Shamrock Smoothie (Mint Chocolate Chip Shake Alternative!)

Missing Mint Chocolate Chip Shakes?
Try this SUGAR-FREE, DAIRY-FREE jar of decadence

SERVES 2

2-3 frozen bananas, broken in half or chopped
1 cup ice cubes
1 cup nondairy milk (unsweetened cashew or soy are the creamiest)
2 big handfuls of spinach
1/4 t peppermint extract
2 pitted Medjool Dates
1 heaping T of cacao nibs (or vegan chocolate chips, which would be make not sugar-free)

Blend everything (except the cacao nibs) in a high-speed blender, starting on low and increasing speed. This should make a thick shake. If you need a little more non-dairy milk, add it after blending for a bit to see if you need it. Add cacao nibs at the end; pulse them in.

Mrs. Plant's Cacao-Berry Green Smoothie Bowl

1-1.5 cups cold water
3 big handfuls of organic greens (mixture of spinach, red or green organic kale)
1 cup frozen organic blueberries
1 frozen banana, chopped or cut in half
1 T ground flaxseeds
1 T cacao/cocoa powder
3/4 t amla powder (optional) - Watch Dr. Greger's videos about why to include this!
1 small pitted date (optional, but recommended)

TOPPINGS:
1/3-1/2 cup fresh or frozen organic mixed berries
4 walnut halves, chopped (optional)
1 T raw buckwheat groats (optional)


Blend the water, greens, blueberries, cacoa/cocoa powder, and flaxseeds (plus date and amla powder) until well combined, smooth but still thick. Pour into a bowl and top with frozen berries, chopped walnuts, and buckwheat groats.

Here is a video on how I make the smoothie bowl. In this video, I didn't add the cacao powder or the date. Please LIKE the video and SUBSCRIBE to my channel! 😃

Coffee(less) Frappuccino

When I wasn't eating as healthy, I loved to get a Coffee Frappuccino at Starbucks from time to time. I FINALLY came up with a winner homemade version! It's thick and creamy and cold, just like the Starbucks version, but WAY better for you.

This recipe is made with TEECINO. It's a delicious acid-free, no caffeine coffee-like beverage. I used the Dandelion Caramel Nut in this drink. You could also use the Vanilla Nut or Hazelnut flavors.

1 bag of Teecino, steeped in 1/2 cup of boiling water then cooled in the freezer for about 5 minutes
1/2 cup cashew milk
1-2 pitted Medjool dates
1 T. chia seeds
1 1/2 cup ice cubes

Add the cooled Teecino, cashew milk, dates and chia seeds to the blender and blend for at least 1 full minute (until everything is pulverized). Then, add the ice cubes and blend until thick and frozen.


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Green Smoothie Bowl

I don't do smoothies often anymore because I believe eating foods in their whole form is best. But, once in a while, I love a smoothie bowl. The key: LOTS of greens!

Here is what is in this fabulous bowl...
Lots of greens (spinach and kale), Fuji apple (with skin), banana (without skin, LOL), frozen mango, frozen pineapple--decorated with ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, buckinis, and a couple of token dried cranberries.

Read more about GREEN SMOOTHIES.

Green Smoothies Lesson

These days, green smoothies are all the rage. People on all kinds of diets are embracing the green smoothie as "king." Though green smoothies can be a helpful meal replacement or addition to a meal, this post is meant to educate you on the best way to make a smoothie benefit you.

First off, green smoothies should be comprised of high-nutrient, low-calorie plant foods. That means fruits and veggies!

Ingredients that can be added for additional value are flax seeds OR chia seeds (total of 1 T), cinnamon, walnuts (no more than 4 halves), a small amount of old-fashioned oats (1/4 cup), and even legumes/beans (which assist in preventing blood sugar spikes).

Ingredients that degrade green smoothies in their value are milk (even plant-based milks!), yogurt (even plant-based yogurts!), fruit juices, and sugar or other sweeteners. It is unnecessary and counterproductive to add milk, yogurt, sweeteners, or fruit juices to a green smoothie because they just add calories and fat you simply don't need. If you really need your smoothie a bit sweeter, add a Medjool date or two.

The base of a green smoothie should ALWAYS be water, some of which can be ice (to chill it up!). Fruit juice is not a good choice because it is a concentrated form of fruit, which is already processed down--making it higher in sugar, and many times, it is lacking most of its original fiber. It is best to use water as your base and whole fruits and veggies to create a fiber-rich smoothie.

So, what is my green smoothie recipes of choice? Though I don't count calories, I do make sure that the balance of my ingredients is not causing me to gain weight. That means, lots of greens, water, and mostly low-glycemic fruits -- so my blood sugar doesn't spike. Also, I drink mine slowly through a straw, so I don't ruin my teeth! You can exchange fruits that you like, but just remember...this is a GREEN smoothie, so the focus is getting plenty of GREEN in!

3 large handfuls (combination) of fresh, raw spinach and kale
1/2 Fuji apple
1 medium seedless orange, peeled or 1 cup frozen berries
1 medium frozen banana (I don't use really ripe bananas because the glycemic index is too high)
1 T. flaxseeds or chia seeds
1 or 2 Medjool dates to sweeten more, if desired
1 1/2 cups of water/ice combo

If your smoothie isn't sweet enough for you, try drinking it anyway and get used to it. If you literally can't stand it without sweetener, please use no more than 1/4 t. of stevia powder or a small amount of agave or maple syrup. Fruit is generally sweet enough to make your smoothie enjoyable.

NOTE: Owning a high-speed blender like a Vitamix or a BlendTec will make your green smoothies so much smoother and more enjoyable. Consider saving up for one! Check out my gadgets page for information on purchasing a less-expensive, reconditioned Vitamix!

"Nana"rade

When I get back from a longer walk, I like to refill my energy with Bananorade! It's a simple mix of deliciousness!

3 ripe organic bananas (with brown spots on them)
2 dashes of nutmeg
1/2 t. cinnamon
1 cup ice

Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender and drink!

Healing Green Juice

I don't own a juicer because frankly, I wouldn't use it very often. However from time to time, I have the ingredients for my favorite healing green juice in the house. so I make it using my blender and a nut milk bag. It's actually pretty easy, and the cleanup is quick!

Also, I have a nifty cup I got from Amazon.com that I use when I want to take juice or smoothies on the go.


1 bunch of organic celery, chopped into rough chunks
2 organic Granny Smith apples (or Fuji apples, if you want your juice even sweeter), chopped into rough chunks
1 lemon, cut into quarters, remove seeds
1 inch of fresh ginger
2 large handfuls of organic spinach
1 large organic cucumber, chopped into rough chunks
5 ice cubes

Blend ingredients in your high-speed blender, using the tamper to push the mixture down into the blades, or use a spatula periodically to get the ingredients moving. Blend until smooth. WASH YOUR HANDS WELL. Then, place your nut milk bag over a large bowl. Pour mixture into the nut milk back and squeeze juice out with your hands. Makes approximately 2 large glasses of healing green juice.

Classic Green Smoothies

These are our two favorite "green" smoothies...

Shamrock Smoothie
1½ cups nondairy milk of choice
1 medium, ripe banana, peeled and frozen overnight
2 big handfuls fresh spinach leaves
¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
2 pitted dates (or 1 tablespoon sweetener of choice)
1 heaping tablespoon cacao nibs or vegan chocolate chips (optional)

Combine the milk, banana, greens powder or spinach, dates, and peppermint extract in a high-­speed blender and blend until smooth.
Add the cacao nibs and blend at medium-high speed for 5 to 10 seconds, until the nibs are broken down but still visible in the shake.
Serve immediately.

Yield:  1 large serving or 2 small servings

Classic Green Smoothie
(put ingredients in this order, from the bottom up)

6 oz. water
2 to 3 large handfuls of spinach or kale (or a combination of both!)
6-8 chunks of fresh (or frozen) pineapple, mango or peach
1 large ripe banana (or 1 1/2 small)
1/2-1 cup ice cubes (these should be at the top!)

Blend until everything is pulverized into a smooth liquid.

NOTE: From time to time, we will add half of a granny smith apple.

Yield:  1 large serving or 2 small servings

Blended Watermelon-Lime Juice

Blended Watermelon-Lime Juice
1/2 ripe mini watermelon, remove rind and cut into large chunks
1 lime, juiced

Add watermelon to blended and blend well. Pour juice through fine strainer into wide-mouthed bowl or container. Discard flesh/seeds. Mix lime juice into the watermelon juice and serve chilled.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie
2 frozen bananas, frozen in circular slices
1 tbsp natural peanut butter (no salt, sugar, or oil added)
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
¼ cup non-dairy milk

Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth, adding more non-dairy milk if needed. I like mine thick!

Berry Bliss Smoothie

Berry Bliss Smoothie
1 cup low-fat soy milk (or other non-dairy plant milk)
1 cup frozen cherries
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 small banana
2 ice cubes
1 T. chia seeds

Blend until very smooth!