As a college student, eating healthy might be one of the last things on your mind. Ramen noodles and microwaveable dinners might be cheaper, eating out requires less prep time, and so on and so forth, but eventually the Costco-sized supply of instant noodles is going to run out and your health will similarly dwindle. Sure, running a few miles on the treadmill every week is crucial but what goes into the body as fuel is just as important if not more so. Green smoothies are wonderful because they are filling and take very little time to make — no heat is required — plus liquefying fruits and vegetables makes it easier to get your daily recommended serving. Making your own concoctions also allows you to ensure that the ingredients are fresh and organic if desired. Below are five of my favorite green smoothie recepies for beginners.
*Bonus: add flax or chia seeds for an extra boost in Omega-3s, which support memory and lowers blood pressure.
1. Blueberry Avocado Smoothie
1 cup water
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 banana
1 ripe avocado, pitted and sliced
2 heaping cups spinach
1 tbsp agave (or Grade A maple syrup)
1 cup ice
- Place everything in a blender and blend until creamy and smooth.
2. Kale Banana Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 banana
2 cups chopped kale
1/2 cup soy milk
1 teaspoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon flax seeds
Directions:
- Place the banana, kale, soy milk, flax seeds, and maple syrup into a blender. Cover, and puree until smooth. Serve over ice.
3. Spinach Smoothie with Avocado and Apple
- 1 1/2 cups apple juice
- 2 cups stemmed and chopped spinach or kale
- 1 apple—unpeeled, cored, and chopped
- 1/2 avocado, chopped
Combine the apple juice, spinach, apple, and avocado in a blender and puree until smooth, about 1 minute, adding water to reach the desired consistency.
4. Kale Pineapple Banana
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 2 cups stemmed and chopped kale or spinach
- 1 1/2 cups chopped pineapple (about 1/4 medium pineapple)
- 1 ripe banana, chopped
- Combine the coconut milk, ½ cup water, the kale, pineapple, and banana in a blender and puree until smooth, about 1 minute, adding more water to reach the desired consistency.
5. Island Blast