For the longest time when I was younger, I struggled to eat my vegetables. I wanted nothing to do with leafy greens of any sort! I knew they were good for me, but for whatever reason, I just couldn’t bring myself to put them on my plate. As I got older, I realized something had to change. So I took the same approach that I always do when trying to make a change in my life — gradually eased into it. How did I do it? With smoothies! They’re such an easy way to make sure you’re getting your daily intake of healthy greens. This big green peanut butter banana smoothie was one of the first green smoothies that I ever tried and it was so yummy that it’s been a staple for me ever since.

Big Green Blast of Nutrition

When I first decided to start adding more greens into my diet, I settled on kale as my first veggie of choice. I knew it was a hugely common ingredient in smoothies, and considering that they would also by my approach for getting my veggies in, it only made sense. Kale is an excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals that also provides you with a solid amount of dietary fiber and antioxidant goodness. In fact, it’s even more beneficial when consumed raw in smoothies as the process of cooking kale can actually end up lowering its antioxidant content. (1)

Among the vitamins and minerals found in kale, one in particular stands out for this specific recipe. Kale is a great source of potassium, and so is one of the other main ingredients in this smoothie — the banana. Potassium is an electrolyte that your body needs to perform just about every major function required. Your heart needs it to beat properly, your muscles need it to contract, and your nerves need it to function properly. It also helps to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by regulating your blood pressure as potassium balances out the sodium levels in your bloodstream. (2)

In addition to the high potassium content, this smoothie recipe has another added ingredient that helps to keep your heart healthy — almond milk. Unsweetened almond milk provides you with many of the same benefits as eating raw almonds would. These benefits include lowering your cholesterol, reducing inflammation, and relieving oxidative stress caused by harmful free radicals. (3)

To finish the recipe off, you’ll also be adding two tablespoons of natural peanut butter to make it that much more satiating thanks to the fantastic mix of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats that it provides. Throw in just a bit of ground cinnamon for some added flavor and a bit of ice and you’ll be all set to enjoy this tasty big green smoothie.