Lately I’ve been trying to find ways to eat more veggies—which I realize may sound a bit funny coming from someone who eats plant-based—but it’s all too easy to get into ruts, especially when things are busy. It’s just so convenient to grab something from a box sometimes!
Pregnancy also makes my food obsessions and aversions much more pronounced, and trickier to navigate on a day-to-day basis. I’ll love something one day and loathe it the next (except cookies…I constantly have to resist the urge to bake cookies). There’s a virtual stack of recipes that I’ve developed this year and totally loved at the time, only to want nothing to do with them the next day. It’s been a bit frustrating as a recipe developer, feeling so hot and cold about my usual favourite foods.
In an effort to up my veggie intake, I made a pledge to myself on my birthday this past Monday to consciously set aside some time each day for veggie prep. That morning, feeling super inspired, I threw all the healthy ingredients I had into the blender. Usually when I toss all kinds of random things in, it comes out tasting like utter garbage, but I think birthday magic was on my side because this smoothie blew me away. Afterward, I wrote down my best guess of the “recipe”, tested it in the afternoon, and was shocked to discover I’d pretty much nailed the smoothie’s proportions. The best part is that this recipe makes a huge batch—enough for a big serving in the morning with breakfast (I love pairing it with avocado toast), and another as a snack in the afternoon. It also keeps well until the next day (which I think is due to not having any banana in it!), so you can save the other half for the next morning, too. I love knowing that I’m getting in so many extra veggies throughout the day. You can’t go wrong with 5 cups of green smoothie ready in about 10 minutes.
I’m in love with this smoothie’s unique flavour combination (think: refreshing, tangy, and lightly sweet), not to mention how amazing—almost euphoric—I feel when I drink it. I read up on the ingredients a bit, and I’m not surprised this makes me feel so darn good:
Fresh turmeric: Anti-inflammatory and fights free radical damage to the brain. It contains curcumin, which is a powerful antioxidant. Also has pain-relieving properties.
Cilantro: Detoxifying and helps remove heavy metals from the body. Also antibacterial, immune-enhancing, and aids digestion.
Parsley: Diuretic aid rich in antioxidants. Contains vitamin K, which helps support healthy bones.
Red Leaf Lettuce: Source of folate and soluble fibre. The deep pigment in red lettuce leaves means that it contains an extra boost of antioxidants. The watery nature of lettuce helps flush toxins from the body. Also thought to have a calming or sedative effect on the body.
Lemon: Antibacterial properties. High vitamin C content. Lemon boosts digestion and is alkalizing and detoxifying.
Avocado: Contains healthy monounsaturated oil. The flesh and oil are anti-inflammatory. Also thought to help keep joints supple and may boost fertility.
Mango: High in vitamin C and beta-carotene, which can help boost the immune system. Contains prebiotic dietary fibre, which helps feed good bacteria in the gut.
Source: Healing Foods: Eat your way to a healthier life (DK Books, 2013)
Impressive, to say the least! I hope you all enjoy it as much as we do.
(And thanks to my mom for these gorgeous b-day flowers!)
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All Day Glow Green Smoothie
Yield
5 cups (1250 mL)
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
This refreshing and tangy smoothie happened by total accident. I created it on my birthday as I was looking to feel my absolute best, and I had resolved to eat more veggies in the year ahead. So I threw in all of the healthy ingredients I had lurking in the fridge, and I was absolutely astounded by how delicious it turned out. I'm not sure if I've ever created such a powerhouse smoothie before! This one is jam-packed with nutritious ingredients like fresh turmeric, cilantro, parsley, lemon, avocado, green apple, lettuce, coconut water, and more. Keep in mind this is a large batch that just fits in a 64-ounce high-speed blender, so if your blender is smaller you might want to make a half batch. I love to have a glass first thing in the morning, and another in the afternoon. Since there's no banana in it, it also keeps well until the next day when stored in an airtight container. Be prepared to feel that "all-day" glow!!
Ingredients
- 1 cup (250 mL) coconut water
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) mango juice (I love Happy Planet Organic Mango juice)
- 2 large (400 g total) Granny Smith apples, cored and roughly chopped
- 2 cups (70 g) packed red leaf lettuce or romaine
- 2/3 cup (18 g) loosely packed fresh parsley leaves
- 1/3 cup (15 g) packed fresh cilantro leaves*
- 1/2 cup (70 g) frozen mango chunks
- 1/4 cup (50 g) packed avocado
- 4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, or to taste
- 2 small pinky-sized pieces (12 g total) peeled fresh turmeric**
- 5 to 6 large ice cubes, or as needed
Directions
- Add the coconut water and mango juice into a (64-ounce) high-speed blender. (If your blender is on the small side, you may want to make a half-batch.)
- Now add the rest of the ingredients. Blend on high until super smooth. If you have a Vitamix, use the tamper stick to get things moving. Taste and adjust sweetness if desired. If it's too tart, feel free to add a bit of liquid sweetener.
- Serve and enjoy! Place any leftovers into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours. I love to enjoy half in the morning, and the other half in the afternoon.
Tip:
- * The cilantro flavour in this smoothie is quite pronounced. If you aren't a cilantro fan, feel free to swap it with more romaine or fresh mint (start with 1/4 cup of mint).
- ** Fresh turmeric root is becoming more and more common in grocery stores these days; keep your eyes peeled for it in the produce section. It can also be found on Amazon, and in select health food stores and Indian and Asian grocery stores. Look for firm turmeric that is unblemished.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
This smoothie looks amazing! Thanks so much for sharing.
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Thanks!
Just found your blog and excited about this recipe and others. Your pictures make me feel like the bottles are on my table ready to pour and drink. I live in Hawaii and shopping for anything here can be difficult. Please let me know what your bottles are called, where I can order them and do they com with covers since none are pictured. Mahalo and Happy Belared Birthday!
Hey Jackie, They are actually from a juicery in Toronto called Greenhouse Juice Co. I don’t think they will ship all the way to you unfortunately, heh. Hopefully you can source something nearby!
This looks great! Could fresh/frozen mango chunks be used instead of mango juice? How much chopped mango would you suggest?
Hey Rebekah, Good question! I’m sorry I haven’t tried anything else out yet, but if I do I will certainly update the recipe with a note! In the meantime if you try anything out please let us know. :)
Loved this! I usually love my smoothies with frozen banana, but this smoothie was delicious without it. The granny smith apple and the mango together were really stellar. The addition of the avocado made it extremely creamy. This is my new go to get those extra greens in.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Emily! Thanks for the lovely comment.
“I have to resist the urge to bake cookies on a daily basis.” That’s pretty much me every day hah. This smoothie looks fantastic! I too occasionally throw whatever I have on hand into my juicer or blender (but less because I’m inspired, and more because the veggies/fruits are past their prime and I want to use them before they go bad), and it definitely doesn’t come out as well as I had hoped. I drink it, but I sometimes have to chug it down. This looks so refreshing-I can’t wait to try it!
Happy belated birthday!!!
I definitely got lucky with this recipe, Anna Lee! Thanks for the birthday wishes, and I hope you enjoy the smoothie if you give it a try. :)
This looks lovely! I just got back from a holiday where the vegan eating possibilities are quite meager (or even healthy eating possibilities), and this looks like just what I need after surviving on a vegan but rather unvaried diet. One question, I am not very fond of lettuce in my smoothies (although this one has got so many ingredients I might not even taste it?), and I was wondering if I could swap the lettuce for cucumber? As I’m trying to picture it, it should be fine, but maybe you’ve got some experience with this? Thanks for this lovely, veggie-laden recipe, and I hope you’re doing well!
Hey Evelyn, The lettuce flavour is noticeable, but I wouldn’t say overly so. I think the parsley and cilantro are much more pronounced! That said, I think the cucumber would add much more water to this smoothie, so you might only need half the amount, or even less. Maybe add it slowly? Let us know how it goes if you try it!
Thank you for brainstorming with me about this! In the end I ribboned my leftover cucumber and put it on your miso power bowl (which was delicious, and that dressing ooohhh…). And in the backyard my spinach plant is getting out of control, so I decapitated it and put the leaves in my smoothie. There’s now a big batch waiting for me tomorrow morning and it looked VERY green but it smells like heaven! Okay and maybe I repeatedly dipped my fingers in it to lick them off because it was that good…
Hi Angela. is using ground turmeric an option? I only have that and none of the stores around me have fresh turmeric… Thanks :)
Hi Magda, I haven’t tried it yet, but I would start by using 1/4 teaspoon of ground turmeric. Taste it, and add another 1/4 teaspoon, if you like! I find the ground stuff is pretty potent tasting compared to using fresh, so I use a lighter hand for sure. I hope you enjoy it!
Hi Angela, I had heard about Oh She Glows from so many different people that I had to google and check out your blog. What an amazing resource, and as a photographer myself (underwater stuff mostly), I really appreciate the beautiful photos that you take and feature with your recipes. I tried out your green smoothie this morning and LOVED it! Unusual ingredients but oh so delicious and easy to make. I look forward to trying more of your healthy recipes!
This recipe IS divine! I have made it several times and am thriving on it. Just wanted to share that tumeric needs oil to enhance absorption, so don’t omit the avocado!!
Lots of good ones here:
http://www.rebootwithjoe.com/category/blog/recipes/smoothies/
LOVE this smoothie! I make a couple substitutions, such as ginger instead of turmeric (since that’s what I usually have on hand) and orange juice for the mango juice, since I also usually have OJ on hand. It’s a filling smoothie that does make you feel good especially on those sluggish mornings. I’ve been using this smoothie, the Happy Digestion (probably my favorite flavor), and the Green Warrior Protein Smoothie on rotation lately, and I can tell the difference in my health, energy levels and inflammation and digestion within my body! Making small changes like starting your morning with a green smoothie really do make a difference over time. Thank you for your awesome recipes and the easy to use app! I love pulling up my favorite smoothies on there in the morning :)
Very healthy smoothie :) Packed with all so many ingredients. Keep sharing more recipes like this Angela
Yum! I just made your recipe with only a few substitutions (I wanted to use what I had on hand)
Subbed:
Apple juice for mango juice
Pink apples for granny smith apples
Ground turmeric for fresh turmeric
It came out great! I especially loved the cilantro flavor. I’m going to the store tomorrow to buy more ingredients so I can keep making this :) Thanks for another great recipe!
Thanks for sharing those substitutions, Katie! It’s always great to hear how my readers get creative with recipes. :)
I have to admit, the first time I tried this I wasn’t sure I’d be able to finish the batch. But by the end of the day I was thinking it wasn’t so bad (knowing how incredibly healthy it was) and now I’m on my 3rd time making it and thinking how good it is. Just wanted to let others know to try sticking it out for a bit if it’s not love at first sip :).
Will make one today. Thanks for the recipe.
This green smoothie looks super fantastic and I love all the ingredients in it including the coconut water and granny smith apples! I’m definitely going to make this and give it a try :) I think I might also add some spinach as I usually add spinach to my smoothies (although, I like all green leafy vegetables). I agree it can sometimes be super tuff keeping up on the daily fruit and veggie intake. Smoothies are a good easy/fast way to get in veggies but also get more of them in too. :)
I hope you enjoy it if/when you give it a try, Ana!
Hi Angela,
I am drinking this smoothie right now, for the first time. I love it. Because I am allergic to banana so many smoothies are off-limits for me, or else I have to figure out a substitute. This one is a perfect way for me to get all sorts of healthy goodness without taking the time to come up with a workaround for the banana. I was at an amusement park on Saturday and on another day trip yesterday, and I pretty much fell off the nutrition wagon. Today this smoothie is my detox, for both breakfast and lunch. Thank you for all of your hard work and your wonderful recipes. You and your efforts are greatly appreciated.
I’m glad this recipe’s hitting the spot for you, Lauren!! Thanks so much for the kind and heartfelt comment. :)
I LOVE THIS SMOOTHIE. Sometimes I get tired of the “typical green smoothie” taste that can be strangely sweet (usually because of a banana or some almond milk or spinach in the mix)… but this! With the mango and romaine and the parsely-cilantro combo. Wow, unique. This is sweet in a cleaner way, yet slightly spicy, and yet surprisingly green-y.
Gratitude! :)
Also– to make life easier in the mornings, I’ve started chopping all my greens the night before and placing them in a bowl in the freezer to use the next morning. This has been helpful on more than one level.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the smoothie recipe, Samantha! Great idea about chopping the greens the night before. Sounds like an amazing time-saver!
Hey Angela,
I don’t digest avocados well (sad, I know). Have any substitutes to recommend? I like the idea of the greens and veggies and this sounds awesome.
I try and have a green smoothie each day, especially at the moment in Winter to help fight off colds. This one sounds delicious! I love following your recipes!
I hope you love this recipe, too, if you give it a try, Shanai!