Back in June, I posted about some smoothies we’d been enjoying. And in that post, I mentioned that I wanted to (eventually) try a “green smoothie” — i.e., a smoothie containing greens, specifically spinach. I also said that I’d let you know if I worked up the fortitude to actually give one a try.
Well, I did. Finally. Almost three months later.
I know, I know. Spinach in a smoothie? It sounds…questionable. Maybe even disgusting. I mean, I’m a fan of spinach. I enjoy a summer salad with spinach and strawberries and feta cheese. But spinach in a smoothie? Drinking spinach? Well, it gave me pause. Which is why it has taken so long for me to actually make one…and drink it.
The verdict: Not bad. Not bad at all.
Here’s what I combined in my blender:
1 banana
1/2 cup plain, lowfat yogurt
1 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1 dash of sugar
A gigantic handful of baby spinach
Some water (1/2 cup?)
Ice
I blended it for…um…quite a while. Because, while I was willing to try a green smoothie, I wanted to make sure that the green part was completely and utterly pulverized. I was not interested in drinking chunks of spinach.
I did not take a picture of the final smoothie, but that’s probably for the best. It was rather, well, mud-colored. Not exactly attractive. The spinach and the cocoa combined to make a not-too-lovely shade of smoothie. But that was okay. I didn’t have to look at the smoothie in order to drink it, right?
I poured some for C., who specifically asked if he could try it. I was impressed. Not many 10-year-olds would ask for some of their mom’s spinach-drink — at least not the 10-year-olds I know.
We started sipping.
The taste? Much like a plain ol’ chocolate-banana smoothie. I didn’t taste spinach at all. There was certainly a taste of “something” in addition to the chocolate and banana, but it wasn’t strong, and it wasn’t offensive. C. drank all of his, and I drank all of mine. We agreed that we liked it. And considering that this recipe is an awesome way to get all kinds of nutrients into myself and my tween, I consider that a major success.
In the interest of full disclosure, I made another one of these chocolate-green smoothies a few nights later, and Chad tried some as well. While he drank all of his, he did not seem impressed. But it could have been the color — the color was really and truly unappealing. But if you can look past the color, and you have a good pulverizing blender, give it a shot.
I got married two years ago and received the nicest blender. Time to break it out? Hm…give me a few more months.
Actually, picky eater that I am (I just blogged about that today), I may really try it.
Interesting! We’ve been back on our smoothie kick as well in the last couple of weeks.
We don’t have a heavy-duty blender, and we don’t add spinach, but we love anti-oxidant and vitamin-rich blueberries with yogurt and some OJ or yogurt, peanut butter and banana.
Those are our two favorites.
Jennifer, Snapshot´s last post ..Where are your shoes?
Oh you are a brave one and to be commended. I just could not do that. Anything that does not appeal to me visually I do not submit to the tastebud test. But hey, yay for Camden braving it too! (i’m not a huge smoothie fan, although mike is and I should try to make them for him more).
Hmmm…Sounds interesting.
Don’t know if I could actually drink it.
I’ll stick to spinach in salads.
I’m glad you liked it.
Enjoy,
Joyful
Joyful´s last post ..Family Friendly
This actually sounds pretty good, with the banana and cocoa powder. I was on a smoothie kick a year or two ago and tried probably 100 different kinds. The one with cucumber, as I recall, did not go over well
(I liked it, but the younger members of the family did not.) I also was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked one or two of the avocado varieties. I haven’t yet tried spinach, though — now I want to.
I love spinach and add to a lot of food I make. But a smoothie, hmm, maybe I’ll try it
Green smoothies? Maybe for St. Patty’s Day I could coax my kids into chugging it down.
I have a Vita Mix which I love. I also love smoothies. And spinach. I think I’ll be trying this soon!!
I LOVE green smoothies. I had heard a bunch about them and wanted to try them but didn’t have a blender. My mom gave me one for my birthday this summer. I make them all the time now! I have never tried cocoa powder. I usually add spinach (have added kale but it packs a whang), banana, and at least one other fruit. Strawberries are good and blueberries (although blueberries do turn it to an unpleasant brownish color) and apples. I usually add just a touch of sugar and flax seed as well and it is great. A really easy way to get in all those nutrients for the vegetable challenged people like me!
This is why I love spinach: because I hate spinach.
I do not like veggies, and the taste of plain spinach (cooked or uncooked, makes no difference) is especially ick.
But the awesome thing about spinach is that you can easily hide it in everything. EVERYTHING. And you can’t taste it! I hide it in salads, quiche, soups, stews, hamburgers (pureed)… even brownies (steamed & pureed, of course). Sounds gross, I know, but you really can’t tell it’s in there at all.
I tried the smoothies in your original post-loved them. I guess if I used an opaque cup I could close my eyes and not see the color for this one. I’m willing to try it…let you know what happens.