3 Veggie-Heavy Smoothies That Will Boost Your Energy More Than Coffee

We've been absolutely smitten with the recipe blog Green Kitchen Stories since ... well, about as long as we realized food blogs were a thing. For their third cookbook, Luise and David (a wife-and-husband duo) tackled one of our favorite healthy-eating subjects: smoothies.

This is one of our absolute favorite green smoothies, and yet it's so quick and easy to make, with only a few ingredients. The sweet and juicy pineapple balances the grassy flavor of the spinach perfectly while the ginger provides a spicy punch.

Serves 2 (or makes 1 large serving)

Preparation

1. Roughly chop the pineapple and add it to a blender along with the rest of the ingredients.

2. Blend on high speed until completely smooth. Taste and adjust the spiciness to your liking by adding more ginger if necessary.

3. Pour into two medium-size glasses and serve or store in a large airtight glass bottle to take on a picnic (as featured in the photo).

Our chilled smoothie version of a morning cappuccino has the addition of dates for a little sweetness, a touch of cacao, and some rolled oats to make it thicker and more comforting so you'll last longer on it. It's a real treat and has a very round flavor.

We are leaving some leeway here with the amount of espresso and dates, so you can make it as potent or as sweet as you like. On hot summer mornings, we fill our glass with ice before pouring over the blend and call it a Mochaccino on the Rocks.

Serves 1

Preparation

1. Put all of the ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed until completely smooth.

2. Taste and adjust the sweetness and coffee flavor to your liking by adding more dates, espresso, or milk, if necessary.

Beets (and other nitrate-rich vegetables) improve blood and oxygen flow in muscles and prompt them to use the oxygen more efficiently. Sour cherries are rich in antioxidants and help the body to recover from intense training as well as reducing delayed-onset muscle pain.

Drink beetroot and sour cherry juices and smoothies regularly to gain the physical benefits.

Serves 2

Preparation

1. Depending on the strength of your blender, roughly chop or grate the beetroot and add it to the blender along with the rest of the ingredients.

2. Blend on high speed until completely smooth. Taste and adjust the spiciness and sourness to your liking by adding more ginger or lemon juice if necessary.