Healthy Green Smoothie with Banana, Avocado, and Almonds

Healthy Green Smoothie with Banana, Avocado, and Almonds

This smoothie is packed with healthy fats, fiber, and vitamins, making it a great option for breakfast or a nutritious snack.

Yields: 1 serving Prep time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana, peeled and sliced (fresh or frozen for a colder, thicker smoothie)
• 1/2 ripe avocado, pitted and peeled
• 1/4 cup raw almonds (you can soak them for 30 minutes to an hour beforehand for easier blending and digestion, though it’s not strictly necessary)
• 1 cup milk (dairy milk, almond milk, soy milk, or any milk of your choice)
• 1-2 tablespoons honey, or to taste (adjust based on desired sweetness and ripeness of banana)
• (Optional: A handful of spinach or kale for added nutrients, which will also enhance the green color without significantly altering the taste)
• (Optional: A few ice cubes if not using frozen banana)

Equipment:

• Blender

Instructions:

1. Prepare Ingredients: If using a fresh banana, slice it into chunks. If using a frozen banana, break it into smaller pieces if necessary. Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, and scoop out the flesh.
2. Add to Blender: Place the sliced banana, avocado, and almonds into your blender.
3. Pour in Liquids: Add the milk to the blender.
4. Sweeten: Drizzle in the honey. Start with 1 tablespoon and add more later if you prefer it sweeter.
5. Add Optional Ingredients (if using): If adding spinach or kale, add it now. If using ice cubes, add them last.
6. Blend: Secure the lid on your blender and blend on high speed until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. You may need to stop and scrape down the sides with a spatula a few times to ensure all ingredients are incorporated, especially the almonds.
7. Adjust Consistency and Sweetness: If the smoothie is too thick, add a little more milk (1-2 tablespoons at a time) and blend again. Taste and add more honey if you desire a sweeter smoothie.
8. Serve: Pour the smoothie into a glass and serve immediately. Enjoy your nutritious and delicious green smoothie!

Tips for Success:

• For a colder, thicker smoothie: Use a frozen banana. You can also freeze the avocado chunks if you have extra.
• Nutritional Boost: Feel free to add a tablespoon of chia seeds or flax seeds for extra fiber and omega-3s. Protein powder can also be added for a post-workout recovery drink.
• Almond alternative: If you don’t have almonds, you can use other nuts like cashews or walnuts, or even a tablespoon of almond butter.
• Adjust sweetness: The ripeness of your banana will affect the sweetness. The riper the banana, the sweeter the smoothie will naturally be.

Enjoy!