Remember these guys from Nickelodeon way back in the day?

Well, I’m here to talk about a different kind of monster.

The Green Monster.

I don’t know who is responsible for first putting spinach (or any other leafy green) into the blender and calling it a smoothie, but to whomever you are, thank you.

I enjoy eating my greens (steamed, roasted, sautéed, etc.) and don’t make smoothies nearly often enough, but green monsters are one of the simplest ways to obtain nutrients. They’re wonderful post-workout, and they’re perfect for breakfast on the go, which is why I’m sharing my new favorite recipe today.

Since my husband has been extra busy at work this week and barely has time to inhale his lunch, I’m all but force-feeding him a smoothie tomorrow. I couldn’t survive without breakfast, but he isn’t a fan. With the addition of frozen blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries, Mark’s smoothie lost its vibrant green hue; I kept mine simple, and it’s as vibrant and verdant as ever.

Foolproof Green Monster

Ingredients

• 2 large handfuls of spinach
• ½ large banana
• approximately ¾ cup fresh or frozen fruit (peaches and a few strawberries in mine, fresh strawberries and mixed frozen berries for his)
• 1 tbsp cashew butter
• ⅓ cup Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla)
• 1 tbsp (or so) of add-ins for extra nutrients (chia seeds, ground flax, oats, or, as I used, wheat germ)
• enough orange juice, milk, or water for desired consistency

Directions

Add all ingredients to a blender (my immersion blender works great!) and process until smooth.

Serve immediately, or pour into a glass jar and store overnight in the refrigerator. After a good shake, these energizing smoothies will be ready to go tomorrow morning. With both protein (Greek yogurt, although protein powder is ideal, too) and fat (nut butter) for satiety, I hope these green and not-so-green monsters are enough to get us both through another work day.