Thirsty Thursday: It's Not Easy Being Green

A wise frog once said, “It’s not easy being green.” However, I would argue that some of the best things in life are some shade of green: a lush forest, hard-earned cash, a satisfying Green Monster smoothie…

No no you Red Sox fans, not that Green Monster! Let’s backtrack a bit. As a college student on the go, it’s not always easy finding time to eat a whole meal.  Ever try maneuvering a fork to eat a fruit cup while taking the bumpy, crowded shuttle bus between classes? Not so simple. So what’s the solution? Have a filling, easy, nutritious smoothie!

Today’s Thirsty Thursday post investigates smoothies sold commercially, spotlighting a couple nutritious options and ending with my own favorite homemade recipe. Let’s start with Jamba Juice. 

This smoothie chain offers a variety of options categorized into the following: Classic, All Fruit, Pre-Boosted, Jamba Light, and Creamy Treats. You know your health is in good hands when the company follows these mantras:

One of the many tasty choices from Jamba Juice is the Protein Berry Smoothie. It contains soy milk, frozen strawberries, frozen bananas, and whey protein boost. The "original" size provides you with a filling 370 calories, 4 grams of fiber, 20 grams of protein, 80% of your daily recommended vitamin C needs, and 20% of your daily recommended iron needs.

Next up: Starbucks. 

This popular coffee chain now includes Vivanno Smoothies on its menu. Available flavors include Orange Mango, Strawberry, and Chocolate. Let’s take a closer look at the Orange Mango Banana Vivanno Smoothie. It has no artificial sweetners and contains whey protein for an extra energy boost.  To make the smoothie, Starbucks blends one whole banana with natural orange mango juice, adds a generous serving of milk, whey protein and fiber powder, then finishes it off with ice.

Third up are the fruity concoctions of Boloco.

Although known for it's tasty burritos, Boloco also offers a variety of healthy smoothies. Check out the natural ingredients on this menu:

While Jamba Juice, Starbucks, and Boloco all offer delicious smoothies, another option is to make one at home! By creating the drink on your own, you have complete control over the ingredients. My favorite at-home smoothie was created by Angie. For those adventurous foodies out there, let me introduce you to a lean, green, smoothie machine...

THE GREEN MONSTER!

This bright baby packs a nutritional punch. There are lots variations to the recipe, but my personal favorite involves blending together the following ingredients:

2 Huge Handfuls of Fresh Spinach

1 Frozen Banana

3/4 Cup of Almond Milk (or your milk of preference)

Handful of Ice

(Optional Add-Ins: Frozen Mango Chunks, Frozen Blueberries, Frozen Strawberries, Peanut Butter)

(Also, you can add a tablespoon of ground flax seeds for omega-3 fatty acids)

Depending on your ingredients, your smoothie might be lime green or forest green or minty green.

You can even invest in a reusable plastic smoothie cup, complete with a straw-using lid, to take your Green Monster on the go. I purchased mine from Urban Outfitters for $8.

I know what you're thinking: "Spinach? In a smoothie?? Gross!" Trust me on this one; you won't even notice the spinach taste once you've added in the banana.  Such an easy way to get in your greens for the day! It is an incredibly delicious drink that deserves a chance. You might get a few funny looks at first, but as Kermit the Frog asserts...

Where do you go for your smoothie fix? Do you have a favorite homemade recipe?

Today's Recommended Read: Lunch Line Redesign (an interactive op-ed from The New York Times)