One of the best ways to start my day right is with this Green Breakfast Smoothie. Packed with more than the daily recommended serving of vegetables and fruit, it gives me the energy to get through a hectic day.

I fell in love with this smoothie many years ago when I went on a vegan, gluten-free and no-booze diet for four months. (Sounds crazy, I know, but my skin never looked better!) When my nutritionist presented this plan, one of my first questions was, what do I eat for breakfast??? She said, “fruit” and I rolled my eyes. Not because I hated fruit but because that meant no eggs and bacon for breakfast. Needless to say, I had a tough time in the beginning. 😉

As I explored different breakfast options, I stumbled upon a green smoothie recipe. The mix of vegetables and fruit were questionable but it tasted delicious and I noticed changes in a couple of weeks. I had more energy and my skin glowed. It was when I started to believe firsthand how food can be medicine.

This green breakfast smoothie is really easy to whip up and modify plus it’s super flexible. There are numerous smoothie combinations for any time of the year!

Here are my smoothie staples and why?

1) Spinach – Compliments all the other flavors and nutrient-dense (vitamin A, K, C plus zinc and selenium, the list goes on)
2) Banana – Puts the “smooth” in smoothie and it’s a good source of potassium and fiber
3) Celery – Brings that “cool” flavor and loaded with antioxidants, water and fiber
4) Lemon – Brightens the smoothie not to mention vitamin C
5) Apple – Adds the sweetness plus fiber
6) Cucumber – Adds a mild sweetness and hydrates

This combo of six is perfectly fine as is and anything you add is a bonus. I often mix it up depending on the season and my mood. For this recipe, I added romaine lettuce and mint. I’ll sometimes add grated ginger or turmeric for a kick. For a tropical twist, I’ll use coconut water and add pineapples. You get the idea. The possibilities are endless.

When life is busy and stressful, it’s easy to gravitate towards comfort food which can lead you (me) down a slippery slope. Starting your day right with this Green Breakfast Smoothie gives you head start. While it wasn’t love at first sight, I swear by this smoothie and crave it. It’s a triple threat – delicious, rich in vitamins and nutrients and cheap. Give it a try and let me know what you like in your green smoothie?!

Two things to note. First, I like my smoothies mildly sweet, so feel free to add one more apple or pear to this recipe if it’s not sweet enough for you. Second, you can also put this in a travel bottle which makes it a great on-the-go or bring-to-work breakfast. It kind of works as my breakfast and coffee in one believe it or not.

Green breakfast smoothie

Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time

Servings 2 glasses Total Cost $2.04 Cost per Serving $1.02

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Ingredients

• 1 banana, sliced ($.019)
• 1 apple, cored, cubed ($0.60)
• 1 celery rib, chopped ($0.15)
• Handful baby spinach ($0.20)
• 1/2 cup English cucumber, chopped ($.055)
• Handful Romaine lettuce, chopped ($0.20)
• 1-2 sprigs mint, leaves only ($0.15)
• 1 small lemon, juice only ($0.00) from the garden
• 1-2 cups water ($0.00)

Instructions

1. Prepare all ingredients.
2. Add about a cup of water to the blender. (You can add a little more later.) Next add everything in the blender starting with the thickest greens and ending with fruit.
3. Blend on high until completely pureed. (If the blender stalls or gets "stuck", stop it and use a spatula to help it along.) If smoothie is too thick add little more water to reach desired consistency. Squeeze the lemon juice and quickly blend.
4. Serve right away. Enjoy! (If the smoothie starts to separate, use a spoon to mix together.)

Instructions with photos

1. Prepare all ingredients.

   
2. Add about a cup of water to the blender. (You can add a little more later.) Next add everything in the blender starting with the thickest greens and ending with fruit.

   
3. Blend on high until completely pureed. (If the blender stalls or gets "stuck", stop it and use a spatula to help it along.) If smoothie is too thick add little more water to reach desired consistency. Squeeze the lemon juice and quickly blend.

   
4. Serve right away. Enjoy! (If the smoothie starts to separate, use a spoon to mix together.)

   

Recipe Notes

* Note regarding pricing:  The lemon used in this recipe is from our garden which is why there is no price listed. The price for the items such as celery takes into account the cost of the amount used for the recipe and not the cost if you had to purchase the entire item. ** All prices in US dollars.