The beginning of January hit a few weeks ago and this smoothie was in full rotation as my breakfast of choice. To be honest, I enjoy smoothies at all times of the day during each season. Not only are smoothies delicious, but they give you the ability to pack a lot of nutrition into one glass. And that’s something I love!
This green smoothie was inspired by my trip to a restaurant in Grand Rapids, Michigan back in November. Two months later and my content calendar finally had an opening to share this smoothie plus my experience in Michigan’s Beer City! We’ll get to the smoothie goodness in a bit but first, let’s chat all things GR.
I’ve realized that people who live in Grand Rapids love GR. I mean, LOVE! My wonderful friend Liz of The Lemon Bowl lives there and organized the trip with ExperienceGR. Her passion for GR has always been evident, and so I was thankful when she invited me to join her and a few other bloggers on a Grand Rapids adventure!
I’m not going to get into everything we did, but I will share some pictures and leave you with a few favorite recommendations if you ever find yourself in GR!
1.) Stay at theAmway Grand Plaza Hotel. Such a terrible photo above (no makeup + thank you iPhone), but this hotel is absolutely gorgeous! My beautiful updated room was on the 15th floor, plus the view was stellar. I definitely recommend staying here if you have the opportunity.
2.) Make homemade pasta at The Local Epicurean! Who knew that pasta making was such a breeze?! I learned how to make homemade ravioli stuffed with ricotta. It was easier than I could have ever imagined! Liz and I were partners and laughed the entire time! This is a great couple activity or something to do with a group of people! The best part? You get to take home what you make!
3.) Enjoy lunch at The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck! I got the chicken lettuce wraps and we shared a few pizzas. Everything I had was delicious and cooked to perfection. I’m pretty sure arugula on pizza always wins me over!
4.) Stop by Wealthy Street Bakery for a treat!Check out this chocolate chip cookie you guys. It was outrageously chewy and thick and packed with just the right amount of sweetness. Honestly one of the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had!
5. Have dinner at The Grove! The drinks are delicious and the food is even better. I suggest enjoying the tasting menu, where each portion is large and adventurous. Bring the foodies in your life here! You will love it. Pictured above: roasted vegetablesover a pureed butternut squash. Also, don’t forget to get the butterscotch pudding — it is to die for!
6. Enjoy brunch at San ChezBistro! This breakfast was AMAZINGand all of the fabulous smoothies we tried were delicious.Of course my favorite was the Green Apple Smoothie which inspired the recipe I’m bringing you today!
This original green smoothie at San Chez contained yogurt, but I wanted my version to be dairy free so that everyone is able to enjoy it. I usedalmond milk and heart healthy avocados for a creamy texture. If you haven’t tried avocados in smoothies, you absolutely must!
Not only does this smoothie have great texture, but it has quite thenutritional punch thanks to potassium-packed bananas and avocado. There’s also a decent amount of omega 3s from chia seeds and filling fiber from apples. I call it the green goddess smoothie because after drinking it I felt wonderful, satisfied and refreshed.
I recommend this smoothie for a light breakfast or as a snack. If you’re looking to make it a full breakfast, add a scoop of your favorite protein powder.
I hope you love this glorious green smoothie as much as I do! If you make it, be sure to tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram so I can see your creation!
More healthy smoothie recipes to try:
Tummy Soothing Smoothie + Why I Love Probiotics
Triple Cherry Berry Watermelon Smoothie
Layered Banana Split Protein Smoothie
Refreshing Watermelon Pineapple Smoothie
Wild Blueberry Banana Spinach Power Smoothie
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Green Goddess Smoothie + a trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan
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Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Total Time 10 minutes minutes
ServesServes 2 servings
A creamy green goddess smoothie packed with fresh banana, apple, spinach, chia seeds and avocado! Over 9g fiber per serving. Vegan & gluten free.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, plus more if necessary
- 1 organic apple, peeled and chopped*
- 1 medium frozen banana
- 1 1/2 cups fresh organic spinach
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1/2 medium avocado
Instructions
In a large high-powered blender, add in all ingredients and blend on high for 1-2 minutes or until all ingredients are well combined. If necessary, add in more almond milk to thin the smoothie. Makes 2 smaller sized smoothies.
Recipe Notes
*I recommend using a sweeter apple such as Honeycrisp, Braeburn or Gala. If you prefer a less sweet smoothie, use a green apple.
For addition protein, add a scoop of your favorite protein powder.
Nutrition
Serving: 1smoothieCalories: 235calCarbohydrates: 32.8gProtein: 4.4gFat: 12gFiber: 9.2gSugar: 15.3g
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Photography by: Sarah Fennel
Huge thanks to Experience GR for help making my trip to Grand Rapids happen!
