Do you really not taste the spinach or kale? I just can't seem to get past the green tint of these...

i eat raw fruit, but don't like "fruit flavors" really. here's my smoothie --

1 c. ice, 1 frozen banana chopped up, splash of fake eggs or protein powder, up to 1 c. milk or fat free 1/2 and 1/2 or soy or whatever, 1-2 T. peanut butter, 3 T. cocoa powder and some sugar (or chocolate syrup instead of cocoa and sugar), 1 t. or so of instant espresso or instant coffee.

vary the proportions as you like. i don't like fruit ones but i love this one!

OP I just had some crazy orthodontic work done and am off solids for a while. I started making "green" smoothies and I am SO hooked. The basic strategy: 2-3 cups greens (spinach or baby kale are mild and blend easily), 1 cup fruit (berries taste great and are low in sugar), 2% greek yogurt, unsweetened almond milk, and a protein source (protein powder, nuts, flax, etc.). I also often throw in avocado or banana to make a creamy texture.

Fwiw I have a very physical job so I always make these smoothies between 4-500 calories, loaded with good fat and protein. Works great.

These smoothies are just as good for dinner as for breakfast and have plenty of protein: http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/25-clean-eating-breakfast-smoothies/

I love frozen mango, pineapple, and raspberries with a handful of spinach and a dollop of greek yogurt. Yum!

Add in half an avocado if you're concerned about getting enough fat/calories.

I should add, you cant even taste the spinach. My toddler drinks this.

Spinach, pineapple, bunch of frozen berries, frozen banana, yogurt, protein powder. Great meal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a smoothie for dinner a couple of times a week, but if you are pregnant you should probably have somethign with more calories.

I agree! I only do smoothies for dinner when I'm trying to lose weight. It is a sure fire way for me to drop lbs like a rock.

OP here -- trust me, I am getting enough calories. I tend to get really hungry mid-morning through mid-afternoon -- my body seems to want most of its calories then. Plus, it is easy to make a smoothie with enough calories for it to be a meal substitute (milk, yogurt, protein powder, etc.).

I use1 container if Greek yogurt, 1 cup frozen berries and a 1/2 cup water. Very light and refreshing.

Anonymous wrote:I have a smoothie for dinner a couple of times a week, but if you are pregnant you should probably have somethign with more calories.

I agree! I only do smoothies for dinner when I'm trying to lose weight. It is a sure fire way for me to drop lbs like a rock.

I have a smoothie for dinner a couple of times a week, but if you are pregnant you should probably have somethign with more calories.

We succumbed to an infomercial and bought a NutriBullet. I'm surprised we still use it a year later for smoothies and didn't lose interest. Sometimes they are meal substitutes for family members in a rush. The user guide and recipe book that comes with it is tremendous. The web site has a few recipes -- the ones in the book are analogous:

https://www.nutribullet.com/recipes.html

My 10-year-old has a smoothie every day after school and sometimes for lunch (with crackers or tortilla chips) on the weekends.

I don't have a recipe. I use about 1 cup plain (unsweetened) yogurt, 1 banana, a splash of orange juice, and about 1/2-3/4 cup of frozen berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or a mix). Occasionally I will use fresh mango instead of the frozen fruit. If we are out of regular yogurt, I use Greek and add more juice. These are pretty tart, but he likes them.

I would like to have smoothies for dinner a couple of times per week, and I'd like to make them myself. I am pregnant, summer weather is here, and it just seems like a nice, easy option. I can sip it throughout the evening instead of eating a meal and then feeling uncomfortable.

If you have made smoothies for dinner, what are your favorite recipes? I'll probably add some greek yogurt or protein powder.