I know smoothies are the big thing these days and you can find recipes all over the web but I’ve never been a fan. And I’ve tried lots of them. But on our recent trip to Aruba, I found the most delicious smoothie yet – and it has very little sugar and calories. And it’s green. I never thought a green smoothie would taste so good – and be so good for you.
A lot of the reason I never took to smoothies is because I like to eat my calories – not drink them. But since this smoothie is so low in sugar and calories, I can still have a little treat to go with it. I’ve also found that most smoothies are very sweet, high in calories and sugar, and often include bananas or yogurt in the recipe – and I’m not a fan of either.
But this recipe has just five ingredients – cucumber, pineapple, mango, and parsley – plus I add CLA Powder. Then blend until you get a smooth, slightly sweet drink. We love our NutriBullet but any blender will do. If you are a green smoothie skeptic, try this combo.
I added the CLA Powder which I bought at GNC. It definitely adds a nice flavor to the smoothie but you don’t need to include it. If you forgo the powder, I would add a bit of regular or almond milk. And if you’re wondering about CLA’s (Conjugated Linoleum Acid), here’s a little research: CLA is a naturally occurring trans-fatty acid made from the omega-6 class of essential fatty acids. Examples of foods high in Omega 6 fatty acids include walnuts, sunflower seeds, sesame, grapeseed and vegetable oils. CLA’s help burn fat and speed up the metabolism. There are other beneficial health claims but none have been fully proven. I like the CLA powder because it’s has no sugar, it’s low in calories and you can control the amount you want to include. And it’s yummy.
I drank one of these yummy green smoothies everyday in Aruba (without the CLA powder). Since we’ve been home, I’ve been drinking them in the afternoon for a low sugar boost of healthy greens, but they also make a great pre-workout drink.
For added ease, you can make individual smoothie packs too. Put the cucumber, mango, pineapple and parsley into ziplock bags and freeze. When you’re ready to drink, pour the contents into a blender, add your CLA powder or almond milk and you’re good to go!
Click here to print the recipe.
Healthy, easy and delicious. And it’s just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. Enjoy!
Love this! Trying this week.
Thanks Christia!
It looks really good! I’ve never thought of adding parsley. Good tip. =)
I bet it tastes good but drinking something green just goes against my brain. Thanks for sharing with the Creatively Crafty Link Party – you were featured last week!
woo hoo!!! Thanks so much!