attack of the green monster
I love a big green smoothie. It makes me feel like I have gotten away with something. Sneaking spinach into a smoothie and liking it. Score one for the home team! And I should mention that I like my smoothies thick! Like I want to eat it from a bowl with a spoon and I want it to taste like ice cream. I don’t think this is too much to ask.
But here’s my issue, I (and by I, I mean my stomach) doesn’t like xantham gum. It makes my stomach hurt literally within minutes of ingesting it. It bloats me up in about two seconds flat and causes some not so feminine noises. So what to use? CHIA SEEDS! Yes…chia seeds give me a nice thick smoothie with healthy fat and no funny tummy business. I’ll say it again, score one for the home team!
Eat From A Bowl Green Monster
1 cup almond milk (or coconut milk, rice milk, soy milk, hazelnut milk or just milk…you get the idea)
large handful of spinach
1-2 T. chia seeds (the more you use the thicker it gets)
protein powder of choice (I am a vanilla girl)
1 frozen banana (this is NECESSARY in my opinion to get that creamy factor)
handful of ice
Throw everything in your blender (or Vitamix for some of you lucky ones) and let it rip. The longer it blends the thicker it will get.
And there you go…a thick, eat from a spoon, in bowl, with no xantham gum smoothie! I won’t tell if you lick the bowl. Promise.
What Kelly Said 
There is just something about green monsters that I can’t seem to tolerate! Every time I have made one and try to drink it, I instantly feel sick and cannot tolerate it! Maybe it’s the color or consistency? I don’t know what it is, but I may try chia seeds to thicken it up a bit. I don’t have xanthum gum but have a feeling it would make me bloat like a balloon too
Any suggestions on how to make a green monster tastier?! Yours does looks good 🙂
Well I have noticed that when it comes to green monsters it is best to drink them immediately. It isn’t the type of smoothie you can make in advance and enjoy later. And then sometimes people don’t like it and that’s okay too…my husband isn’t a huge fan of it. I think it is the idea that there is spinach in there that turns him off.
That looks SO smooth and creamy and delicious! Way better than my icy, chunky, messes 😉
I also love my smoothies THICK but don’t really love xantham gum. Can’t wait to try chia seeds!
For me it isn’t how I feel after having xantham gum, it is the slight taste of the gums that I just can’t stand.
And I totally agree with you about the frozen banana part — they make smoothies so frosty!
I’ve been having these almost everyday sometimes with blueberries. Today I added peanut butter and cacao powder to make it extra chocolatey!
Great tip! I’ve never experimented with chia seeds yet….I need to try em’!
I LOVE using chia seeds!! That looks like pudding it’s so thick!! I bet it’s delicious! Yum! Now I want one for lunch! Should I blend up my salad? lol
I love chia seeds. I always add them to my overnight oats, they make the texture so much better. I actually can’t eat overnight oats anymore without chia seeds. Ill have to try this. Such a good idea.
I agree…I can’t eat overnight oats without chia seeds. The texture is all wrong!
Wow, that looks like melted green monster ice cream!
Love this! I’m out of spinach right now and I’m not happy about it. Boo!
OMG Chia Seeds! EUREKA! Kelly, I have been trying to find an alternative to xanthum gum bc of the bloat I get. I just thought I would give up trying and that was that. Awesome!
Heather! You are TOO cute!! I hope this works for you! Just keep blending…the longer it blends the thicker it will get!
Wow, that actually looks good…I may have to experiment. I keep seeing all these GMs posted but no recipe -Kelly to the rescue!!
I love the chia seed suggestion! I guess I just never thought of that before but it makes sense, the gel when they soaked with liquid. I love it! Now the green part – that is where I will need some convincing 😉
You can always make it thick without the spinach! I also find that the frozen banana makes a big difference versus using an unfrozen one.
That looks yummy! I’ll have to try it when I’m back in a country with Chia seeds that one can find…
I think a frozen banana is key to any green smoothie. I’ve seen some folks add frozen avocado, but I haven’t tried that yet. Have you?
I have used avacado before but it gives it a texture that I am not super crazy about. I can’t put my finger exactly on it but neither me nor my husband liked with avacdo.
I am so like you in this respect! I love sneaking the spinach in, but like my smoothies really, really thick. I just add more frozen banana though 🙂 I should try the chia seeds.
ha ha… it’d be nice if I were a little more into the texture of smoothies… or fruit… neither one sounds overly exciting to me!
I’m weird… :p
I am weird about my fruit texture as well. It can’t be mushy! I can’t handle that…most of my fruit is underripe because it has to be firm.
Chia seeds ARE the trick! I LOVE thick green smoothies. 🙂
Now you need a Blentec blender.
Wow – I was wondering if the seeds would “bulk” it up – I always see/hear of the smoothies – but hate thin consistencies…hence I usually end up with yogurt “bowls” …a.k.a yogurt “messes” 😉