.

If you have been following along with me for a little while now, then you probably already know that fall is by far my favorite time of the year. I love it when the air gets a little crisper, the leaves on the trees start to turn vibrant shades of red, orange, & yellow, and I get to break out my favorite flannels & fall boots. 

But perhaps my most favorite thing about fall is the seasonal flavors that it brings with it- pumpkin spice, apples, autumn squash, chai tea, & warm, cozy bowls of creamy soup.

One of my favorite fall soups happens to be a good homemade butternut squash soup. I decided to take the traditional butternut squash soup recipe & give it a veggie packed, dairy-free update with a little help from some of my favorite Silk products that I picked up at my local Target the other week...

Skinny German Chocolate Ice Cream

Made with dark chocolate almond milk, this no-churn Skinny German Chocolate Ice Cream is creamy & delicious and easy on the waistline... 

Here is a little known fact that you may not know about me...

I am lactose intolerant.
The thought of drinking a glass of milk makes my stomach turn.
But I do love my dairy.  Obviously. ;)
But if I overdo it on the cheese or ice cream, I do pay for it.

Lately, I have been embracing the many benefits of almond milk.  Most often you will find me using it almost daily in my green smoothies.  But thanks to the new line of Silk products, I have been branching out beyond the smoothie, folks.
Even whipping up some almost dairy-free ice cream with my newest Silk obsession- Silk Dark Chocolate Almondmilk. :)

Roasted Butternut Squash & Brussel Sprouts Quinoa Salad

Inspired by the flavors of fall, this Roasted Butternut Squash & Brussel Sprouts Quinoa Salad makes the perfect side dish for a holiday dinner. It also happens to be hearty enough to serve as a vegetarian-friendly main dish...

Over the last year and a half or so, I have become obsessed with all things quinoa. In fact, I usually have some type of quinoa salad for lunch most days of the week now. 

My obsession with this super grain started when I decided that I was ready to make some healthier lifestyle choices and drop some of the weight I had been carrying around for a few years. A major part of what I changed about my diet was making green smoothies for breakfast and then having variations on quinoa salad for lunch at least 4-5 days a week. 

If we are going to be technical about it, quinoa really isn't a grain at all. It is actually what they call a super seed. 

Just one cup of cooked quinoa contains 9 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber (keeps you full for longer!). And if you happen to be following a gluten-free diet, quinoa could definitely become your new best friend. 

I decided to take my love for this super seed past the lunch table and right onto my holiday dinner table this year (even though leftovers of this quinoa salad would definitely make an amazing lunch option the next day). 

Inspired by the flavors of fall, this Roasted Butternut Squash & Brussel Sprouts Quinoa Salad makes the perfect side dish for a holiday dinner. It also happens to be hearty enough to serve as a vegetarian-friendly main dish.

Double Berry Tea Smoothie

This Double Berry Tea Smoothie combines your favorite berry flavored tea & frozen berries to make a delicious low calorie frosty treat...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Equal®. As always, the opinions and text expressed below are 100% my own.

The weather has really started to warm up around here, and it seems like I am suddenly realizing that the season of shorts, cute summer dresses, and swimsuits is right around the corner. (Please tell me I am not the only one who is panicking just a little over this. ;) ) 

We literally went from one weekend of temperatures in the 30's with 2 inches of snow on the ground to the next weekend being sunny with temps hitting over 70 degrees! 





So now that I am realizing that soon I won't be able to hide the extra "padding" I have acquired over winter inside my big comfy sweaters anymore, I have been making a few changes to my diet and to my exercise routine. And yes, I end up doing pretty much this exact same thing every. single. spring.





One change that I am making right now is cutting back on calories by making little swaps here and there. A glass of iced water with a squeeze of lemon instead of pop. A piece of fruit instead of a cookie. And swapping my usual sugar in my morning coffee, evening tea, and smoothies with 0-calorie Equal® packets. 





One of my favorite ways to get in my servings of fruit a day and stay cool as the temperatures start to get warmer is with a refreshing, frosty smoothie. This Double Berry Tea Smoothie combines your favorite berry flavored tea & frozen berries to make a delicious low calorie frosty treat...