Ingredients:

• 2 handfuls of fresh spinach (this would also work with frozen spinach chunks – probably about 3)
• 1/2 cup canned pure pumpkin
• 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
• 1 snack-sized fat-free vanilla yogurt
• 1 packet stevia
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or more, if you want)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups water and almond milk mixture (I used about 1/2 cup unsweetened Almond Breeze and 1 cup water)
• 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
• lots of ice

Place all ingredients except for the last 2 in a blender and blend until all spinach chunks are gone. Add the xanthan gum, followed by the ice, using the ice to push the xanthan gum down. Blend for a few minutes until smooth and serve. (Note: The longer you blend, the larger the smoothie will get because the xanthan gum adds volume. If your blender jug isn’t very big, I would recommend using a little less spinach so that it has room to “grow”.)

Makes 1 very large green monster.

Approximate nutrition: 250 calories, 5g fat, 1g saturated fat, 70mg cholesterol, 244mg sodium, 20g carbs, 9g fiber, 5g sugar, 28g protein