Monday, January 18, 2010

Green Smoothies!


We have enjoyed smoothies of all types over the past couple of years, but green smoothies are the ultimate in nutrition and yumminess!


The elimination diet that I have the children on right now includes a green smoothie each day. I am thrilled to get these back into our diet on a regular basis.


I know there is a 'Green Smoothie Girl', a 'Green Smoothie Lady', and even 'Green Smoothie Divas', but to my knowledge, there is no 'Green Smoothie Mama'. That's what I think I have become! I 'dub' myself the 'Green Smoothie Mama'! This week alone I have made more than 50 green smoothies!


Have you all tried green smoothies? You absolutely HAVE to!

Do you get several servings of nutritious greens in everyday?

I didn't think so.

This is a super easy way, and they taste delicious!


Our current 'recipe' (due to the elimination diet) is:

Apple
Pear2-3 handfuls of greens
(organic spinach, organic romaine OR organic kale or Swiss chard)
water and ice


I am telling you these are awesome!


Frozen blueberries are a good additon, though they turn it purple, which might be good to start with if you are opposed to the 'green'. Mango is also very good.

In my research I have found some nuggets to share with you:


It is ideal to keep your green smoothies to just fruit and greens for better digestion. You can add flax seed, oils ect. if you want, but it is easier on your tummy to keep it simpler. Also, it digests quicker if you keep it to the fruit and greens.



Vary your greens if you are doing this everyday. You don't want to do only spinach or kale daily for weeks on end.


The possiblities are endless!


Spinach and romaine are the mildest with Swiss chard and kale following close behind. You really can't taste the green if you use enough fruit.


Make sure you use enough fruit to make it taste yummy, or you and the children will not drink it. Make it so you can't wait for the next one! You can slowly back off on fruit as you get used to the greens. I personally use way less fruit for me because of blood sugar issues, but I still love them.


A banana can cover a multitude of 'green' flavor! Freeze your bananas and toss one in!

You need a pretty decent blender to make these. I have used my Bosch blender, but due to the size of our family and the amount we go through, I am getting a Blendtec. You don't have to have a Blendtec to make these though, okay?


Do a search for 'green smoothies' and you will be overwhelmed with recipes! Remember, do keep it simple though.

Green Smoothie Girl is a great website to help explain the how-tos of eating better. I agree with tons of what she writes, though she is a little more 'plant based' than I am comfortable with. Watch her videos of how she makes smoothies. She is just a regular mom whose family's health has been changed dramatically from changing their diets, namely, adding green smoothies.



Try her Green Smoothies 30 day challenge, I think you will be thrilled with the results.


Green Diva Mom has some good easy recipes.


I have read about cravings vanishing, health and vitality returning, and countless other benefits from adding green smoothies in your diet.


I personally have experienced quite a few in these past few weeks. I 'feel' better, and have more energy. I already didn't have too many cravings, but I can say they are gone! I even went to the movies with Brian and didn't even so much as think about eating the popcorn. Now, all glory does need to go to God because I did pray and ask Him to help me not eat it, but I didn't even want it! You have to know that I have never, ever gone to a movie and not gotten popcorn . . .never!


I do crave even more veggies than I did before. Only time will tell how many more changes will take place!


Are you inspired?

Are you going to try a green smoothie?

Let me know if you do.

Go get your blender out. Put in a cup or so of water.

Put a couple of handfuls of greens in the blender. (what? no greens in the house? See you need this!)

Cover and turn on for 30-60 seconds to really blend the greens up well.

Now add peeled and quartered apple, pear and maybe a banana and blend until smooth!

If you like it colder (I do!) add ice if your blender can handle it.

Go ahead, try it. Trust me!

14 comments:

Gail said...

I am getting interested in this... :) I'll let you know if I get brave enough.

Unknown said...

Michelle, I love them too! I started feeling so much better so quickly. You are going to love your Blendtec!
Here's our family favorite - I just call it a tropical green smoothie:
greens to your preference
pineapple, maybe a cup
1 banana
something to give it coconut flavor - either milk, oil, or shredded coconut if you don't mind the texture
water and ice to thin it down

sorry I don't have exact measurements, since I mix it to taste - I like alot more green than my kids do and I'll use around 7 cups of mixed greens for a blender full.
Lately I have also been adding a clementine (a small orange) and it is fantastic!

Wanting What I Have said...

We have no greens!

We have No greens!

We have NO greens!

I must REALLY need this. :) Actually, I just need to make my big grocery run. I can't wait to give this a try! Thanks so much for sharing!

Michelle (She Looketh Well) said...

Vicki, that sounds delish!! I am going to try that one! Have you ever added coconut oil? Wonder if that would add to the tropical flavor?

J, you can do it!! Let me know!

Come on Mama Bear, just do it. Get back to me ;-)

Unknown said...

I usually use both coconut milk and coconut oil most days - the oil is little tricky because it solidifies so quickly. So what I do is melt it first, them add to the blender last. There is always some residue stuck to the pitcher, but most of it gets mixed in. I love the flavor of it.

Gail said...

I did it!!
I am eating it right now. I say eating instead of drinking, because I thought I would like it slightly thicker (I was right). I am using a spoon instead of a straw. I did not add ice.
It is MUCH BETTER than I thought it would be! I am not just tolerating it--I actually like it! :)
I had been convicted about the number of servings of fruits and vegetables I was getting. That was the number one reason I wanted to try this. It is now TOO EASY to get a full day's worth of fruits and veggies! I am so thankful!
I used what I had in the fridge. Spinach, tangerine, and pear. One half cup water. That's it. I was going to add frozen blueberries, but when I tasted it, I realized I did not need to. My daughter says it tastes like kiwi, and she is right!
I am one happy mamma bear! :)
Thank you again!

Michelle (She Looketh Well) said...

Yeah!! Mamma Bear! I am so happy you are enjoying it. I have read that some people like it thick and just eat with a spoon as you are! I like it really cold and a little thinner. Yeah! Good Job!

Camille said...

Well Michelle ~ Good for you! Sounds like things are really turning around in your health ~ yaaay! God is truly WONDERFUL!! I have a juicer and have done pear, apple, sweet potato, beet, and carrot juice and it really IS yummy...a lot of work, but yummy!! You are inspiring me to get back on the bandwagon. Thanks for the nudge. :)

Blessings,
Camille

Amber Stoneburner said...

So last year my husband and I bought a juicer to better our and our daughter's health. It takes out the peal and core automatically and sends the juice out one side and the waste out of the other. Will it work with these smoothies??

Michelle (She Looketh Well) said...

Hi Amber, I too have a 'juicer', but for these 'green smoothies' you blend them in a blender. We have done fruits and veggies in our juicer and enjoyed the juice, and I believe these are very healthy, especially for someone who has problems with digestion or is sick.

Using the blender keeps all the very valuable fiber with the smoothie. In my research, I have come to the conclusion that I would much prefer the fiber to come with the juice.

also, with a juicer the fruit sugar goes very quickly to blood, and can cause an unwanted rise in blood sugar levels. The fiber helps slow down the absorption of these sugars. Does that make sense?

So, juicing is very beneficial, but I personally believe (for me) that smoothies are the way for us to go. Also, I can't remember if you can 'juice' greens, like spinach and kale. It seems you must be able to, right? The whole point behind 'green smoothies' is the greens, and as many as you can cram in the blender and still have it taste good, as far as I am concerned.

Does that help?

Amber Stoneburner said...

Hey thanks Michelle, that does help. We bought the juicer and realized later that what we really wanted was a high power blender. We still use our juicer but not as much as we thought we would. We have juiced greens in it and they are really good, but fiber is a high priority in our house. My daughter and I both have health problems and a lot of sickness walks though our house.
Your blogs are encouraging and helpful, please keep writing. Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. I have a hand blender made for smoothies, I'll give that a shot!

Girl Invisible said...

Wishing you in the best in overcoming your Adrenal Fatigue and thanks so much for sharing your green smoothie recipes! I hope to get out this weekend & buy a blender & some of these great green ingredients! I can't wait to try one!

Alison said...

50 is a lot of snoothies!! I might be just a wee bit inspired...!!

The FitzGerald Family said...

Michelle:

I thought you'd like to know I linked to your post on Green Smoothies today. Here is how you can find it:

http://fitzgeraldfamilog.blogspot.com/2010/05/green-smoothies.html

Thanks for letting us in on this wonderful healthy delight!

Your friend,
Liz in CA