This summer, I took control of my health, making the switch to a gluten, sugar, and dairy-free lifestyle and working out regularly. While my lifestyle transition has been hard, with cheating here and there, I wake up every day amazed by how these changes have transformed me into a more confident, healthy, happy, and generally better woman than I ever could have expected.

Being new to all these dietary restrictions, I have been experimenting in the kitchen like a crazy girl! For my first recipe, I wanted to share one that is near and dear to my heart: a peanut butter and apple green power smoothie.

Coming in at under 140 calories and rich in omega 3′s, protein, healthy sugars, and greens, you can see why I’d be crazy about something that packs such a morning boost in one glass! Did I mention it’s delicious too? While it might seem weird to put baby spinach in a smoothie, besides the color, you’d never even know it was there (promise)! This smoothie tastes just like your tried and true childhood snack of apples and peanut butter—adult style.

Ingredients
1/2 a large apple
1 cup almond milk
1 handful baby spinach or kale
1 1/2 teaspoons chia seeds
2 Tablespoons peanut butter powder

This recipe comes together in under 5 minutes, and is so easy to make. Simply cut up the apple, add in the other ingredients, and blend!

I drink this alone each morning, but you could set it along a cup of coffee or a piece of toast with coconut butter and honey for something a little more decadent. Enjoy!

All photos by Kelsey Cronkhite

Kelsey Cronkhite

Kelsey received her BFA in studio arts from the University of Iowa and is an MFA candidate in graphic design at the Savannah College of Art and Design. When not designing or helping out behind-the-scenes at 

Verily, s

he enjoys hunting for vintage treasures and experimenting with new ingredients in

hopes of bridging the gap between her foodie sensibilities and what you'd think of as traditional health food. She is the voice behind the lifestyle blog

Pinegate Road

.