Frosty Pumpkin Seed Sweet Green Smoothie

 

This is a simple green smoothie recipe that is kind of perfect for the crazy busy Thanksgiving week ahead of us. This Pumpkinseed Sweet Green Smoothie has ingredients that will hydrate, fuel and calm you. And it tastes delicious, frosty, frothy and cravable. And I use a secret smoothie ingredient found in my 365 Vegan Smoothies book!..

Green Smoothie. The secret ingredient in this frosty smoothie is oranges. But not any oranges, frozen oranges! Frozen oranges are amazing in smoothies. I buy a giant bag, peel them, section into quarters, remove seeds when possible, and freeze them. They blend into frosty, sweet vitamin C-infused sweetness.

Healthy Blend. The greens in this smoothie contain loads of nutrients and fiber too. Full nutrient facts below recipe. The pumpkin seeds add minerals and healthy fats. They are rich in magnesium, which is a nutrient that can help during stressful times...

Leo Galland MD says, "When you are chronically stressed, you can become magnesium deficient even if you eat these foods regularly. The complex relationship between magnesium and stress explains why many of the patients I see require magnesium supplements, because even a nutritious diet does not correct their magnesium deficiency." - Magnesium: The Healthy Stress reliever



Frosty Pumpkin Seed Sweet Green Smoothie
vegan, serves 1-2

1/2 frozen banana
1 1/2 frozen oranges (medium)
1 cup coconut water
2 Tbsp raw sprouted pumpkin seeds (or plain raw)
1 cup spinach or another favorite leafy green
pinch of fresh raw ginger, microplaned

topping: more pumpkin seeds please!

options:
- 1/2 avocado for added healthy fats and creamier texture
- splash of lemon juice (1/2 lemon squeezed)
- for added sweetness, toss in a handful of green grapes, 1 peeled kiwi, 1/2 a cored soft pear or a diced green apple (handful)
- for a super creamy smoothie, substitute almond milk for the coconut water

juicer version: If you have a juicer you can substitute the coconut water, ginger and leafy greens with 1 cup of sweet green juice (apple, celery, spinach, lemon, ginger)

To blend: To fully puree the the greens and orange you need to use a high speed blender and blend from low to very high speed. The high speed for a few seconds will really break up any bits of pumpkin seeds or leafy greens. High speed is a must for smooth green smoothies.