4.27.2011

{create} A Green Monster

A Home In the Making is going in a slightly different direction today because I won a contest! A couple week ago, Jenn from Peas and Crayons hosted a contest to win a sprinkle can of flax seeds ... and I won! Do you guys eat flax seeds? I LOVE them, and squeeze them into my diet any way I can.

Flax seeds are incredibly healthy, as they are both a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids and fiber. They're easy to slip into baked goods, or sprinkle over oatmeal or a salad with no one the wiser.

Jenn also hosts a party on her blog every week called What I Ate Wednesday. So, in honor of the flax seeds, I thought I'd share the main dish that I add flax seeds to: our breakfast smoothie!

That's right, it's a green breakfast smoothie. The green monster, as I've heard it referenced. I've learned that people are incredibly polarized on this subject. We have friends who think we're CRAZY for drinking this in the mornings, and we have friends that love them and share recipes. We've chosen to go this route for breakfast (especially week day breakfasts) for a few reasons: they're fast, portable, insanely healthy, and we like them. Some days, I'm embarrassed to admit, this is my main source of veggies.

So what goes into our morning smoothies? Coconut milk + water, banana (usually frozen ... yum!), 1/2 avocado, broccoli (not pictured; we don't have any this week! :( ), a little flax seed, a little peanut butter, cinnamon, tons of spinach and an assortment of seeds and powders.


I rotate through seeds and powders, but these are my favorite right now. The hemp seeds are a great veggie source of protein. Chris needs an enormous amount of protein just to function, and I need a little higher amount these days with my 1/2 marathon training well underway. We are BOTH crazy iron deficient, and a serving of kelp has 100% of your daily iron needs. Above is no where near a serving, which would make the smoothie taste disgusting(!), but is a great start to getting the iron we need for the day. I am completely in love with chia seeds right now. I'm a huge fan of adding them to oatmeal. While they're high in fiber, I actually use them in the smoothies because they thicken and add a great texture.Maca powder is a little controversial, but I'm trying it for lack of energy reasons. Hopefully it's helping :).

Once everything is poured into a blender, it makes this lovely green smoothie. Paired with a piece of fruit or toast, it makes a great nutritious way to start the day. The BEST part of smoothies is how customizable they are ... you can add any fruit, any veggie, any protein source you have on hand. Some people are turned off by the color, but I actually love it. It's so much more bright and cheery than a bowl of cereal.

So, have any of you tried a green smoothie? Or does the idea completely gross you out?
Make sure you head on over to Peas and Crayons to check out the other great entries for What I Ate Wednesday!

10 comments:

  1. I am in la la loooooove with this post! I saw hemp seeds at the store yesterday and didn't buy them b/c they were 12 dollars! BUT now that I know they can give me protein...those little buggers are coming home with me!

    Happy WIAW!!!! So excited to have you as a part of it! <3

    xoXOxo
    Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

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  2. That smoothie looks amazing! I spy my favorite Trader Joe's peanut butter and I'm so jealous! (I now live in a trader joe-less place.) I've been meaning to try chia seeds...thank you for the inspiration!

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  3. It's a good thing you weren't such a hippie (or maybe I just didn't notice) six years ago (gah, has it been 6 years already? repeat after me, we are not this old) or we might not have been able to be friends. Love you. Mean it. :D

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  4. Becky, I'm making you a HUGE green smoothie next time I see you! :)

    Jenn, thanks for the flax seeds!

    Jillian, right? That PB is AMAZing!

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  5. Yum yum yum! I once made a green smoothie with mango and avocado--delicious!

    Can you freeze avocado? I always wondered if that would turn out :)

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  6. At first glance I thought YUCK, but what a GREAT colour! Then I read the post and I actually like everything in there. I've never done bananas with avocado. And peanut butter?? You are a brave woman to give that all a try, but I'm so glad you did because it looks DEEEE-LISH! :)

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  7. What a great smothie! Healthy and delicious :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

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  8. Genius. Your recommendation of spinach, etc. In my morning smoothies has changed my life in a wonderfully healthy way. I will try the flax seeds now too! Keep the ideas coming. Love them.

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  9. I love green smoothies!! I put almond milk, coconut water, greek yogurt, wheat grass, green apple, avacado, and ground flax in mine!! sometimes i also put a little bit of coconut or vanilla extract for extra umph...yum!

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  10. Hello! Just found your blog through Restored Style's recent post. I found myself reading back through recent posts. This one stood out to me - I'm a huge fan of green monsters! I appreciate how much you've added in terms of nutritional value. Our little guy, 5 yrs old loves his green monsters! I love that I can sneak in veggies w/o him protesting.

    Angela at www.ohsheglows.com has some great smoothie recipes I have enjoyed.

    Smiles!

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