I am a huge fan of making breakfast ahead of time so it’s ready to go. Mornings are usually busy around here and the last thing I want to do is spend too much time fumbling around in the kitchen trying to fix something fast so I can get on with my day. This is why I love recipes like this Peach Chia Green Smoothie!
The key ingredient here is the amazing chia seed which can help you stay full for hours because it can grow 10 times its weight in size when combined with liquid. The word “chia” comes from the Aztec word that means “oily” – The oils found in this small little round seed are the secret to its health benefits. Having the most content of omega 3 fatty acids of any plant food – chia seeds fight inflammation in the body reducing the chance for heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and depression.
Hope you enjoy this delicious (and seasonal) breakfast idea!
- 1 peach, pitted
- 2 cups spinach (or other leafy green - romaine works well too)
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- ½ frozen banana, peeled
- ½ orange
- ¼ cup plain grass-fed yogurt or nut milk of choice
- (Optional: 1 date for an extra hint of sweetness)
- Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Place in fridge overnight or drink immediately
- Add more milk if a thinner consistency is desired or frozen banana if a thicker smoothie is desired. Enjoy!
You can get chia seeds here or at just about any natural food store… make sure you choose organic!
Do you know someone who would love a green smoothie recipe like this? Then please share!
Xo,
Vani
I don’t believe there’s spinach in the picture of that smoothie. It would have turned at least a light shade of green. . . . .sounds good though! Unfortunately, I can’t find organic peaches in my town 🙁
There was a mixture of romaine and spinach for the photoshoot. See directions for the smoothie – always switch up your greens my friend!
I made it with organic spring mix and it came out very green. I liked it but my kids struggled with it. Next time I’ll use 1 cup of greens. I added an extra date and more almond milk along with some ice, then they liked it. They’re good sports about stuff like this. I’m very fortunate!
Love the idea of blending your smoothie the night before to save time!! Many thanks! Would the chia seeds clump up soaking in the smoothie over night?
No – they will expand and get a little gelatinous… but that’s it!
It is common for any smoothies that contain that amount of spinach to not be very photogenic. The spinach is in the bowl in the background, the peach hasn’t been blended yet and I don’t see the 1/2 orange or 1/2 frozen banana. If it’s nutritious, and tastes OK, that’s what is important!!!
Good points indeed! If people are concerned about the color, they can use an opaque cup 🙂
You made me laugh with the opaque cup Vani! As always, I love this site and the background info you gave me on Chia seeds. Up to now, I really didn’t have a solid reason why I should be consuming them. Now I do! I just feel off a slippery seaweed rock at my parents cottage over Lake Ontario and fell on my arm and butt slamming into the rocks trying to go for a swim. I am so fortunate that I didn’t break anything. The inflammation has been terrible and I’m looking for a natural solution to bring it down. Thanks for the Chia seed option!!!
I really like things like coconut water, cream, or manna in smoothies. I like the taste it makes it more palatable for me. If I do not have any, I sometimes make it in the Vitamix (good brand of coconut, usually from Tropical Traditions, and water). You do not seem to use coconut that much, any reason why?
I personally don’t need it for my smoothies to taste good – but if you like it – go for it!
I would love it if I could easily pin these reciepes on Pintrest. That’s quickly become my repository of yummy goodness. Looks good!
Michelle–You can! I was just pinning it myself, and it took me a second to find the link. Underneath the recipe, on the right side there is a green icon that says “share this”. If you click on that, a drop-down box opens, and the option to pin it is there. I keep ALL my healthy recipes on pinterest, too!
Do you peel your peach/& orange?
I know for sure she wouldn’t peel an organic peach. So many good nutrients in the skin, and when it’s blended you can’t tell. I’m guessing she peels the orange, but I don’t know for sure ;). Hopefully Vani will chime in!
I know for sure she wouldn’t peel an organic peach. So many good nutrients in the peel, and once it is blended, you will never know if there is peel or not. If it’s not organic, I still wouldn’t peel it, as the chemicals used to grow it would be throughout the peach. Orange: I am not sure, but I am guessing she peels that. Hopefully Vani will chime in when she has a moment! I’m interested in the answer as well. 🙂
I read somewhere that it’s not good to leave smoothies overnight because they may not be as nutritious as fresh. Is that a myth?
It’s not a myth, but there’s always a tradeoff. Do we grow our own peach and orange tree so we pick it perfectly fresh before putting it in a smoothie? And a banana tree. And a chia plant? 🙂 hehehe. The amount of nutrient lost is not much if there’s not a lot of oxygen in the jar used to store it. So fill it to the top, and cover tightly. If you have the time to make a fresh one every day, and can drink it immediately, that is always best. But if you’re looking for a time-saver, this is a good one that I use myself. It beats whatever else I might eat for breakfast because I don’t have time or feel up to making a smoothie every single day, every single morning–for me and/or for my hubby.
Vani ,
Chia is very high in salicylate. People who are sensitive to aspirin should be careful consuming chia seeds. And if you have a reaction to chia such as headaches, ringing in ears, hives, eye pain, anxiety, etc you may be sensitive to salicylate and not know it.
I read that fruit should never be consumed with veggies. Fruit digests faster than veggies but if veggies are in the way fruit will sit and ferment in the stomach. Anyone else came across this info? Otherwise this looks yummy!
Yes, I’ve heard this many times. My husband had the same concern. However, so many people have lost weight and gotten rid of their prescription meds, feel amazing both physically and mentally, clear skin and mind, and have more energy than ever before. All those people are living proof that it must be ok!
for better digestion you shouldn’t eat fruits with other foods but you can eat greens with fruits or greens with other vegetables because they digest quicker. I usually have greens in my fruit smoothies and if I’m going to eat any type of melon I will eat that in the morning before any other fruit, as they digest quicker than other fruits. I use to be vegan so I know about eating fruits and vegetables and which ones can be eaten together. Examples would be oranges and other citric fruits and acid fruits like pineapple can be eaten together, sweet fruits like bananas and dates together, apples and pears together, different types of berries.
I’ve read that chia seeds are high in phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors like all nuts and seeds. I sometimes soak and rinse nuts and seeds to decrease the amount of these substances but you really can’t do that with chia because it absorbs the water. Ever since I found this out I haven’t used chia seeds as much but not sure if it’s really a big deal. I’m wondering what you think?
I forgot to say, thanks so much for what you are doing! I know your efforts are making a difference in people’s lives, including mine. Thank you!
I always soak my chia seeds. I keep them in a glass jar with spring water and use them within every few days. i put them in my morning drink/smoothie which I blend on high in my vitamix.
My questions are- 1) Do I need to soak them before using them so they plum up or just throw them in the vitamix dry as they come from the store? 2) Once I put them in the vitamix they are no longer visible but I am thinking the nutrition value is still all there in the drink. Is this correct?
I would really appreciate the clarification!
Thank you so much!
I used home made yogurt and fresh spinach from my garden , love the tasted, nice for a hot day.
Thank’s for the recipe
I’ve made this several times adding 1/4 scoop grass fed whey. It’s a wonderful evening snack! Thanks for the great recipes.
Hi Gail, just wondering what type of Whey Protein Powder you used?? If any one else has an idea of a great tasting Vanilla please let me know!
It’s called Reserveage Grass Fed Whey Protein unsweetened, unflavored. I found it online for about $20 for 11 oz. It’s non GMO and no hormones. I put 1/4 scoop in all my smoothies
Vega One nutritional shake French Vanilla is yummy, and vegan if you don’t want the whey.
I am enjoying the peach smoothie right now so much I had to let you know I give it 5*****!!! I also added some ginger, a clementine instead of an orange because that’s all I had, left out the date and used 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk. Soooooooooooooooo yummy 🙂 Thank you!!!
Is the orange peeled? all others say peeled except for orange.
Looks yummy–I don’t like oranges very much so I’ll replace it with mango or more peaches!
I see so many ..comments…about the smothie….and very sad to say …most of the negatives. …now ..smothies are a great source of nutrition….and ..easy to do…..please can you guys just drink the damn smothies and enjoy it …
They had a sale on frozen peaches, so I decided to try this out. The oats and chia were perfect to support my current breastfeeding needs, and I have to admit, I drank the whole damn thing.
Love this! Make it every morning to take with me to work for breakfast! Differences for mine though:
-Sub 1 tbsp. of chia seeds for hemp seeds
-Use home made coconut-hemp milk instead of nut milk (almond milk gives me digestive issues for some reason), also I use about 3/4 cup
– Add 2 tsp of organic psyllium husks
Mine turns out pretty green, but very tasty. The peach gives just the right amount of sweetness! Also it keeps me very full for the next four hours, and no crash during the day!
Thanks for the recipe! Looks yummy, natural AND healthy (last but not least important). Here in southeast corner of Spain is still summer and hot -ask Sergio Leone- and this smoothie may be a wondeful alternative to peach tea. Greetings from Europe!
Hi, it looks great. I so want to try it. I am in my 2nd trimester. Is it all okay to drink? Are chia seeds safe to use in pregnancy? As i have heard that flax seeds are not.
Waiting.
Thanks