Glowing Green Smoothie by Kimberly Snyder

I've been drinking this smoothie every day, for breakfast and/or a snack the last 2 months. It's from one of my favorite Nutritionists 'Kimberly Snyder'. It's called the 'Glowing Green Smoothie' and it claims to do the very thing that it's named after, Glow. It's jam PACKED with veggies and fruit. Every time I make it in the presence of guests they are in awe that one blender can fit that many veggies.

Drink 16-32 oz every morning for breakfast, if you are still hungry after the smoothie have half of an avocado or piece of fruit. You'll enjoy the energy boost!

Without any further ado... the Glowing Green Smoothie. I seriously suggest you try it. If I can get my 'S.O' to drink it it must seriously be good. You can also use the same ratios for 'Glowing Green Juice' minus the Banana. Cheers to fat burning, weight loss, vitamins and minerals, and glowing from the inside out.

Glowing Green Smoothie

Kimberly Snyder
printable recipe

12-16 oz Filtered Water
1 head of Romaine Lettuce
1 cup Spinach
3 Celery Sticks
1/2 cucumber (optional)
1 Green Apple (cored)
1 pear (ripe)
1 banana (riper the better)
Juice of 1/2 Lemon
(Optional: add head of parsley or cilantro)

Prepare all the veggies by washing and chopping them before placing them into the blender in the order they are written. This is very important as the veggies take longer to break down the fruit. I like to add the romaine and spinach and blend a bit before adding the remaining veggies and blending a bit again. You can generally add the fruit all at once. 

If you don't have enough room in your blender do not push it... pour some into a container and blend that before adding the rest of it. You'll have a mess otherwise. 

If you have a Blendtec press the 'whole juice' or 'soup' button. 
If you have a Vitamix, select 'Variable, speed 1'. Turn on and quickly increase speed to 10. Blend for 1 1/2 minutes until very smooth. Serve cold, enjoy.

Makes 2-4 servings, lasts 2-3 days in the fridge

Carrot Cake Smoothie

The top two questions I'm asked in regards to growing up in Utah are, 'Are you mormon?' or 'How many siblings do you have?'. (No, and three.) Despite not having 10 brothers and sisters and not being mormon we fit in quite well. My mother was quite the business woman/homemaker. Every year, she would make these beautiful birthday cakes for us. We had barbies, barney's, dinosaurs  and spice girls. My mother's above and beyond attitude to our birthdays paid off and everyone on the block knew not to miss a 'Fraser Birthday'.  My birthday usually consisted of Cooking Light's Apple Cake or Carrot Cake.

When she'd make Carrot Cake I would sit at the countertop and wait for her to walk away before sticking my finger in the batter... multiple times. I'd usually get caught and she'd ask me, 'did you use the same finger?!' I'd say, 'We are all related anyway!'. I was hooked. 

Sadly, My double dipping-finger licking days are over. Not because I wouldn't like to do it but because it's heavily frowned upon as an adult. Further, the calories in carrot cake aren't exactly waist friendly. Which is why I was delighted to discover that this recipe for a "Carrot Cake Smoothie" tastes just like the batter I remember! I drink this before or after a workout or anytime i feel like Carrot Cake! 

Photo and Recipe is from "Oh She Glows". 

Carrot Cake Smoothie

1 cup of almond milk

1/2 frozen banana (full if you want)

2 ice cubes

1 full carrot or 7 baby carrots

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

top with coconut or cinnamon

(optional) 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder. 

Place ingredients in a blender and blend till combined. If you let the smoothie sit for too long the smoothie will become VERY thick and you will have to use a spoon. I drink mine 5 minutes after if not immediately after. 

I don't like protein powders so I skip that but if you love it... go for it. I can't comment on how it tastes because i've never tried it!

Mean Green Smoothie. yum.

I'm getting married this year. Crazy. My goal is to be as healthy and as fit as my humanity will allow. If I happen to lose 1 or 2 pounds in the process--I won't hate it-- it's just not the 'wedding goal'. I've got time for this new level of health; I just need to be extra creative.

Being that Breakfast sets the pace for every day and we all get tired of the same old Oatmeal; I will post a new breakfast recipe from me or another model, (or friend) every Thursday.

I'm actually excited about this... I love breakfast and I love asking my friends what they are eating!

Today's breakfast: A Mean Green Smoothie

I was a little obsessed with this when I first started making it. It's really really good. 

Mean Green Smoothie

1 Banana

1/2 Cup of Orange Juice

1 Tablespoon Ground Flax Seeds or Chia Seedss

1 cup of Almond Milk 

2 Handlefulls of Spinach (I sometimes use arugula but if you don't like the peppery flavor stick with Spinach)

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend till smooth. 

260 Calories. 

Chia Seed Morning Smoothie

Drink this. I've been drinking this every other morning and boy do I love/hate it. Forget how it tastes, it's good for you. Doesn't that just make you want to dive right in? ciao.

Chia Seed Morning Smoothie

2 leaves of lettuce or kale

1/2 a cucumber

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1.5 cups water, coconut water, or pear juice

Blend in Blender. Drink fast!

Note: I suggest eating 2 tablespoons a day of chia seeds. They are insanely good for you and if you put 1 tablespoon in your water it will turn a lovely consistency. I wait for that. It's like jello water. I happen to love this but that's just me. 

Flat Belly Creamiscle Smoothie

4 years ago, on a wedding shoot in Alabama, I met one of my best friends, Nikki Dubose. We bonded over 'burping contests' and ice cream with microwave-melted Reeses Peanut Buttercups. That is how you know you've met a true friend. It wasn't long before Nikki, her boyfriend, and I were restaurant hopping Miami trying 'Venezuelan Hot Dogs', fried oreos, and IHOPS newest pancakes. Wow, we ate REALLY well.

Nikki and I as Southern Bells

Soon after shoving that junk down our throats Nikki's boyfriend informed me that 'Smoothies make your skin sag!' Does anyone actually know if there is truth to this? Just incase... I'm 'Never, Ever Going To Jamba Juice Again'.  I will gladly concoct 'safe skin' smoothies, myself.

Today we're paying homage to those delicious 'Orange Creamsicle Popsicles' most of us enjoyed in our youth. It's just as easy as my Banana Smoothie but even more perfect for your 'flat belly' days due to the lack of oatmeal.

I hope you enjoy your 'popsicle' and non-skin-sagging-smoothie.

Add all ingredients to a blender

 Blend till smooth

Pour and serve. Oh, so simple.

Flat Belly 

CreamsicleSmoothie

1 Banana

1/2 Cup NonFat Greek Yogurt

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1/2 cup orange juice

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

3 ice cubes

Blend in Blender. Pour and Serve

Calories: 260 Fat: 2.1 g Fiber 4.5 g 

Banana Oatmeal Yogurt Smoothie. T Swift.

I'm such a girl.  Taylor Swifts,  'Love Story' has 610 plays in my iTunes. Too much of a good thing? Not quite yet. I don't mind putting things on repeat... hence, this Banana Yogurt Smoothie.  I don't know what it is but it tells me to workout... it tells me to have a productive day... repeatedly. Oh, this smoothie is GOOD. Nom nom nom. Breakfast.

To start, cook 1/4 cup oatmeal and 1/2 cup of water in a bowl and microwave. If you don't cook the oatmeal the smoothie will have a dusty feeling (yuck). 

Place all the ingredients in a blender

 Blend!!

 Pour into a glass

 Enjoy! Nom nom nom!

BananaOatmealSmoothie

1/4 cup cooked oatmeal
1/3 cup greek yogurt
1 banana
5 ice cubes
8 almonds

Microwave the oatmeal with 1/2 cup of water for 1.5 minutes. Place all ingredients in a blender and process till smooth. For an antioxidant boost sprinkle with cinnamon. 

now go work out!