Green Juice Recipes - Energy Boosting Smoothies

Illustrated By Ly Ngo.

We all know the best way to start any day is with a nutritionally dense breakfast. But, we'll be honest, we don't always have time to cook up a proper balanced meal. So, for the busy (or lazy) girl, a healthy smoothie can be a great time-saving option.
Throw a handful of ingredients in the blender and 30 seconds later, you're sipping on a perfect combo. We asked Katrine van Wyk — holistic health and nutrition coach and author of Best Green Drinks Ever — to share her favorite power-packed, green smoothie recipes. Ahead, five easy drinks to keep you energized all day long.

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The Green Kiss

1 cup coconut water
1/2 pear
1/2 avocado
1 cup of spinach
1 tbsp flax seeds
½-1 cup water

Add all the ingredients to the blender and blend well. Continue by adding just one-half cup of water and check the consistency before adding more. Either add enough to make it creamy and drinkable, or simply keep it lusciously thick and eat it with a spoon like a pudding. Either way is delicious!

Katrine van Wyk says that healthy fats are great way to grab some energy first-thing in the morning: "The avocado adds healthy fat and makes it super-creamy and the coconut water adds delicious, hydrating sweetness. Pear is an underutilized fruit in the smoothie world, but not for good reason. It’s deliciously sweet and adds a nice thick and creamy texture."

Illustrated By Ly Ngo.

Chocolate Mint Chip Shake

1 ½ cups almond milk
1 cup spinach
2 tbsp cacao powder (raw is best)
¼ tsp vanilla extract
Leaves from 5 stems mint
5 drops liquid stevia
1 tbsp cacao nibs
4 ice cubes

Blend the first six ingredients until smooth. Add ice and blend until crushed, then add in the cacao nibs and blend for few more seconds. You want the nibs to give you the “chocolate chip feeling” in the shake, so don’t crush them completely.

"I am so thrilled to have come up with this super-energizing and cooling shake!" says van Wky. "Seriously, just try this and I promise — you will never bother to reach for a milkshake or Frappuccino again." 

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Illustrated By Ly Ngo.

Hypnoparadise

1 cup almond milk
1/2 cup coconut water
1/2 banana
1/2 cup blueberries
1 tbsp coconut manna/butter (coconut oil works fine too)
1 tsp spirulina
1 scoop vanilla protein powder

Add all the ingredients to the blender and blend well.

Need a cool, coconut-y beverage that's healthy, too? Van Wyk loves this tropical blend. "This smoothie has got it all: sweetness, antioxidant power, healthy fats, complete protein, and deliciousness!"

Illustrated By Ly Ngo.

Winter Wonder

1 cup almond milk
1 persimmon
1 cup or a handful of spinach
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp cardamom
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 medjool date

Add all the ingredients to the blender and blend well.

Want a great healthy option to replace your Pumpkin Spice Latte? Van Wyk recommends a smoothie featuring persimmon: "This is true comfort food packed with warming and sweet winter spices and persimmon — a bright orange winter fruit with a delicious sweet taste."

Illustrated By Ly Ngo.

The Green Master

½ cup water
½ cup freshly made apple juice
1 cup or 3 leaves kale
¼ green apple
½ lemon
1 inch slice of ginger
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp real maple syrup

Add all the ingredients to your blender, then pour the liquids over top. Blend until everything is smoothly mixed. Sip it slowly!

"Have you ever considered doing the hard-core cleanse, The Master Cleanse?" asks van Wyk. "Well, I’ve done it and I do not recommend it to anyone. Instead, add this drink to your healthy-habit regimen. It’s packed with cleansing nutrients and fiber to help sweep you clean. Enjoy!"