Healthy Shamrock Smoothie

 

Shamrock Smoothie

Cook's Notes: The original recipe called for 1 cup orange juice so I made a substitution. Fruit juices lack the satiating fiber of fresh fruit, and even half a cup of orange juice adds an extra 13 grams of carbs which is nearly two times the calories of  sugar as a fresh orange. I opted for almond milk which is free of cholesterol and its fats are making it heart healthy. There is also 50% more calcium in fortified almond milk than dairy milk, and it's known to aid in weight loss. Plain Greek yogurt is the best for smoothies because of it's rich, creamy texture, tangy flavor, and it's high in lean protein.

This smoothie was a delicious nutritious filling start to the day. 
Alternatives for smoothie liquid base include:

• Fresh Juice.
• Water
• Green tea
• Coconut Water
• Unsweetened Almond Milk
• Low-Fat Dairy Milk
• Watermelon Water
• Unsweetened Coconut Milk
• Rice Milk.

Rev up your smoothie with these nine supplements; just add to your favorite recipe:

• Spirulina
• Chia Seeds
• Goji Berries
• Acai Berries
• Hemp Protein
• Bee Pollen
• Matcha Powder
• Wheatgrass

Healthy Shamrock Smoothie

Recipe serves 2 and was adapted from MidwestLiving 2021.

Ingredients:

• 4 kiwi fruit, peeled and quartered
• 1-1/2 cups green grapes
• 1 large banana,peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1- 6 oz. carton of plain Greek yogurt ( I used Fage brand) 
• 1 cup unsweeted almond milk (I used brand Almond Breeze) 
• 2-3 teaspoons honey
• Optional 1-2 drops green food coloring but does add a festive flair to the day
• Optional fresh kiwi slices for rim of glass

Directions:

• Line a plate (freezer proof) with wax paper.  Place cut up kiwi fruit and banana slices on wax paper (uncovered) and freeze for about 2 hours.  
• In a blender add grapes, 1/2 frozen fruit, yogurt, liquid choice and honey. Blend until almost smooth. Add in remainng fruit and food coloring if using. Blend again until smooth. 
• Pour into glasses, garnish with more kiwi fruit slices if desired. 

Random Act of Kindness

Consider a donation to your local food shelf. There are many in need this year.