I’ve noticed an interesting shift in my food cravings in the past several weeks. Where once I lusted after hearty soups and stick-to-your-ribs entrees, I now yearn for fresh spring greens and crisp peaches. To honor the changing seasons, I’ve begun to reorganize my shelves a bit, storing oatmeal toppings toward the back, and bringing light, bright spices toward the front. I also found myself in the checkout line at the market last night with a bag of spinach, a bunch of bananas and greek yogurt (4/$5!). Do you know what this means?

The Green Monster is BACK!

1/2 container Honey Chobani
3 large handfuls baby spinach
2/3 medium banana
1 T organic creamy Trader Joe’s peanut butter
1/4 c. whole rolled oats
1/2 cup water
4 ice cubes
Topping: sprinkle of raisin almond granola from Costco

Kate from Runner, Wife, Life

I’ve been drinking green monsters for about two weeks now and I looooove them- they are such a delicious way to get extra fruits and veggie servings. I have them for breakfast or as a post-workout treat, and sometimes they even hit the spot for dessert. My husband has gotten hooked, too, and will actually get out the blender and all the ingredients to make one for himself. Your original recipe is one of my favorites, but here’s another I can’t get enough of:

1 huge handful organic spring mix
1 huge handful organic baby spinach
1 scoop chia
1 scoop flax
8oz unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 banana
1/2 cup blackberries
4 oz of water and a glass of ice for volume

For a dessert-like one, I substitute organic canned pumpkin pie mix for the blueberries and leave out the water so it’s creamier. SO DELICIOUS! Plus I always feel amazing after these 🙂 You have totally made my life better.

I started drinking green monsters as a way to get those much needed servings of veggies every day. Since I’ve started drinking them I am more energetic and just feel healthier throughout the day. I actually stopped making them for about a few weeks and I had a noticable difference in my skin and my energy levels. Here is the one I made today. I use frozen fruites instead of ice.

1/4 cup frozen blueberries
Two pieces frozen mango
2 cups spinach
1/2 cup milk
6 oz low fat yogurt
1 tblsp. flax
Splash of water to thin, if necessary

Ever since my first Green Monster experience I’ve been thinking of ways to incorporate chocolate into it.  I had seen the Cherry Chocolate Bomb, but had not seen anything with strawberries and chocolate, so I set out to create one!  This one is smooth, cold, and tastes decadent even though it’s good for you!  And it can be made with any kind of milk you have on hand.  Enjoy!

   * 1 cup milk (I used nonfat cow’s milk, but you could do any kind you prefer)
   * 1 cup frozen strawberries (around 7 or 8 depending on the size).  If they’re large, try to (carefully!) chop them a bit to make blending easier.
   * 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
   * 1 packet Truvia
   * 1 medium banana
   * 2 big handfuls spinach

Blend until smooth and enjoy!  You’ll never be the same again 🙂

Heather from Heather’s Dish

Hi Angela!  I just started my own blog, “Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life” after almost a year and a half of “watching from the sidelines”.  I love all things food related, and try really hard to eat healthy and try new things.  Well, what better to try new than a Green Monster!  I attempted my first ever Green Monster this morning, and I was AMAZED at how good it was!!  I will definitely be drinking these more often!  Here’s MY Green Monster:
-1 frozen banana
-3/4 cup light vanilla soy milk
-1 scoop chocolate protein powder
-4 cups spinach
-1/2 cup frozen raspberries

Hi Angela!
I started experimenting with Green Monsters last summer, and now that the sunny days are back, so are these Glasses of Green Goodness!

The one I had this morning contained:
– A big handlful of spinach
– 1 small frozen banana
– 1/2 cup orange juice
– 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
– 1 TS blueberry ground sprouted flax seed
(in a Coke glass, how ironic is that?)

YUMMY!

I found out about green monsters by reading food blogs, and finally tried one a few weeks ago. Then I found your website, and noticed you say that your hair and nails grow like weeds! I noticed my hair and nails are too but didn’t put it together with the smoothie! Here’s my recipe–I don’t use protein powder. I eat one with lunch of turkey and cheese and veggies, so get my protein there. I just don’t like how the powder ups the calories so much.

makes 16 oz smoothie:
2.5ish cups spinach
1/2 banana
1.5 C strawberries and blackberries
splash milk
handful ice cubes

it’s not green, but it does have a lot of spinach!

 This baby was so thick and creamy! In fact, it was so thick, I ended up eating it with a spoon instead of a straw– and it was so delicious and incredibly filling. I’m actually pretty surprised that it satisfied me like it did. Usually, smoothies do nothing for my hunger level– I need that “chew factor” to feel satisfied, ya know? I guess this one was thick enough that it felt like I was eating something, not just drinking it.

In the mix:

• 1 frozen banana
• 1/4 cup oats
• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
• 1 tbsp spirulina powder
• 2 tbsp shredded coconut
• 1/2 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/2 cup of vanilla soy milk
• Small handful of almonds
• Large handful of fresh spinach
• 4-5 ice cubes

Tina

www.carrotsncake.com