This LOW-SUGAR GREEN SMOOTHIE is loaded with greens but without sacrificing flavor! Smoothies are a great way to nourish your body especially in the morning, but one can easily pack all the sugars in a glass with the choice of ingredients. This smoothie has zucchinis, spinach, cucumber, and avocados which are highly nutrient-dense, high in fiber but low in sugar.
KEY INGREDIENTS IN THIS LOW-SUGAR GREEN SMOOTHIE:
ZUCCHINIS. Slice your zucchinis about 1/4 inch. Blanch them by cooking in boiling water for 5 minutes and then putting them in a bowl with ice water. Then freeze them on a baking tray in a single layer before transferring them to a freezer bag or container. In this way, they don’t stick together and it’s easier to load them to your blender.
PINEAPPLES. This adds natural sweetness to your smoothies and it makes it creamier too. I usually use bananas for smoothies but they can be high in sugar so using pineapples is a great alternative. I use honey pineapples and buy a whole piece which I just cut up and freeze.
AVOCADO. Pick a ripe avocado for this smoothie. Avocadoes are my favorite source of healthy fats. They also keep your smoothies creamy and makes it very filling.
CUCUMBER. Cucumbers add freshness to this smoothie. Not to mention its health benefits as well which includes better hydration, and can also lower blood sugar.
SPINACH. I love spinach on smoothies! Spinach is high in calcium and also helps protect against high blood pressure and even heart disease. If you don’t have spinach, you can also use fresh organic kale in this recipe.
PROTEIN POWDER. If you are drinking this after a workout, you can add scoops of vanilla protein powder. I use this brand which is gluten-free, and low glycemic so it also doesn’t have refined sugars in it.
CAN I PREP SMOOTHIES AHEAD OF TIME?
My rule of thumb is ‘make and drink’. Smoothies are best enjoyed as soon as you make them especially if you have ingredients like bananas or avocadoes which tend to oxidize (turn brown), and in turn make your smoothies taste bitter. And bitter smoothies don’t quite sound appealing!
What you can prep ahead is blanching and freezing your ingredients, cutting them up, and even portioning them so that in the morning all you need to do is dunk them into your blender.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened nut milk
- 1/2 cup frozen zucchinis
- 1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- 1/2 cucumber, sliced
- 1/2 ripe avocado
- scoops of vanilla protein powder optional
- 5-6 ice cubes
Instructions
To prepare your frozen zucchinis:
- Slice the zucchinis about 1/4 inch thick. Blanch them by cooking them for 5 minutes in boiling water. Transfer immediately to a bowl with ice water. This stops them from cooking.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Then arrange your zucchinis in single layer and freeze them for at least 2-3 hours. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag or container.
To make the smoothie:
- In a high-power blender, add all your ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy. If too thick, you may add more liquid or ice.
- Enjoy right away.
WATCH ME MAKE THIS LOW-SUGAR GREEN SMOOTHIE
If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment below, and tag me in Instagram @fitfoodiemommy or use hashtag #fitfoodiemommyrecipes so I can find you. And if you love smoothies, be sure to check out my:
Share with us also your favorite smoothie combos and I might just copy your creation too! 🙂
Stay healthy, stay happy always!
xo,
Tara
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