As of this weekend, summer has officially launched! And I am bringing you a few goodies to kick off my favorite season. First off, check out my Rainbow of Smoothies YouTube video that I had SO much fun making. Then you will want to enter my giveaway and also grab 7 bonus recipes I am sharing, directly from the pages of my book 365 Vegan Smoothies
. Your healthy happy summer starts now.
Watch my latest YouTube video featuring a rainbow of smoothies. Then take my rainbow of smoothies challenge.
SUMMER SMOOTHIE CHALLENGE: Step outside your smoothie comfort zone by blending up a color smoothie that you normally never blend. For example:
* If you are a berry smoothie drinker, try a green smoothie!
* If you love green smoothies, how about a blue blueberry blend?
* Love fruit smoothies? Try a super vanilla or creamy cacao smoothie!
Then enter my giveaway. You will earn an extra entry for sharing your NEW COLOR creation online and letting me know you shared in the comments section. Be sure to use the tag #365VeganSmoothies or #RainbowSmoothieSummer when you share.
giveaway prize: Smoothie Summer Pack! -> $100 Whole Foods Gift Card + Signed copy of 365 Vegan Smoothies + HHL tee (select sizes only)
(One grand prize winner will be awarded. Giveaway is open to USA and CANADA only.) --- Also enter my Blendtec Giveaway - ends soon!
And of course I had to share some smoothie recipes today. The color I chose: Green.
Green Smoothies. My first "green" smoothie was when I started adding spirulina to my favorite papaya smoothie at a place called Liquiteria in NYC. It was the first green-colored smoothie I sipped. From there, I experimented at home with more true-to-greenness smoothies by adding whole greens to my blends, it was truly love at first sip.
My first at-home blend was sweet green citrus. Similar to this recipe. I was making a basic citrus smoothie and decided to add a handful of spinach. I was worried that I was literally ruining one of my favorite smoothies, but I had to try for myself, this thing called a "green smoothie!" Blend. Blend. Blend. And sip. OMG. I remember that first sip so well. It tasted like sipping a green ray of sunshine. Sweet and bright with a hint of rich, nurturing greens. I was in love. I chugged the glass and couldn't wait until my next adventurous green blend.
Green is the new Black. I recently read a super article in my favorite New York Times section: Well. The article "Drink Your Greens" is by Martha Rosa Shulman, and she starts out her article being a classic green smoothie skeptic,
" ..for many years I've been rolling my eyes whenever anyone starts talking about green smoothies or green drinks. I love greens, but not in my morning smoothie."
Then finishes up with, "The drinks are loaded with phytonutrients, and they're filling. They are definitely meals in a glass. When I was testing the recipes I enjoyed every sip and felt very energetic for hours afterward. So no more rolling my eyes: I'm a green smoothie convert."
Love that! I find this is the reaction many people have when it comes to green smoothies. But when it comes from someone like Martha, an award-winning cookbook author and recipe creator for the Health section of NYTimes.com, I think even the skeptics have to have their ears perk up a bit! I hope anyways.
So today I and sharing with you 7 exclusive recipes from my book 365 Vegan Smoothies. My book is filled with green smoothie recipes. So if you are looking to infuse your spring and summer with health and wellness, I invite you to join me and start a smoothie habit.
Recipe #217 - Heart-Healthy Section
Beachy Green
vegan, serves 1-2
1 cup pink grapefruit juice (or 1 whole pink grapefruit + coconut water as needed)
Β½ cup frozen pineapple chunks
1 frozen banana
2 cups chopped spinach
Β½ cup coconut water ice cubes
boost it:
* 1 tablespoon unsweetened dried coconut flakes
Recipe #60 - Energizing Smoothies Section
The Green-ergizer
vegan, serves 1-2
1 kiwi, peeled
1 banana, fresh or frozen
1 cup chopped kale leaves
1 cup chopped spinach
1 small orange or tangerine (try frozen for a frostier blend)
Β½ cup non-dairy milk (plain soy used)
Β½ cup coconut water
Β½ cup ice (optional)
boost it:
* Β½ teaspoon spirulina powder
Recipe #349 - Beauty-Boosting Smoothies Section
Frozen Green Oasis
vegan, serves 1-2
1 cup chopped frozen cucumber
1 cup frozen green grapes
1 cup coconut water
drizzle of agave or maple syrup
pinch of pink salt (optional)
boost it:
* 1-2 teaspoons aloe vera juice
Recipe #193 - Healthy-Digestion Section
Minted Matcha Tea Shake
vegan, serves 1-2
1 teaspoon matcha green tea powder
2 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
1 cup vanilla non-dairy milk (soy used)
1 Β½ - 2 frozen bananas
ice (optional)
boost it:
* 1 teaspoon chia seeds
Recipe #323 - Immunity-Boosting Smoothies Section
Pineapple-Kiwi-Mint Immunity
vegan, serves 1-2
Β½ cup orange juice
ΒΌ cup plain non-dairy milk (soy used)
2 kiwis, peeled
Β½ cup pineapple cubes, fresh or frozen
1 cup chopped kale leaves
1 banana
ΒΌ cup green grapes
1 tablespoon fresh mint
Β½ cup coconut water ice cubes (optional)
boost it:
* 2-3 tablespoon non-dairy yogurt
Recipe #86 - Slim Down Smoothies Section
Green Banana Jungle Shake
vegan, serves 1-2
2 cups chopped kale leaves
Β½ cup non-dairy milk (soy used)
Β½ cup coconut water
Β½ cup frozen mango
1 frozen banana
1 tablespoon unsweetened dried coconut flakes
Β½ cup ice (optional)
boost it:
* 2 teaspoons soaked and drained goji berries
* 2 raw Brazil nuts
Recipe #179 - Brain-Boost Section
Book of Greens
vegan, serves 1-2
1 cup chopped kale leaves
Β½ cup mashed avocado
Β½ frozen banana
1 orange, peeled
2 tablespoon raw walnuts
1 cup coconut - sub non-dairy milk or add a splash of non-dairy milk for creamier texture
Β½ cup ice (optional)
boost it:
* ΒΌ cup frozen mango cubes
- buy 365 Vegan Smoothies for full descriptions + nutritional info
Available online:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books A Million
Indiebound
Powell's Books
iTunes
Images are from my book 365 Vegan Smoothies - copyright protected
Rita says
I've made your 4th of July smoothie/ice cream twice. Of course, it was purple, pink, and cream colored.
Laura says
I made a breakfast smoothie with 1 frozen banana, 1 cup spinach, 3/4 cup water, 3/4 cup almond milk, and 1 scoop of raw vanilla chai protein powder! It turned a light green color.
Nikki says
I just wanted to comment on how awesome I think this book is! After getting a Vitamix for my birthday, I immediately took your smoothie book out of the library. After using it to beat a nasty cold (I really believe the smoothies in the immunity chapter helped a lot) I knew I had to buy it. So I won't be entering this contest because I just bought the book! I can't believe how many different smoothie recipes you thought up, and all the ones I have tried have been so delicious! Such great work and an amazing book. Thank you so much! I really am developing a smoothie habit and I'm so excited about it!
Jenn F says
FINALLY got my hands on matcha green tea powder and tried your secret ingredient matcha smoothie today! So good! My 3 year old love eating it with pepitas on top as well. Tagged on Instagram!
Susan Pertierra says
I just got blueberries and strawberries to blend into a smoothie but haven't shared yet.
Guest says
I didn't take the smoothie challenge.
Kristy says
I blended up a Sunshine Matcha with fr cantaloupe, banana almond milk oj flax matcha nutmeg topped with cacao nibs and swirled in almond butter. I shared on twitter!
Jenny K says
I made a purple kale banana pear and hemp smoothie, expecting it to be purple, but it was green. Oops!
Rita says
I sometimes make colorful smoothies (with blueberries) but I don't share that stuff in social media.
Jessica Eagle says
I make all kind of smoothie almost everyday. Different color and all kind of variety. However, I don't share it on social media.
Jasmine Briones says
Yes! Cucumber Kale smoothie on instagram π
Molly says
I made a smoothie of frozen banana, steamed carrot, and coconut butter but I did not share it online.
Melissa K. says
My smoothies always include dates for that touch of sweetness. So for a change I left them out and made a blueberry yummy smoothie! Blue was the new color!
kirsten says
beets! i love the color!
Haley says
I attempted my first "invention" in the smoothie world it was a peanut butter banana cocoa protein smoothie. I shared it on twitter and google+
Rebecca Wright says
I made a chocolate spinach strawberry one and shared it with my friends and family!
Ben Roberts says
The first smoothie would have to be Chard, Peaches, Ginger, and soy milk/yogurt: I call it Peaches and Green
Deborah Rukin Gold says
Not yet but am going to make watermelon smoothie tomorrow.
Holly Buchanan says
I usually make a green smoothie, but decided to try something different - red with beets and apple! it was delicious!
Kenna O'Rourke says
nope, but sounds like fun!
NoraCrane says
watermelon smoothie!!!
Jamie says
I tried adding berries to my green smoothies and while it is tasty, they unfortunately make the smoothie brown :(.
Sarah McLaughlin says
I've been making green smoothies and watermelon smoothies a lot lately!
Kirsten says
I regularly make different smoothies. Green with leafies, cucumber, green grapes,green apple. Red with beets and apple. Lately, I've been using your recipe with banana and frozen watermelon, sometimes adding peaches also. Generally, no matter the color, ground flax and kale always make their way into my smoothies too for flecks of brown and green. I haven't shared my smoothie rainbows online (I don't use Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) but thank you for the opportunity to enter this giveaway!
Sonia says
My newest creation is a pink smoothie with raw beets, strawberries, pineapple, 1/2 avocado, almond milk, lime juice, and chia. Yum!
tonyasibu says
Just thought that for the yellow part of the rainbow, mago, pineapple, and banana would be amazing! Haven't yet made it so I haven't yet shared it either π
Tamara Ackley says
Hello! Your photographs are superb and the book looks loaded with great recipes! I would really use this book and enjoy it! I am walking every day 2-3 miles and doing a colon cleanse. So the new step would be healthy smoothies with protein!
Thanks for this fantastic opportunity to enter your book giveaway!
DeanneO says
I do the very simple banana, frozen strawberries, protein powder, soy milk smoothie. Would lvoe this book to get fresh ideas
Jillian O'Donohoe says
I normally go for green smoothies, but today I tried adding blueberries and cocoa powder. The color wasn't too attractive but it tasted delicious. I shared on Instagram.
Andrea M says
I made purple for the first time! I achieved it with beets, blueberries, and blackberries, it was delicious!
ammauceri says
My smoothies almost always end up turning a weird brown color because of the blueberries, spinach, broccoli and protein powder! They look gross but they taste delicious π Thanks for the giveaway!
Kimber says
Finally bought your book, can't wait to mix things up!
Mackenzie Rifkin says
I always make my smoothies with lots of spinach, a frozen banana, and Raw Meal protein powder... then I add in whatever other fruits and powders I feel like for that day. I really want to try your frozen watermelon trick though!
shani says
all my smoothies come out green because i add lots of spinach! but i have been trying to make pink with berries or watermelon. i share my photos on instagram
upstatelisa says
I love this book and use it almost everyday (and I try to change it up too!)
saniel says
Lately making turmeric(whole root) smoothies with hemp milk, cocoa powder, vanilla and dates. My son always asks for another cup.Thanks
Linda dc says
I turned my banana coconut smoothie into a blueberry and raspberry colour, very purple.
Melissa Atlas says
I just had a smoothie for breakfast! But unfortunately forgot to snap a photo π But it was made with banana, spinach, cinnamon, peanut butter, and almond milk. So good.
jessieNjo says
My smoothies usually end up green or purple/brown but there is always lots of colors blended together. It is fun and yummy every now and then to make a monochromatic smoothie I especially love carrot juice, orange, cantaloupe, banana , for an orange hue.
vegyogini says
I've been blending up all the colors of the rainbow for AGES! Kale makes its way into practically all my smoothies. Thanks for the giveaway!
BabyJune says
Love this! Will definitely save some of these for hot summer days. π
Nicole Baker says
You are so adorable! π Love your book, recipes, and blog!
Jessica T. says
I am a big green smoothie/berry smoothie lover, but I don't do the golden smoothies and would love to start. I also like the idea of using frozen watermelon more often!
Mara says
I haven't shared yet.
coconutandberries says
Such a cool video! Drinking a smoothie in any colour of the rainbow is always a great way to start the day π