Treat your body to a refreshing pineapple kale smoothie featuring a trio of greens.
While December is a month filled with feasts and festivities the beginning of the year is a quieter time ripe for recharging and making fresh starts.
Following the frantic pace of the holiday season I’m often overcome by the desire to rest and refuel for the year ahead; with that comes a longing for something vibrant and fresh. Enter this "drink your greens" pineapple kale smoothie.
Green smoothies have developed a somewhat cult-like following, and with good reason I’d say as these tasty concoctions are brimming with fresh produce and nutrients. Unlike greens juices, smoothies retain all the fiber of the fruits and vegetables you use, making them a more substantial snack or meal replacement keeping you fuller longer as they are more slowly digested.
Of course they are also a truly tasty way to start the day or recharge in the afternoon.
Refreshing and loaded with leafy greens this is my green smoothie of choice lately. It features a trio of nutrient packed greens (kale, spinach and parsley) paired with sweet pineapple and punctuated with a squeeze of lemon juice for tartness. Coconut milk supplies the creaminess along with a dose of healthy fat for optimum vitamin and mineral assimilation. The pineapple does double duty, providing a natural source of sweetness along with bromelain an enzyme that helps with digestion and inflammation.
So here’s to fresh starts and a healthy new year!
Pineapple Greens Smoothie
A green smoothie packed with nutrients featuring a trio of greens along with pineapple and coconut milk.
Ingredients
For the Smoothie:
- 1 cup/150 g fresh or frozen pineapple
- 3 to 4 large kale leaves preferably Lacinato also known as dinosaur kale (spine and stems removed and torn into pieces)
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 1 handful of flat parsley, stems removed
- The juice of ½ a lemon
- 1 cup/240ml light coconut milk
- ½ cup/120g ice
Optional Smoothie Boosts:
- For Extra Fiber: 1 Tablespoon chia seeds
- For Extra Protein: 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder
- 2 Tablespoons hemp seeds
- 1 Tablespoon of collagen powder (for non-vegetarian)
- For Extra Energy: 1 teaspoon of matcha green tea
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients including whichever smoothie boosts you are using in a blender and blend on high until creamy and smooth.
- Serve immediately.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 259Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 338mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 9gSugar: 19gProtein: 17g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
angela@spinachtiger says
Green smoothies are a favorite in our household. We keep frozen pineapple chunks because they add the sweetness. I love how green your green is. Some green smoothies have an awful olive green color and no matter how good they taste, I can't drink them.
Paula - bell'alimento says
I need more smoothies in my life.
Alyssa (Everyday Maven) says
I love this combination - it's almost like a green pina colada! we make one like this all the time but next time, I'm adding the lemon juice!
najwa kronfel says
I love green smoothies, they are new in my diet. I am so glad I started drinking them. Your recipe sounds really great!
Kulsum says
I would just have to call this pina colada green smoothie for my better half to try it 😉 xx
Sylvie says
I like it! I should have named it that. 🙂
Catherine @ Chocolate & Vegetables says
I love adding pineapple to my smoothies! I'm doing a mid-winter detox right now so green smoothies are definitely the order of the day.
Katrina @ WVS says
Green smoothies are always a good idea! This particular recipe looks scrumptious!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
Yum! I've been trying to force myself to drink more smoothies these days (I have at least one daily when it's warmer outside) and since it's been absolutely freezing (ie -40) it's been really tough. I'm sitting under a blanket drinking one now though, and I think I'll be trying your recipe tomorrow!
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
It's so true about craving 'vibrant and fresh' right now, Sylvie. I'm craving salads like mad. Coconut milk everything, too. Your smoothies are perfect...just what I need. Wishing you and yours all the best in 2014!
Rosa says
What a lovely color.
Happy New Year and best wishes for 2014!
Cheers,
Rosa