Cool, refreshing and packed with nutrients, this Citrus Ginger Mint Green Smoothie is an easy and healthy way to get your greens in with a vitamin C punch! This recipe is vegan and gluten free.
A new goal I made a few years ago was to start incorporating green smoothies into my breakfast routine. I started slow with a few smoothies per week. When I realized how they made me feel, I eventually started drinking green smoothies every morning, with an occasional skip for waffles, French toast or poached eggs.
Getting Rob to accept green smoothies was a challenge. At first he turned his nose up, totally; after all, green smoothies are not regular (his word).
Then I discovered adding a date or two, plus a frozen banana, sweetens green smoothies right up. He finally joined the morning smoothie party! Although I still hear about it when I try sneak in some wheat grass or parsley. My efforts continue.
Sometimes it’s daunting to look beyond the indulgent, rich, albeit delicious eats the holiday season brings. In our hurried days, it’s easy to get off track; a little here, a little there… and then it starts adding up. This is when I look to the freshest of greens and in season fruit to refocus my efforts when I get off track (ie too many cookies and indulgent breakfasts!).
Most of our local food during the winter months comes from our neighbors to the South, California and Mexico, with a few exceptions like carrots, beets, and parsnips. The greens here, for the most part, are pretty much done. Otherwise I’m pulling from my stock of local potatoes, onions, squash and frozen veggies from summer and fall’s bounty and I make the one hour drive to our nearest Co-Op about once every other week; a monthly trip in the summer. They have a wide selection of beautiful greens and the best citrus I can find anywhere!
Whole9life.com shares a printable PDF for seasonal eating, one I like to refer to. Also, to find local farmers markets, believe it or not, there are still some going on, and where to purchase community supported agriculture, local harvest can help guide you. Many start up in Spring, so now is a good time to start planning.
Until then, I am forever grateful to our breadbasket, California, for continuing to produce year round abundance for our table despite the challenges California farmers face.
Romaine is a neutral tasting lettuce, so the citrus shines in this smoothie. The hemp hearts add creaminess and a punch of protein to keep you satiated through the morning. If you’re introducing smoothies into a new routine for your family, I find dates help make this transition easy because of their sweetness. Now that I’ve been drinking smoothies for so long, I’ve gotten used to their mild sweetness without the dates. Play with the ingredients, though, to suit your tastes.
This smoothie is rich, mildly sweet, minty, and creamy.
Small changes every day add up to big changes over time. Green smoothies really do make a difference!
the recipe
Citrus Ginger Mint Green Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 Small head of Romaine Lettuce chopped into 4 chunks
- 2 Tbs Hemp Seeds
- 1 Medjool Date (optional, but increases sweetness) pit removed,
- 5 Mandarin Oranges or 4 Clementines or 3 Naval Oranges peeled
- 1 Frozen Banana
- 1 Carrot
- 2-3 Leaves Mint (to taste)
- 1/2" piece Ginger Root peeled
- 1/4 Lemon flesh and peel
- 1 C Water
- 1/2 C Ice
Instructions
- Wash all fruits and veggies. Place ingredients in a high speed blender (I use Vitamix) and blend until smooth. Best enjoyed right away.
Nutrition
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