The No More Bananas Smoothie

Anything I put in the blender always has a banana in it...until I don't have anymore.

When I made a choccolate milkshake for my granddaughter on Thanksgiving she kept saying, "I taste bananas.  I taste bananas."  She kept on saying it until I finally said, "I put a banana in it."  She walked away and left the milkshake on the table.

Well, come Sunday morning I didn't have any more bananas.  I went to the store to get some more, but they were too green.  Still got them though. They'll be ready shortly. 


So for the No More Bananas Smoothie:

• 1 seedless orange - peeled
• 1 apple - with peel, but of course, core and seed removed
• Handful of baby carrots
• Little bit of water for the bottom
• Ice cubes on top
• No sweetener

1. Blend on low then increase speed and continue to desired consistency
It's amazing how natural food has its own sweetness without adding any kind of sweetener - artificial or natural.

Tasty, pretty, and healthy.

Quick Breakfast Fruit Smoothie

Here's a quick fruit smoothie to make on the run in the morning.

All it takes is:
1 pineapple
1 banana
1 apple
Ice cubes
Water (as needed)

1. Cut up the apple and the pineapple and get rid of the core, seeds, etc.
2. No need to peel apple.  
3. Pull the banana in half.
4. Put all ingredients in the blender with ice cubes on top.  

Special Note for Smoothie Making:  It is strongly suggested to put the softer and lighter ingredients on the bottom with the heavier ingredients on top.  Start blending at a low setting then gradually increase speed to high. Blend until desired consistency.

I usually don't add water or sweetener to my smoothies, but for this particular one I added just a little bit of water so that the blender was able to rotate at ease and not get jammed on the ingredients.

Got rid of seeds and core for pineapple and apple.  Leave skin on apple.

Light on bottom, heavy on top.

Add some water to avoid any jams. Start out slowly then increase speed to high.

Tasted wonderful!  :)

Green Grape Smoothie

Making smoothies is great for those who are interested in eating and drinking less sugar and processed foods.  I try to have a fruit-based smoothie in the morning and a vegetable-based smoothie for lunch, with dinner, or as an early evening snack.  I also try to avoid having any dessert type smoothies or shakes after 7 to keep glucose levels down to a normal level.

I made the Green Grape Smoothie a couple of days ago.  The picture below does not give the vivid color that this smoothie really had.  The beauty of this smoothie is that no sweetener was needed as one would think when using kale and spinach.  The natural sweetness of the fruit made this delicious drink a hit.

The recipe is below.

Enjoy.

This delicious, healthy smoothie features spinach and kale—the cancer-fighting greens that keep you going—as well as sweet grapes, a pear, orange, and banana.

• 1 cup cleaned spinach leaves, firmly packed
• 1 cup cleaned kale, roughly chopped, firmly packed
• 1 cup green seedless grapes
• 1 Bartlett pear – core, stem and seeds removed
• 1 orange – peeled, pith removed, quartered
• 1 banana – peeled
• 1 teaspoon chia seeds
• ½ cup water
• 2 cups ice

Preparation

1. Place all ingredients in blender.
2. Process on low speed for 15 seconds.
3. Increase to medium speed, then high speed.
4. Process until well blended.

Nutritional information

Makes 5 servings
Per serving (1 cup)

Calories: 80
Carbohydrate: 19 g
Sugars: 12 g  
Fiber: 3 g
Saturated fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Protein: 0 g   
Sodium: 15 mg                       

 From:  Lucky Green Recipe from The Wellness Team of Health Hub from Cleveland Clinic.

TND