When the heat is on during the summer, I look for any way to avoid turning on my stove or oven. You feel me?

While breaking out the blender the other morning for a frosty, delicious breakfast smoothie, I remembered our patch of peppermint thriving in our backyard. I popped outside, collected a bunch of the beautiful green leaves and brought them inside. My challenge: creating a nourishing, healthy version of a mint-flavored shake that would provide me fuel to start my day.

Enter: this vivid green, refreshing mint smoothie! The fresh peppermint took this drink to the next level. If you don’t have access to fresh mint, don’t fret. A natural peppermint extract will create a similar taste!

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups spinach
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves OR 1 tsp peppermint extract
• 1/2 cup ice cubes
• OPTIONAL: 1 scoop (approx. 20-25g) vanilla or unflavored protein powder of choice

Tools:

• High-speed blender

Instructions:

• Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth
• To adjust for your preference: add additional milk to thin or additional frozen banana if you like it thicker!

Want to try this? Let me know how you like it!