The Green Monkey Smoothie

I call this the Green Monkey because it makes you go bananas. Don't let the color fool you, this is delicious and sweet and doesn't taste like veggies.

That's because the spirulina, a powdered algae that you can find in your health food store, doesn't have flavor. That's why I put it in my smoothies. I get all of its anti-oxidant and oxygenating benefits without any yucky-green flavor.

I keep green juice mixed with coconut water in my house that I pick up at local juice bars, like Erewhon or Juice Served Here, but just in case you don't have access to those I separated the ingredients so you can add green juice and coconut water separately. Don't have green juice? Don't sweat: Just add a little more of the other liquids and throw in a piece of celery and a handful of baby spinach. Hopefully you have a strong blender or vitamix which can pulverize them.

This fresh banana smoothie will give you energy and bring out your inner monkey.

Ingredients:

• 1 frozen banana or unfrozen, if that's all you have
• 1 tablespoons sunflower butter
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon spirulina
• 1/3 cup green juice without any citrus
• 1/3 cup coconut water
• 1/3 unsweetened rice milk
• Add ice if you want it frothier

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