Thanks to Crystal I have begun to drink green smoothies. I never thought that I would do something like this, but let me tell you something: THEY ARE GREAT!!
I thought it would be bitter, make me shudder, and be a total waste of time and money. Instead, it was sweet, refreshing, energizing, fast, and a great investment of health for our family. I called it "The Incredible Hulk" drink to my three sons and that was the incentive they needed to try it. They finished the smoothies off FAST and that's all my four year old wanted to have for lunch today (and he is my notoriously "picky" eater).
A few posts ago I told you that I had been looking for recipes for how to use all the veggies and grains that I buy and then don't know what to do with. Green smoothies are the perfect answer for how to eat more greens in a pleasing palatable way. Cuz it's gotta taste good, right?
Google "green smoothies" and you will find many great websites about the nutritional benefits, the renewed energy people experience, physical healing testimonials, and interesting recipes. It's really fascinating. The common denominator of all my research seemed to be to make your green smoothies with a 60/40 ratio of fruits to greens and some water (as much or as little as you like for desired consistency).
I like doing what Crystal does by using a banana for your base. It gives it the sweetness that "hides" the greens, creaminess for a great texture, and kids love it. From there, add any other fruits. Apples, pears, strawberries, blueberries, oranges, mangoes, etc. Then if you are just beginning (like me!) add 1/2 cup greens. I am starting off with spinach because it is mild, but I have some lacinato kale in the frig to try this afternoon. Then add water. Up the greens to 1-2 cups as you get accustomed to it.
My "recipe" so far has been:
1 banana (very ripe)
1 large Granny Smith apple (peeled, cored, cubed)
3/4 cup spinach
3/4 cup water
It was delicious. I couldn't believe it. I am definitely going to make these daily for a snack or breakfast and for my children. There are all kinds of neat recipes and ideas to find, but I say keep it simple. Banana, other fruits, some spinach or kale and water...then blend away.
Try it out and see what you think I'd love to hear if you like them or not. And if you are interested in a Green Smoothie Challenge, then check out Sara's drink-a-green-smoothie-a-day-for-a-month challenge that starts February 25th.
Go green in a new way!
photo by Westcoast Weezie
12 comments:
Glad you posted this. I LOVE Green! Our favorite juice around here is the Green Goodness by bolthouse farms. It is a little pricey but worth it for me. If I am feeling sluggish in the afternoon I chug a glass of it and it totally helps. I had been wanting to make my own. I need to start making more smoothies.
Have you ever tried spirulina? If not you have to. It is amazing. It is essentially like taking over 12 vegetables a day. It is such a potent whole food.With the chlorophyll in it it just brings extra breath of life to your body! I just started taking it a few weeks ago and notice a HUGE difference in my attitude, my skin and my energy levels, if you are nursing a baby you have to slowly work your way up to the daily dosage since it is a natural detoxifier. I have been wanting to put the powder in a smoothie and mix it like you suggested with various fruits. The apple sounds great!
WOW That was longwinded! :)Just excited to see others like me!
Ok, I am going to try this, will have to pick up spinach next trip to the grocery store, but I have everything else on hand. I will work on this.
thanks for the links you sent me, I can't wait to have an hour or two tonight, after the wee ones are in bed, to enjoy reading them, while sipping my hot tea.
Thanks agian!
Yay for green smoothies! When I get there...we're having a green smoothie together on the porch in the sunshine. Do you have a porch? hee hee
Yes, a front porch, 2 rockers and plenty of Southern Sunshine :)
We do green smoothies here too. I think it is about the only way to get lots of veggies, greens, and fresh fruit into the bodies of my sons. ;P AND extra bonus, little boys LOVE to operate the juicer!
We juice fresh veggies first (carrots, spinach, kale, apple, broccoli-we pick 2 or so), then use the liquid in the blender with a banana, a bit of fresh homemade yogurt, and a little bit of frozen fruit (blueberries, strawberries, peaches--we have whatever we saved from summer). Into the blender we also add our cod liver oil and liquid vitamin and whatever extras we want to use. Whizzzzzzzzzzzzz.
The frozen fruit is optional, but it makes it especially yummy in the hot summer months.
A smoothie a day is a good idea to get us though the last of the dark days! :)
We love smoothies too, but haven't yet thrown in any veggies. I may have to try it. It seems like a great way to eat some more green!
We (especially Rachel - almost 3)love smoothies and often have them for breakfast. I usually add a little wheat germ or ground flax seed to ours and sometimes yogurt! Green smoothies sound like a great idea and I plan to try some soon! thanks for the idea!
Very exciting idea, Aimee. . .I am coveting a friend's Vitamix because I want to start making green smoothies, but maybe I can do it like this before I actually get one! Thanks for the good ideas---
we've been doing them at our place too...and we all LOVE them!
yay! green smoothies!
Cannot believe you got me hooked on this Aimee. You and Tab. The spinach makes every other ingredient taste so much more fresh. YUMMY!
I've been drinking these, too, for over a year now! I love them! I also keep it pretty simple... lots of spinach! I told my boys that, "green gives you muscles" and they love it, too. :o)
Excellent, I have spinach, ginger and apple. I think I will add spirulina.
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