Smoothies are great, and one of my favorite things to make, but normally I would include a few varieties of fruit – not veg in a blender, so when I discovered the green monster recipes and movement I was very intrigued. My little brother and I would often concoct smoothie recipes together after a summer run, throwing whatever we could find in the kitchen into the blender jug – usually bananas, apples, OJ, honey, peanut butter and some ice – you get the picture – the refreshing, but still sweet and fruity type of drink.
This morning after a run I decided to branch out into the veggie world of smoothies and as a green monster virgin, attempted the so-named recipe, using fat-free vanilla soy milk. But…I did alter the ingredients slightly to include chia, not flax seeds, and I also added a teaspoon of local bee pollen picked up at the local farmers market. The hand blender did a pretty good job of whizzing up the spinach – a Kitchen Aid blender might have made it even smoother but overall I have to admit it was extremely tasty and I was pleasantly surprised!
cheers to the Green Monster 🙂

I’m quite a health nut and am always willing to try something ‘healthy’.  I finally bought a blender this week and decided to make my virgin Green Monster yesterday.  I was a bit skeptic but I figured ‘what’s the worst that can happen’.  One sip in and I was sold- the stuff is yum and what a great way to boost my veggie intake so early in the day!  Contrary to those who think they look ugly, I actually like the pretty shade of green! I loved it so much that I experimented with a different combo this morning: another winner!

Green Monster 1:
•       ½ frozen banana
•       5 strawberries
•       60g low-fat natural yogurt
•       100 ml soy milk
•       Squirt of honey
•       1 tablespoon flaxseeds
•       20g oats
•       2 handfuls spinach

Once blended, I topped it with a sprinkle of Bran Flakes.

Green Monster 2:
•       5 strawberries
•       ¼ apple
•       100 ml soy milk
•       60g yogurt
•       Squirt of honey
•       1 spoonful chocolate Amazing Grass powder
•       20g oats

Once blended, I topped it with coconut shavings.  This was like a Bountry drink! Yum

I recently decided to change my lifestyle and diet. Two years after getting married the love handles started to grow rapidly.  As a former athlete now chained to a desk I knew a lifestyle change was in order!  I began working out four months ago to build strength and tried everything to increase my energy levels. Nothing seemed to work until I created my very own ultimate energy drink. Now my skin is clearer, full of energy and have dropped 10 lbs. in 1 month alone!

Pete’s Green Machine
2 servings:

2 scoups protein powder
2 cups fresh spinach
5 frozen strawberries
5 baby carrots
6 oz greek yogurt
1 1/2 cup of soy milk

I first tried a green monster about a year ago and love them! My favorite one is as follows :
1 or 2 handfuls of fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup almond milk + 1/3 cup water
Scoop of peanut butter
dash of cinnamon
1/3 apple peeled and chopped
1 frozen banana
Blend and inhale! Here is a pic of my son sporting a green monster mustache!

Here’s my purple monster!
I am on a restrictive diet because I have a bladder disorder and can’t eat most fruits except blueberries, pears, and some apples.
Green monsters are a great way for me to eat my fruits without getting tired of the same old same old.
My recipe:
1/2-1 cup spinach or kale
1/2-1 apple
1 pear
3/4 cup blueberries
1 tsp ground flax seeds
1 cup water

Very light and refreshing!

I wanted to make a tropical themed Green Monster so I used Silk coconut milk with banana, pineapple, mango and berries. Yum!

Tropical Green Monster

1 cup original, vanilla, or unsweetened coconut milk

1 cup frozen tropical fruits (pineapple, mango, banana) with berries

2 cups spinach

1/2 tbl chia seeds

Angela very recently celebrated her 2nd anniversary and I decided to celebrate right along side by “attempting” to make one.  As a fan of spinach in both raw and cooked forms, and an expert on the taste of it, I was definitely not convinced that a shake containing so much spinach could mask that flavor.

Holy greenness was this AMAZING?!  I liked the little bit of richness and extra protein from the tofu. It stuck with me all afternoon too.  Yes, it looks quite icky, but all I tasted was the sweet tart apple and carrot combo.  The Green Monster is here to stay!  In fact, I picked up half of Trader Joe’s spinach supply today.  True story.

2 servings lite silken tofu (192 grams of Nasoya)
3 C fresh spinach
1 small carrot (about 35 g)
1 small Fuji apple (about 90 g)
1/2 C water
1 dropper of liquid stevia

I’ve been drinking Green Monsters for months now and I’m addicted. I crave them when I wake up in the morning and they just make me feel great all over.

My newest creation is the best yet: Rhubarb Green Monster

– 1/2 cup frozen rhubarb
– 1/3 cup frozen blueberries
– 1/2 banana, frozen or raw
– slash of OJ
– splash of coconut milk
– ample amounts of spinach
– water to cover
– coconut to garnish

So tart, yet sweet and satisfying! (Also vegan!)