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?
I have literally put off trying a green monster for about 6 months now — I buy the ingredients EVERY WEEK but I chicken out! This post has pushed me over the edge — I will have a green monster today. :) I’ll let you know how it goes!
goodluck!
i love my GMs…i like it with a little cocoa powder and either cherries, strawberries, or peanut butter. just right to kick off the morning!
I made my first green monster this morning, and used coconut milk. It was delicious! Tastes like a pina colada!
Hey Angela,
I’m a fairly new reader – I came across your blog before Christmas. Now that we are in the new year I (like everyone else on the bandwagon) am determined to eat healthier. I was very inspired by your story. I especially love the fact that you don’t diet or deprive yourself, but instead eat good quality food and exercise regularly. I think I’ve had some very bad thinking in the past about how to achieve the ideal weight. So thanks for your example. Ive been making the Green Monsters for myself and my family for about two weeks now. The only thing I do different is that I add blueberries – partly to avoid the green colour and partly because they are also a superfood. Its a delicious mid morning or mid afternoon treat and it also keeps my sweet tooth in check.
Happy New Year and good luck in your endeavors.
Michelle
mmm yes blueberries are delicious in GM’s! Glad you enjoy the blog, thanks for your comments :)
I saw that article on the “vegetable glow” yesterday and thought of you. Awesome!
I love green monsters! My go to mix is 1 cup spinach, 1/2 a banana, 1/2 cup dark chocolate almond milk, 1 cup ice and 1 scoop vanilla protein powder. It’s delicious and no you can’t taste the spinach at all!
I am a green monster ‘purist’. Just frzn banana, almond milk (or OJ) and spinach. I love them
I love how you say 1 frozen banana, preferably peeled. lol! Not going to let your hubby live it down, are you? ;) j/k.
I drink GMs about 6 days out of the week. I make them each morning before work and take them out the door with me. I generally put in flax and chia seeds with one stalk of celery, a leaf of kale, handful of spinach, banana, water and a splash of juice. and blend! When I like to mix things up I switch back to almond milk and maybe add berries or other fruits and powders. I like the Goji and Acai from AG as well as the chocolate powder.
My hubby still makes faces when I drink it, especially when I try to kiss him with green smeared lips. hahaha.
haven’t had the classic in a while. I’ll do that tomorrow morning. Thanks for the GM’s Angela, it has really gotten me focused on a healthy lifestyle.
Hi Angela! I’ve been lurking your blog for a few months now, but this post made me speak up. I’ve have green monsters every morning for quite a few months now, they are delicious and I feel so much better!! Typically I make a classic with blueberries, but if I know it’s going to be a crazy day I throw in protein powder, almond butter and oatmeal too! It’s a great super breakfast for me.
LOVE green smoothies!!! I’ll have to try yours!
I love, love, love green monsters. I’ve been making them for about a year now and can’t imagine life without them. They are great for breakfast if you add dried oats (for staying power) or great as a post-run recovery meal. I’ve been adding hemp protein powder to mine after workouts and it works miracles!
Green Monster = Genius!!!
Thanks Angela!!
Really grateful to you for this drink alone! I’ve gotten more compliments on my nice skin and bright eyes since making these. Thanks again!! Viva Green Monsters :) ‘
I only recently started reading you, so I didn’t know about your Green Monster journey.
I relate.. I was working a hellish job as a chef in a wine bar.. over 60 hours a week. It was brutal and my kitchen was divided half on one floor and half in the basement. It was phsycially and emotionally exhausting and I think they only way I managed to do it was the 2 quarts of green smoothies I drank all day long to keep me going.
I only recently started reading you, so I didn’t know about your Green Monster journey.
I relate.. I was working a hellish job as a chef in a wine bar.. over 60 hours a week. It was brutal and my kitchen was divided half on one floor and half in the basement. It was phsycially and emotionally exhausting and I think they only way I managed to do it was the 2 quarts of green smoothies I drank all day long to keep me going.
I LOVE LOVE Loovvveeee Green Smoothies! And, happy to say, your blog introduced me to them last year! :)
Mmm I can’t wait to try it with the chia seeds I just bought. I’m a little timid to use the chia outside of the GM though. Can you suggest some recipes for a first-time chia user?
They are yummy in muffins (cooked with the batter, or sprinkled on top), homemade granola bars, cookies, overnight oats, traditional oatmeat.
I agree after a workout is such a great time in the cooler months! Looks delicious girl :)
You know I haven’t had a Green Monster in MONTHS. I better get to changing that! I think they are deeelicious and a great way to get in some leafy green that I otherwise can’t stand eating.
I put in 2 weeks at my job…. better start drinking my GM’s again!!!!
Hi Angela! I have always been interested in mean, clean, green recipes :), but I just started making (and devouring) the green monsters last week, thanks to my friend who is also named Angela, who introduced me to your site. I love them! ANd guess what? I got my glow. The compliment came from my husband, who said “you look beautiful! It’s like, you’re glowing!” Wow. I thought. I know someone who would be REALLY happy to hear this! Also, tried the tomato casserole with the ezekiel croutons last night! LOVE. Have also made your Spaghetti with “Neat” sauce, and the pumpkin curry quinoa! SO far, everything has been a tremendous hit! My seven year old twin boys even love the green monster! Huzzah! Thanks for the recipes! I adore your site and the photographs are wonderful too–as someone who loves to appreciate the beauty of beautiful food, i REALLY love looking at them!
–finley (birmingham, AL)
Thank you! :)