Super Green Smoothie
Try blending up this super green smoothie after your next cardio workout or hot yoga class. Mixing together kale, pineapple, mango and lime with coconut water, it’s designed to feel refreshing and replenish your electrolytes! The chlorella gives you an extra boost of micro-nutrients.
I actually created this smoothie for after a long surf. Being in the salt water two or more hours, especially if you’re paddling and duck diving a lot, can really deplete your energy and leave you dehydrated (there’s no water breaks when you’re in the water!). After I come in from that kind of a surf, I really need something to quickly replenish my energy. This smoothie is no replacement for a meal, but it helps me feel ‘alive’ again and gives me a jolt of energy so I can make a proper meal. Plus it’s really yummy.
Superfood Ingredient: Chlorella
I call this a “super” green smoothie because of the chlorella. This superfood powder is a great addition to pretty much any green smoothie. It comes from a green algae that’s a sort of cousin to spirulina, and it’ll lend your green smoothies a darker green color, but with little to no taste. Most importantly, it packs a nutritional punch!
It’s mostly protein (50% to 60%)
It’s high in anti-oxidants: chlorophyll, vitamin C, beta-carotene, lycopene and lutein
It delivers loads of nutrients: iron, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, copper, potassium, calcium, folic acid, B vitamins
It contains omega-3 fatty acids
A few tips for making this smoothie
Like for all green smoothies, if you have a high speed blender- like a Vitamix- you’ll be able to get a much smoother drink, with no kale particles. If you don’t have a powerful blender and you don’t like chunky smoothie, subbing spinach for the kale can help you get a smoother consistency. Whatever equipment you have, just experiment and see what works!
Note that the mint and lime here really are key- they give the drink a tangy and fresh flavor, and play well up against the sweet coconut water. To get even more nutrients in this smoothie, use a whole lime instead of just the juice (only if you have a high-speed blender and are using an organic lime).
Finally, the recipe here is for one big smoothie. Just double it all up for two smoothies!
Super Green Smoothie
Makes 1 serving (2 cups)
ingredients
1 cup fresh kale, lightly packed
1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
1 cup frozen mango chunks
1 cup coconut water
Juice of one lime
1/2 teaspoon chlorella powder
A few fresh mint leaves
Directions
Place the ingredients into your blender (ideally in the order listed), and blend until smooth. This should take less than a minute in a high-speed blender.
I like to off my smoothie with a sprinkle of shredded coconut or hemp hearts, but it’s ok to just drink it plain, too!
Enjoy!
