7 Days of Green Smoothies

I love green smoothies because it’s a delicious way to get lots of necessary nutrients and fiber in one meal, and a great way boost your energy every day. This recipe was adapted from Dr. Oz’s Super Energy Smoothie. I loved the original recipe but it makes SO much and preparation is a lot of work. Also, with fresh produce there is a huge risk for spoilage. Another issue is the cost. Fresh fruits and veggies are costly, and this smoothie, because of the huge batch, was no exception. I decided to use what I had at home, and make a couple of changes to suit my taste as well. The changes make the recipe more cost-effective, by making it easier to make it two servings at a time.

This green machine is packed with just enough good stuff. It has hydrating coconut water, a natural energy drink. Raspberries which provide necessary vitamin C and cleansing dietary fiber as well as soluble fiber, which helps to regulate cholesterol. Delicious cantaloupe is rich in vitamin A, which promotes vision health and helps to fight aging and disease, as well as vitamin C, an essential antioxidant. With 427 mg per cup, cantaloupe is a high source of potassium, which is essential for normal cell function, muscle function, heartbeat and energy regulation.

Ingredients
Recipe makes 14 servings. Each bag should make two 14-16oz smoothies.
(I spent about $1.43 per serving.)

70 ounces unsweetened young coconut water (I bought two 6pks of 10oz cans.)
12oz bag ready-to-use spinach
10oz bag ready-to-use kale
16oz frozen unsweetened pineapple
12oz Frozen unsweetened raspberries
1 whole med-large cantaloupe washed, peeled and chopped into chunks (you can also use watermelon)
1 or 2 med-large bananas
7 tbs Chia seed (optional energy boost)
7 quart sized freezer bags.

Directions:
There is NO blending yet. All you need to do is evenly divide all of the ingredients (except for the chia seed) into each bag and freeze it. When you’re ready for a smoothie, you can just grab a bag out of the freezer, add coconut water and blend. You’ll need one 10oz can of coconut per bag and I advise pouring a little less than half the can in the blender then pouring the frozen contents in the blender. Add a little more liquid on top and blend on the highest setting. Use a wooden spoon to stir and then add the rest of the liquid. Blend to desired consistency, add 1 tablespoon of chia seeds and blend to incorporate.

Enjoy!