
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.



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?
You finally convinced me to try a green monster! After feeling sluggish and bloated after a weekend full of beer, pizza, and tempura fried sushi with spicy mayo I needed to help my body recover. After reading your post and all of the comments I decided to give it a whirl (har har). I was more than a little apprehensive when my finished product looked like Nickelodeon slime, but it tastes wonderful! I kept it simple: spinach, light soy milk, chia seeds and a frozen banana. Delicious! And I was even able to skip my morning cup(s) of coffee. I can see a new routine starting. Thank you so much!
this was my first try making a green smoothie and it turned out PERFECT! (I’m sipping it right now) I used my homemade hazelnut milk and it gave it a creamy nutty flavor.
My husband looked at me like I was crazy trying it and said that it sounds like a weird combination. After seeing how much I enjoyed it he wanted to have some and was quite surprised that he liked it too! =) He couldn’t taste the spinach at all.
Thanks for sharing this!
Hi Angela!
I love this version of the green monster. Do you know how many calories is in this one? And is the almond butter a good source of protein? Thank you!
This looks sooooo yummy!
Any suggestions for replacing the banana? My daughter is allergic to them.
Made this for the first time, delicious!!!
I made and drank my first Green Monster this morning. I’m echoing so many others out there, but WOW. I had no idea that blending such simple things (nut butter, banana, almond milk) with so much spinach would actually taste that good! I’m absolutely amazed, and sold. Sold sold sold.
I am approaching 40 and I want to change. I eat too much meat, too much dairy. Never any vegetables. It’s time I grew up and gave my body something healthy- and this is it!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Liza!
Hi! Stumbled apon your blog and greenmonstermovement.com today! Aaaand went to the store right after work! I got lucky with a .99 cent bag full of ripe organic bananas and organic spinach was on sale! I came home with the thought that these smoothies would be just for me because my boyfriend would be repulsed by the spinach addition! What another wonderful surprise I got, he was actually willing to try it with no complaints at all! Except I’m not allowed to put coconut milk in his! Lol. He also thought it had monster energy drink in it…men. Anyway, I cannot wait to try these in the morning! Hoping I get the same great results and effects as everyone else, and maybe it can help kickstart me to eat better!
Thanks!
When you make your smoothies you usually get about 2-3 cups of it. Do you drink it all or you leave it for later ? Or Eric drinks it ? :)
I’m curious because when I make my smoothies it’s often too much and I end up drinking all of it which is way too much for my stomach…. I don’t want to leave it for later becase they turn brown (from the banana) and dont look so delicious anymore….
Yup I drink it all :)
Hi Angela,
I absolutely love this green monster smoothie, and your blog. I actually used the smoothie for my blog, I just made some minor changes. Of course, I added a link back to the original. I find this smoothie to be very refreshing compared to drinking coffee in the morning. Well, I wish you luck with your upcoming cookbook. I am looking to seeing it, and all the new recipes you have come up with.
Thank you Adrienne!
I have not tried this yet. But I am going to this week. maybe tomorrow..Is there a fav to break me in? you should have a vote! Best green monster :)
one last question do you need a fancy blender to make these good?
Thank you for this recipe!! My husband and I just committed to a vegan diet for 2013 and your green machines have saved my mornings!!! Thank you!!
What are your favorite pro powders?
What is your opinion of garden of life raw pro?
And do u get any gi issues from combining protein powder, fats, and fruit?
Thanks!
Hi Angela and Everyone,
My name is Tami, I live in Houston, Texas and I am thrilled to announce that I just made (and devoured every last drop) of my 1st Green Monster! Like many of us, I don’t have much time between work etc., to make healthful eating a reality everyday so I am excited to incorporate the GM & Angela’s other recipes into my diet.
I used a few ingredients I’m familiar with:
Spinach
Banana
Ice
And a few that are brand new to me…
English Cucumber (Delish, so light and crispy)
Almond Milk (Carrageenan free thanks to Angela’s post on this harmful ingredient)
Almond Butter (Yum!! Who know this stuff existed? It’s amazing!)
Chai Seeds (Also yum)
Kefir (Again, also yum)
I was really impressed at how tasty it was, and now I have a very happy tummy.
Thank you Angela!
Hey Tami, Im so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing
I realize I’m late to the game, but I was flipping through your blog and was so inspired by your Green Monster post! Thank you for sharing your experiences. I’ve been blending all sorts of green smoothies since reading your blog — it’s my treat that I look forward to each day. Thank you Angela!
I have been hearing that you shouldn’t eat raw maca aka maca flour. Instead it should be cooked or gelatinized. Your thoughts?
Love the green monster btw!
Ive never heard of that before, but I will have to look into it more!
I just adore your blog and found the Monster Green Smoothie. I make one every day using spinach and my favorite protein powder, Plant Fusion. I just found Cookies and Cream but the Chocolate is lovely. I use the almond milk and frozen fruit or banana and tons of ice cubes to make it really thick and creamy. My trick is to pour into a To-Go container and then put that container into a wine cooler thingie someone gave me that i never used. My cup fits into it and while i am driving to work, my smoothie gets even smoothier and then I need to use a spoon to scoop, eat and drink it. My co-workers all ask me – WHat are you eating? Does it taste good? I tell them, you better keep your hands to yourself, that is how good it is.
Hi Mary! Thanks for your feedback…so glad you are enjoying it!! I share your enthusiasm :)
OMG This is THE BEST recipe EVER!!! I am sipping on one right now! I am SOOO glad I found your website and have been raving about it to everyone I know, haha!! Can’t wait to try all of your recipes!!
Have a great day!! :)
Hi Jody, So glad you like the smoothie! Thanks for trying it out.
I am relatively new to your blog – discovered it recently when I was looking around for some new vegan recipes. I got hooked immediately! I have tried several of your recipes, and they were all delicious and manageable to make! I love how your personality shines through in your posts, and I love how beautiful the site looks. The photography is amazing! I had to comment today because I just made my first Green Monster. I have to admit, even though I love veggies, I have never found green drinks particularly appealing. But I decided to try this morning, and I am so glad I did – YUMMM!!!! Thank you!!!!
Hi Kathy, Thanks for your lovely comment! So glad you tried it out :)
Is it wrong to have multiple Green Monsters in a day??