PBJ Spinach Banana Smoothie

Power up your smoothie with peanut butter, jelly, bananas… and spinach! This PBJ Spinach Banana smoothie is healthy and it tastes fantastic.  This recipe is sponsored by Abbott.

PBJ Spinach Banana Smoothie

Smoothies are like an artist’s empty canvas.  Every dab of creative inspiration is one touch closer to a masterpiece.

When you experiment with smoothie ingredients, you’re no longer a kitchen serf, bound to the prosaic and the anodyne—you become a smoothie artiste.

In that spirit, I decided to play with some of my favorite ingredients, and pack in a little extra healthiness while I was at it.

Have you ever heard about lutein?  Spinach and strawberries are both high in lutein.  Recently, I learned from global healthcare company Abbott that lutein is an important nutrient compound with several exciting benefits.

Benefits of Lutein

• Enhances eye health
• Improves learning and memory
• Improves overall cognitive function

In addition to spinach and strawberries, lutein can also be found in leafy greens like kale, Swiss chard, collard greens, broccoli, egg yolks, and avocados.

This PBJ Spinach Banana Smoothie is packed with protein and other nutrients, too.  It’s a great choice for breakfast, lunch, or snack time for kids and adults alike.

I like to set out the ingredients at lunch time and let my kids build their own smoothies.  With just a little guidance, they’re able to make their own better-for-you smoothie.  It’s fun and healthy.  Plus, it helps them learn how to make good food choices.

While my little smoothie artistes are enjoying the smoothies they made, I can take a look at resources like Abbott’s Lutein Grocery Store List, which help me stay informed about nutrition and which ingredients best supply key nutrients like lutein.  It makes it easy to plan summertime meals that taste great and deliver the nutritional goodness.

Try this PBJ Spinach Banana Smoothie recipe for a #LuteinForLunch boost, and you’ll appreciate just how delicious good nutrition can be—for the whole family.

Add lutein-rich ingredients to your meal plans for summertime and back-to-school to reap the benefits.

Tips and Substitutions When Making a PBJ Spinach Banana Smoothie

• Perfectly ripe bananas are best.  Overripe bananas can taste a little musty.
• You can substitute regular spinach for the baby spinach, but start with a little less spinach; it may taste a little stronger than baby spinach.
• Greek yogurt is my favorite because of its flavor and the protein it contains, but you can substitute any vanilla yogurt.  Or go crazy with another flavor if you feel like it.
• If you use chunky peanut butter, it will not get blended into smoothness; so use creamy peanut butter if possible.
• The recipe calls for strawberries and strawberry jam.  If you only have one or the other, that’s fine.  Use the amount called for, then taste and adjust (add another strawberry or a dab of jam) if necessary.
• I use cow’s milk, but a slightly sweet nut milk nut milk will also work.

5 from 1 vote

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PBJ Spinach Banana Smoothie

Power up your smoothie with peanut butter, jelly, bananas... and spinach! This PBJ Spinach Banana smoothie is healthy and it tastes FANTASTIC.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Prep Time 1 minute

Total Time 1 minute

Servings 2

Calories 280 kcal

Author Katie Moseman

Ingredients

• 1 banana ripe
• 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup strawberries
• 1 tablespoon strawberry jam
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup baby spinach lightly packed
• 1 cup ice

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.  Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

PBJ Spinach Banana Smoothie

Amount Per Serving

Calories 280 Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Cholesterol 7mg2%

Sodium 124mg5%

Potassium 577mg16%

Carbohydrates 39g13%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 26g29%

Protein 11g22%

Vitamin A 490IU10%

Vitamin C 49.4mg60%

Calcium 87mg9%

Iron 0.8mg4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Abbott.