It is hard to believe that the 2-year anniversary of the Green Monster is coming up on January 20th!
In January 2009, I felt a huge void in my life. I was unhappy with my career and I was often up late at night until 3 or 4 in the morning worrying about work. I dragged all day long and I was turning into someone I didn’t recognize anymore. I started blending green vegetables in my blender after reading about Kris Carr’s green juices. While I didn’t have a juicer, I did have a blender, and I was excited to blend my green ‘juice’ any way that I could.
In my Story of the Green Monster post, I explained:
Determined to feel alive once again, I crammed the healthiest foods into my blender and I blended my little heart out. Of course, the first few attempts looked horrific and they tasted no better. But, I didn’t care. I drank every last drop of those green monsters before I made the long commute to work each morning. The green monster not only gave me energy, but it represented something much deeper than that- inner peace and self-love. I knew that the stress I had put myself through over the past few years was nothing short of damaging to every cell in my body. I created the Green Monsters as a way to take time out for my health. Even if I knew it was going to be a hellish day, drinking my Green Monster in the morning provided me with a sense of calm in my life.
This was one of my first concoctions:
No almond milk, just kale, an English cucumber, and baby carrots. lol. It was scary to say the least!
Thankfully, my Green Monsters have improved greatly since those initial days.
On January 26, 2009, I gave my two weeks notice at my job. It was a very, very bad week for me and I was at an all-time low in my life. I drank those green monsters every single morning despite everything going on. I imagined that I was Popeye with superhuman strength. And boy did I need it.
I still receive a lot of emails and tweets from people who have just tried their first green monster. Many people have challenged themselves to drink Green Monsters in 2011 and I’m always excited to hear about other’s experiences! The most frequent message I receive is, ‘I thought they looked so gross, but they actually taste so delicious! Now I am hooked.’
I am also asked a lot what my classic go-to recipe is so I thought it would be fun to do a post on my most frequently enjoyed Green Monster recipe.
This is a recipe that I keep coming back to again and again and it never fails me.
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Classic Green Monster Smoothie
Yield
2 cups (500 mL)
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
To this day, Green Monsters are one of my favourite drinks for glowing skin and increased energy. If you are newbie, feel free to start off with baby spinach since its taste is undetectable, but I encourage you to experiment with kale, romaine lettuce, or other leafy greens as well. Just be sure to use a sturdy high-speed blender that can handle the task of blending thick greens. If your blender is on the weaker side, stick with spinach as it blends more easily.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (250 mL) almond milk or other non-dairy milk
- 1 cup destemmed kale leaves or baby spinach
- 1 large ripe frozen banana, chopped into chunks
- 1 tablespoon (15 mL) almond butter or peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flaxseed
- Pinch of ground cinnamon
- 1 scoop of your favourite protein powder (optional)
- 2 to 3 ice cubes
Directions
- Add all ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
When I am feeling a little frisky, I love to add in some powders too! I keep Navitas Maca powder, Vega Shake & Go, and Amazing Grass Wheat Grass on hand whenever the budget allows.
Yesterday I added into the classic mix: 1 tsp Maca, 1 tbsp Vanilla Almond Shake & Go, and 1/2 scoop wheatgrass powder. It was my first time trying Vega Vanilla Almond and I thought it was pretty good, but I greatly prefer the Choc-O-lot flavour. I love making a Chocolate-Mint GM using Vega’s Choc-O-Lot and some fresh mint leaves.
Add your liquid in first. This just helps the blender do its job better.
Next add in your powders, chia seeds or ground flax, and your nut butter:
Now add the greens. I use two handfuls of whatever green I have on hand. I most often use spinach, but I also like to use red or green kale now that my Vita-Mix can handle it.
Finally, add the banana. The weight helps pack all the ingredients down!
Blend away until smooth!
I added in 2 large ice cubes and blended some more.
Pour into a glass and enjoy!
I love my Glass Dharma straw.
Mmm, this one is absolutely delicious. Creamy, sweet, smooth, and loaded with nutrients!
I’m always asked how I can drink smoothies during the cold winter months and my answer is easy:
I often drink Green Monsters following my workout when I am often craving something liquid and cold.
I’m also always asked if you can taste the spinach and the answer is no. =) Kale, on the other hand…YES (unless you make it super sweet to overpower the bitter quality of the kale).
Good to the last drop!
Other Mentionables:
1) Need more encouragement to eat your veggies? Check out this article: ‘Want a Golden Glow? Don’t Bother with a Suntan- Eat Your Greens Instead.’
2) My Winter 2011 training plan is now up on my Races page. I will be talking about this in more detail soon!
3) Check out these 30 new Green Monster reader recipes on GMM.
Are you a smoothie or ‘Green Monster’ fan? What’s your favourite go-to recipe?
Yum. I just recently started drinking Green Monsters and got my boyfriends hooked on them as well! I usually make a recipe pretty similar to the classic, but without nut butter. I’ll try adding that next time. Our blender just broke so I am anxiously waiting on our new one to arrive – I have some spinach to eat! I love being able to pack so much good healthy food into one little smoothie.
I’m so glad I discovered the GM via OSG. Its quickly become one of my favorite go-tos for a healthy snack!
I have been having a classic GM almost every day for lunch lately :) It is such a perfect meal and it makes my skin glow :)
LOVE this!
2 years ago I started experimenting with putting greens in my protein shakes when I was a wanna be bodybuilder.
I enjoy mine so much more now. I call mine swamp shakes because they have a brown color to them but its amazing how much energy you draw from them.
You can totally tell a difference in your vital force when you have these nutrients regularly!! :)
I am glad to see you use baby spinach most often, too. I have tried kale in my green monsters but can’t quite get past the taste and smell, so I stick to spinach most of the time!
I remember trying one of these for the first time over a year ago. My roommate was totally grossed out, and I admit I was a little scared too, but the banana and almond milk really did make it sweet enough :) I need to get back to making these, thanks for the reminder!
You’ve changed a lot of lives with these Angela!! I had a smoothie just this morning actually. A GM without the green – no spinach to be had sadly!
i have a green monster almost every day! i pack a good 3 cups of spinach into that thing ! my favorite is with pumpkin and sun warrior, i almost feel super human after i’m finished with it ;) when i make it for others they honestly can’t believe how good it is and want more!
i have a green monster almost every day! i pack a good 3 cups of spinach into that thing ! my favorite is with pumpkin and sun warrior, i almost feel super human after i’m finished with it ;) when i make it for others they honestly can’t believe how food it is and want more!
I am curious to know the exact recipe for your “fave” with pumpkin. I am a huge pumpkin fan and completely intrigued!
its nice to see and hear about all your positive changes, and sharing them with you readers!
I had no idea that the Green Monster and I shared a BIRTHDAY!!! There’s no one I’d rather share it with more, ha! I love ’em– classic style!
Green Monsters have changed my life. Thank you Angela. My kiddos drink them every morning (Miracles DO happen lol) as well. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Had one this morning with a splash of egg nog and nutmeg. YUM!
My “go-to” GM recipe is a banana, several (maybe four?) organic strawberries, a cup or so of orange juice, a little almond milk, and a big handful of spinach. I actually presented it (with samples!) for a “carte blanche” get-to-know-you presentation in one of my classes last semester, and everyone that tried it was surprised by how non-gross it was! :]
so pretty! mine never look as beautiful but I guess you can’t judge a book by its cover (or a drink by its hue) haha
I LOVE GMs!! I too thought I would hate them, but they are SO good! Especially love adding a little chocolate powder…Chocolaty Green Monsters are the BOMB! :D
I love green monsters! I was turned on to them after reading the book, “Green for Life,” and have been enjoying them regularly ever since! :D
My favorite recipe: 1 cup almond milk, 1 banana, juice of 1/2 lemon, 2-3 handfuls fresh spinach, 1 green pear, cored, and a generous shake of cinnamon. So good!
I also love making Kristen’s “Cherry Chocolate Bomb” with a few handfuls of spinach– it’s the perfect sweet treat!
I need to bring back Green Monsters into my life :) I just don’t know if I could choke down a liquid breakfast during the winter…we shall see!
Love my green smoothie every morning. Once you go there, you never go back.
I make a smoothie similar to this and similar to Dr. Fuhrman’s Eat Your Greens Fruit Smoothie. It has 5 oz. of spinach for a blender-full. The first time I tried it, I was scared. But, like you said, you can’t taste the spinach. Swiss chard, on the other hand, you can definitely taste! I started drinking a green smoothie every morning instead of my usual cup of coffee and I felt so much more energized. :-D