Leafy Greens | Healthy & Fit

Happy Saturday everyone! So as some of you know I'm starting a yummy cleanse on Monday :) The first day I'm just doing one of my favorite SUJA clenses and throughout the rest of the week I'm going to be doing lot's of fruit and veggie smoothies. Mainly I want to get off of the plateau I've been on for the last couple of weeks but I also want to try some new stuff now that it's warming up. During the winter I just don't ever want to have smoothies and I've been missing them. Throughout Spring and Summer I carry my Ninja with me to make smoothies on the move. So I've been looking up some new stuff to make and mix into to my all time favorites. So here they are! Drink up :)

Avocado Aloe Spinach Smoothie

INGREDIENTS

1 cup chopped spinach
1 frozen banana
1/4 cup mashed avocado
1 cup coconut water
1 tablespoon aloe vera juice
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 to 3 dashes of cayenne pepper
1/4 cup coconut water ice cubes

DIRECTIONS

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Chocolate Spinach Smoothie

INGREDIENTS

1 frozen banana, chopped into pieces
1 cup spinach
1/2 cup nonfat yogurt
1 cup chocolate almond milk
Pinch of cinnamon, optional

DIRECTIONS

1. Blend all ingredients together until smooth and creamy.
2. Top off with cinnamon if you wish, and drink up!

Glowing Green Smoothie

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups water
1 head organic romaine lettuce, chopped
3-4 stalks organic celery
1/2 head of a large bunch or 3/4 of a small bunch of spinach
1 organic apple, cored and chopped
1 organic pear, cored and chopped
1 organic banana
Juice of 1/2 fresh organic lemon
Optional: 1/3 bunch organic cilantro (stems OK) and 1/3 bunch organic parsley (stems OK)

DIRECTIONS

Made up of about 70 percent green vegetables and 30 percent fruit, this smoothie helps you eat far more greens than you ordinarily could. Because we blend the greens and fruit for easy digestion, your body is able to absorb more of the vitamins and minerals without working so hard. Thanks to all its nutrients and fiber, the smoothie is incredibly filling, so it keeps you from reaching for that midmorning second cup of coffee and that bagel you really didn't want to eat.  Add water and chopped head of romaine to blender. Blend at a low speed until smooth. Add spinach, celery, apple, and pear and blend at high speed. Add cilantro and parsley (which help chelate heavy metals out of your body). Finish with banana and lemon.

Mojito Smoothie

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup soy milk
1 frozen banana
1 cup baby spinach
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 small lime, juiced
1/2 cup fresh spearmint
Ice cubes

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine soy milk, banana, spinach, vanilla, and lime juice in a high-speed blender.
2. Add spearmint and four or five ice cubes. Blend until smooth and creamy.
3. Taste, and add more spearmint or lime juice as desired.

Sweet Spinach Smoothie

INGREDIENTS

2 cups spinach leaves, packed
1 ripe pear, peeled, cored, and chopped
15 green or red grapes
6 ounces fat-free plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons chopped avocado
1 or 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

DIRECTIONS

In a blender or food processor, combine all the ingredients until blended to the desired consistency.

Have a great weekend!

                                     xo, Erica