superfood green smoothie

I love smoothies- for one, they’re delicious, but they’re also a great way to pack a bunch of nutritional ingredients into your diet in a jiffy! Plus they’re oh so refreshing any time of year. My superfood green smoothie boasts an exceptionally healthy profile thanks to fresh greens & spirulina, chia & flax seeds, plus fresh ginger & medjool dates, among other things. It not only tastes delicious, but is uber nourishing for your body as well. It’s perfect for those days when you feel you need some extra “health” in your life- maybe you’ve been noshing on a bit too much sourdough bread or pasta, and need to up your greens game, stat! Not to mention, it’s a great way to sneak veggies into your toddler’s diet if they’ve started to become a bit, ahem, particular…. Superfood smoothie to the rescue! I find smoothie recipes to be pretty forgiving, so feel free to make swaps and use what you have on hand. This one gets the majority of its sweetness from fresh fruit, but feel free to add a couple medjool dates or a spoonful of honey if you prefer things a bit sweeter. If I want to up my protein game, adding a serving of Sakara Organic Protein & Greens Super Powder to my smoothie to really kick things up a notch. I like my smoothies on the thicker side, where you could eat it out of a bowl with a spoon if you feel so inclined. But my husband, on the other hand, prefers a much thinner, easy-drinking smoothie, so feel free to add as much liquid as you prefer to get to your desired consistency. I’m happy to say that this smoothie satisfies not only myself, but also my husband AND baby! Winning! If you’re jonesing for more smoothies, definitely try my matcha coconut smoothie and turmeric sunrise smoothie as well! Enjoy :)

Superfood Green Smoothie:

  • 1.5 cups frozen banana slices

  • 1.5 cups frozen pineapple chunks

  • 2 cups almond milk (add more as needed)

  • 1 cup coconut water (or water)

  • 1/2 cup greek yogurt (or coconut yogurt)

  • 2 cup fresh or frozen greens (spinach or kale)

  • 1/2 cup fresh or frozen veggies (cucumber, cauliflower, carrot)

  • 1-2 tbsp nut butter (I like Nuttzo!)

  • 2 tbsp chia, flax, and/or hemp seeds (mix it up!)

  • 1 small nub fresh ginger, peeled

  • 1 tsp spirulina, optional

  • 1 serving protein powder (I like Sakara!), optional

  • 2 medjool dates (pitted) or 1 tbsp raw honey

  • ice, optional

To make your smoothies, add all ingredients to your blender (a high-powered Vitamix works best!) and blend away! Add protein powder for an extra protein boost, and extra dates/honey if you prefer a sweeter smoothie. More milk or water can be added to thin the smoothie to your desired consistency. Makes 2-3 smoothies. Enjoy!

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verdine

Ok, y’all. I have a lot of praise to sing about Verdine. Not only is this spot serving up some super fresh and flavorful plant-based food in Houston, Texas, but it was opened by none other than my best friend! Chef Stephanie Hoban launched Ripe Cuisine a few years ago, and what started out as a humble farmers market stand soon grew into a popular food truck, and has now been relaunched as a successful (and beautiful!) brick and mortar restaurant! To say I’m proud of my bestie is a huge understatement. Now, although I love my veggies, I’m no vegan; nor is anyone in my family. However, that doesn’t stop us from enjoying all the plant-based eats that Steph whips up on a regular basis. Verdine satisfies herbivores and omnivores alike- there’s truly something for everyone! The menu changes seasonally, and there’s always some fun globally-inspired dishes to try. I’m partial to the Spinach Dosa, filled with hearty turmeric potatoes & green lentils, and served with a zesty cilantro-peanut chutney! Equally delish is the Beet Falafel Bowl, a take on a classic hit from her food truck. Drizzle tahini sauce on anything, and I’m a happy camper ;) You obviously can’t go wrong with her signature Bistro Burger, which features a housemade organic lentil-walnut-mushroom patty and cashew “chevre” cheese! Just don’t forget to order a side of sweet potato fries (served with raisin-sweetened ketchup!). If you’re in the mood for tacos, you must try her slow-cooked & smoked jackfruit carnitas. They’re bright and just bursting with flavor thanks to the roasted corn salsa and chipotle aioli. Yum! Trust me, you won’t leave hungry or unsatisfied after a plain ‘ol boring salad- but you won’t leave feeling uncomfortably full and weighed down either. Getting to enjoy tasty, vibrant eats while also doing good for the planet while you’re at it? Win-win! Next time I’m in town, I have to get back to try her cauliflower crust pizzas at dinner too! I absolutely cannot wait!


jajaja

New York City- the land of endless food options. There's literally something for everyone here, which great, but there's also a lot of average places to filter through to find the true gems. When it comes to vegan restaurants, it seems like there's a new place at every corner, but many of them serve standard veggie cuisine (think fresh, seasonally-inspired American eats). Jajaja thinks outside the box, by creating a vegan menu full of unique and flavorful Mexican dishes. I stopped by with my vegan bestie Stephanie (of Ripe Cuisine) on her recent trip to NYC, and we noshed on some seriously delicious eats. Their taco menu offers some classics like housemade "chorizo" and heart of palm "carnitas", but also gets creative with mezcal mushrooms and chayote "fish" tacos! I love that they make their own tortillas, and infused them with vibrants colors and flavors like turmeric and blueberries! I also highly recommend the Sikil Pak, a Mayan pumpkin seed dip served with plantain chips that was so up my alley and totally addicting! Please excuse the poor lighting, but the restaurant is a bit dark with a fun, nightlife vibe to it (and since it's right in the middle of the Lower East Side, why not?!). Click through the pics to read more about our tasty meal. We have a return trip planned for a fun dinner for Steph's 30th birthday, and I'm already counting down the days!