Shamrock Shake Substitute: Healthy Mint Smoothie Recipe

1/2 Avocado
handful spinach (1/2 cup +/-)
1/2 frozen banana (careful not to use too much banana as the banana flavor can overwhelm the mint flavor)
1/4 to 1/3 C unsweetend vanilla almond milk
1/4 to 1/3 C coconut milk (I used canned coconut milk)
1/4 tsp peppermint extract (I added a little extra because I like the peppermint flavor. Adjust to taste.)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 TBS coconut nectar (you could try subbing maple syrup, honey, or a soaked date)

This isn't an exact science; experiment to adapt flavors to your liking. Blend in a blender. Double the recipe for shakes for two!

Green Smoothie Treasure Chest: Reusable Glass Straws & Mason Jar To-Go Lids

I've written about using green smoothies as meal replacements and snacks, but what if you're not at home with your blender, freezer, fruit bowl, and crisper drawer full of veggies?  In a previous post, I wrote about my love of mason jars (and working glass jars) for storing smoothies.  What if you want to drink it on the go, like while driving your car and are afraid of spills.  Or at my previous job we could only have beverages at our desks that had lids/caps/covers.  Enter Poppy and Pearl Co. on Etsy.

Bobbi of Poppy and Pearl created these snazzy "to-go" mason jar lids with a hole for your straw.  She has regular and wide mouth lids available.  I bought one wide mouth and two regular.  The lids come with straws that are BPA free (yay!) plastic, and reusable! The straws come in different colors too:  pink, purple, orange, green, and clear!  The tall straws for quart mason jars come in green (check out my longer green quart straw in the pic) and clear.  Don't have any mason jars?  You can buy the mason jar and lid together or just buy the lids.  I purchased mine for smoothies, but I'm a huge fan of iced coffee too!

wide mouth lid & straw on a quart mason jar

Poppy and Pearl Co To-Go Mason Jar Lids with Straws on Etsy!




But hey, if you're at home and don't need the lid but still want to slurp your smoothie out of a straw I found reusable glass straws on Amazon.  These are called Glass Dharma Beautiful Bends.  I've also seen stainless steel, but I'd assume those would get pretty cold if drinking an iced drink and I don't like the metallic taste water gets if it sits in a metal container too long.  Anyhow, the point is, I went with glass (see link below the photo).

Reusable Glass Straws on Amazon

Green Smoothie Treasure Chest: Mason Jars & Working Glass

If you're like me, you're busy and you may use smoothies as snacks on the go, or a really large smoothie (with a significant protein) as a meal replacement.  But wait, you need a blender and straw--not very travel friendly.  My solution?  I blend my smoothies in the morning for a healthy breakfast.  Or before I leave home for the day I make my smoothie and use mason jars (with plastic screw top lids) or working glass jars as to-go containers.  From my experience the plastic mason jar lids are pretty spill resistant, but I doubt they're completely water tight so be careful--put the smoothie in a plastic bag to catch spills if you're going to put the jar in your purse.  If you purchase a dozen mason jars, they make fun and stylish water glasses too!  (Sorry for the weird flash picture).

Now these won't keep your smoothie cold, but if you're going to drink the smoothie on the drive to work it doesn't need to stay cold all day.  Or you may have a handy refrigerator at work to keep your lunch and snacks cold.  One note--you may get questions at work like, "What is that?"  "What are you drinking?"  "Gross."  Remember, instead of a morning doughnut, you're having fruits and vegetables.  You've made a healthy choice.  Good for you!  But if you want to keep your smoothie more red and purple, use beet powder or extra blueberries.  Remember you'll still have bits of spinach and kale floating around.  And bananas and avocados will start to turn a little funky gray color in the course of a day, but no worries--the smoothie is still okay to drink.  Though I wouldn't suggest keeping a smoothie for more than about a day and a half (and keep it refrigerated!).  If I make a whole blender full of smoothie, I usually have one full meal sized smoothie and a smaller size, which I store in a 14 oz working glass jar or a smaller jelly jar, as a snack for later in the day.  Also, remember to rinse out your smoothie container once you've drank it--otherwise bits of spinach and fruit residue will dry onto the jar (no worries,  a light scrubbing will remove it if you forget to rinse).

Here's some Amazon links to purchase:
Mason Jars (pint size as pictured)
Plastic Mason Jar Lids  (these are the regular size, they also have wide mouth size--check the size of your mason jars before you purchase!)
Working Glass Jars 21 oz and Working Glass Jars 14 oz (pictured above)

Upcoming posts--My blender and eco friendly glass straws!