My Ultimate Green Smoothie Recipe

I often talk about the importance of making smoothies in a particular way in order to ensure they are having the right effects on our bodies. Being mainly liquid, smoothies are very easy to drink and therefore can lead us to consume far more calories than we would usually do in just one meal. The best way to determine whether your morning smoothie could be hindering your weight loss efforts is to place all of the ingredients you’d usually put into your blender onto a plate. That way, you can actually see what you’re drinking and how that compares to a regular meal. Would you usually sit down to eat 2 bananas, ½ an avocado, a cup of berries, 3 dates, 2 cups of milk, a handful of almonds and 100g of yoghurt in one meal? If not, then why are you drinking it every morning?

Smoothies can also often be very high in carbohydrates. Even though this is usually in the form of fruit, their sugar content still adds up and can send your blood-glucose levels absolutely crazy. Always ensure your smoothies are made up of a good proportion of protein and healthy fats, with one serve of fruit for flavour and sweetness. This will ensure your blood-sugar levels remain stable after consuming your smoothie and as a result, provide you with long-lasing energy to get on with your day. Adding vegetables such as kale, spinach, cucumber, celery, beetroot etc. will not only increase the fibre content of your smoothies (and therefore also reduce the blood-sugar effect) but it will also greatly up the nutrient value.

So, here’s my favourite green smoothie recipe that keeps me feeling full and energetic all day long...

You’ll need:

·         1 cup kale/spinach, blanched

·         2 tbsp. wholegrain rolled oats

·         1 cucumber, cut into chunks

·         ¼ lemon, skin removed

·         2 kiwi fruits, cut into quarters (keep the skin on for extra fibre!)

·         2 tbsp. flaxseeds

·         1 serve protein powder (I use pea protein)

·         1 tsp. cinnamon

·         Water

Method:

1.       Place all ingredients into a blender

2.       Add water until contents are entirely submerged

3.       Blitz until all ingredients are completely blended and form a smooth consistency

4.       Enjoy!