This smoothie has a flavor reminiscent of the creamy vanilla-orange drinks served at Orange Julius stands. It’s chock-full of vitamin C from the orange juice, potassium from the bananas and vitamins A and K from the spinach. Plus the almond milk is high in vitamins D and E, as well as calcium. It’s a great breakfast substitute to start the morning out on a healthy note. If you peel and slice a few bananas, freeze them on a plate, then transfer the frozen pieces to a freezer-safe zip-top bag or plastic container, you’ll always have them on hand to make this smoothie or others, like the Vanilla-Pumpkin Smoothie.
Special Cooking Equipment Needed: Blender (one to try: Vitamix Blender), scraper spatula
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup vanilla almond milk
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 sliced frozen banana
- 1 cup baby spinach leaves
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, if desired
Preparation:
Combine the almond milk, orange juice, banana pieces and baby spinach in a blender. Process to combine, stopping once or twice to scrape down sides. Puree on a high speed for at least 1 minute, until the ingredients are thoroughly combined and the smoothie is smooth and frothy. Pour into a tall glass and drink.
