By Texas of Eat Healthy and Thrive

Benefits of Green Smoothies

Eat your vegetables! Our moms have been telling us that for years, right? But let’s face it, most Americans are not eating near the amount of veggies they should be. Blending up a healthy, delicious smoothie is a great way to pack greens and other nutritious vegetables and fruits into your diet (especially those you may not enjoy eating on a regular basis). Smoothies also a great way to sneak veggies into your kids’ diet – we all know how picky kids can be when it comes to veggies! Eating a well balanced, plant-based diet is definitely one the most powerful things you can do for your health.

Research has shown that people who eat plant-based diets have lower weight, reduced risk of chronic diseases, better nutrient intake, and better management of chronic health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. By taking simple steps, like consuming more fresh vegetables, you can start to experience those benefits.

Blending up a green smoothie for breakfast every morning is a great way to start you day. Think about it—you're giving your body a blast of phytonutrients, antioxidants and fiber. I promise, that green smoothie is going to keep you energized and full until lunchtime. It's the perfect "grab and go" breakfast. Without a doubt, the healthiest smoothies are the ones that contain greens.  I recommend making smoothies that are loaded with leafy greens and only a small amount of fruit.

The biggest mistake that people make when making smoothies is using too much fruit. Too much fruit can cause spikes in your blood sugar. A good rule of thumb is no more than one serving of fruit in your smoothie. For example, 1 serving of berries is 1 cup. A serving a pineapple is ½ cup, due to its higher sugar content. This recipe is one of my favorites. Even my kids love it!

Blueberry Almond Spinach

2 tablespoons almond butter
½ banana (preferably frozen)
½ cup frozen blueberries
3 cups spinach
1 cup unsweetened almond milk

Add all ingredients to your Blendtec and select the Whole Juice setting. Enjoy!