Spirulina is a beautiful blue-green algae that is high in B vitamins and minerals – everything from beta-carotene to iron, manganese, vitamin B12, vitamin K, vitamin A, iodine, and lots of antioxidants.
It’s considered a superfood because one teaspoon has a whopping 2 grams of protein – it’s alkalizing and detoxing to the body, and is wonderful when added to smoothies.
We’ve been incorporating it into our smoothies here at home for some time now – it makes for a beautiful, green smoothie with a variety of health benefits. It’s one of the easiest ways to eat a rainbow of colors without trying too hard – in fact, just throw everything in the blender and push the button.
Spirulina on its own is rather unpleasant — it has a seaweed taste (and smell too), so it’s rather yucky in both in taste and smell. But once combined with a few other simple items, the taste is pretty incredible. The smoothie is actually quite substantial and would be a healthy breakfast replacement or wonderful for lunch and combines some pretty simple ingredients that are quite versatile.
Which means that you can include the optional ingredients for a boost in nutrition or flavor.
The base of this smoothie is frozen banana, raw milk, cacao powder, peanut butter, maple syrup, and spirulina powder. I also include spinach, some protein powder, some frozen apple, along with chia seed and bee pollen (when we have it). If you are wondering if this smoothie could work for kids, I’m here to tell you it does rather well… kids won’t have any idea that stinky seaweed lurks in the smoothie, and they are usually quite energized by the green color.
Raw milk makes the perfect base for this milk and is an incredibly important part of our diet -we are so fortunate to have the ability to pick up raw milk from a local dairy here in our area that provides tours of the farm and milking process – owners who are passionate about the farm to table connection and sustainable health.
Our kids love to visit our raw milk farm and feed the calves, see the milk go from cow to chiller tank in just minutes, and come home with milk that is bottled within minutes of being milked.
If you are trying this smoothie, you won’t be disappointed – I often find myself doubling or tripling the recipe as our kids enjoy to drink with their breakfast and I often find myself pouring a second glass, too. Feel free to add hemp seeds, chia seeds or even bee pollen to this smoothie too!
A healthy and nutritious green smoothie full of healthy vitamins and minerals - the perfect superfood to fuel your breakfast!
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana, peeled and frozen (organic when possible)
- 1 C. raw milk
- 1 C. organic spinach
- 1 tsp spirulina powder
- 1 tsp peanut butter (organic when possible)
- 1 tsp maple syrup (organic when possible)
- 1 tsp high quality collagen peptides
- 2 Tbsp cacao powder (organic when possible)
- 1/2 apple, sliced
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tsp bee pollen
Instructions
- To a high quality blender, add all ingredients and blend until creamy. You may have to scrape down the sides to ensure that everything gets combined.
- If too thick, add more raw milk - or, if too thin, feel free to add more frozen banana or spinach.
- Adjust flavor as needed (ie. banana for more sweetness, or spirulina for color).
- Best served when fresh, can be served over ice as well.
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