I found green smoothies a few years ago. When I first tried them, I offered the drink to my kids and they ran off to hid their heads in the pillows. I had to pay my kids 25 cents to try them. Since then, my youngest and I fight over who gets the last sip.
The reason I drink my greens is that it’s hard to consume enough greens for any large health benefit without putting too much salad dressing on a salad. So I make smoothies. I find that if I have a green smoothie for three or four days straight in a row, I actually crave them.
The smoothies consist of kale, spinach or any other type of greens, and any fruit you want to add. I keep them simple with spinach and I throw in any fruit we happen to have. Spinach is an excellent source of antioxidant nutrients including vitamin C and E, beta-carotene and others. I blend all of it up in my Vitamix with a tad of water until it’s smooth.
Experiment with different fruits. A frozen banana thrown in makes the drink very refreshing. If you haven’t ever had them, I’d make them sweeter at first with more fruit and less greens. As you develop a taste for them, you can add more greens to the mixture. There are loads of GS recipes online.
Have you ever had a green smoothie? Would you try one?
Had to comment on this one! I make a fruit smoothie every morning after I work out. But mine consist of a Yoplait yogurt, about a 1/2 cup of milk, a banana and some ice. I’m fairly addicted to them. But NEVER, and I mean NEVER, did it occur to me to put GREENS in them! I must say that I’m probably a lot like your kids because my first thought was, “YUCK!” But ok, ok, you won’t have to pay me 25 cents. I’ll try one! I hope I end up craving them????
Julie, I know how absolutely awful it sounds. And did you notice in the picture that I HAD to put color/fruit around the glass because the smoothie can look horrid. I told my kids to close their eyes when they first tried it.
But they are yummy. There are so many nutrients in greens that we just don’t get into our diets. I think kale is a super source food but you have to start slow with it. And you have to blend it well – but try them for a week, and let me know.
Recently in an airport, Jamba Juice was offering samples of one of its green smoothies. I love a free anything, so i pounced.
I don’t love free anything THAT much apparently.
Maybe I’d be okay with my own–I DO love spinach…oof, but that color.
Was it a green smoothie or was it a shot of wheat grass? I’ve seen wheat grass shots at Jamba Juice and I know to stay away from them! Ha!
Babette, that’s a great story! Thanks for coming by. And I just might have to watch the movie again…when everyone is gone. 🙂
Actually, this sounds yummy! I’m already a fan of vegetable juices, and I’ll admit I’ve tried wheatgrass shots — twice! — though both times it tasted exactly like drinking the lawn.
As we’ve no Vitamix here, would the recipe be similar for just a regular kitchen blender? I’d like to give this a try.
Love the “drinking the lawn” comment. I’ve heard that wheat grass can be nauseating…ugh.
Yes, all blenders work. Just blend it well. This time I only used watermelon and spinach, and it was delicious. I don’t like to use apples in it because it seems to have an icky/foamy texture but you could try it.
Jan,
Ok, the thought of a green smoothie kinda makes my stomach turn, but it is a good way to get your greens. I kinda just prefer to eat greens, but since I really don’t eat enough greens or fruit, maybe I should try them. I don’t know though, will have to think about that one.
Happy blogging,
Jenn
Your comment made me chuckle. Throw in some ice cubes…that might help?
Happy blogging to you, too.
jan
I’d be willing to try one, Jan. I don’t have a vita-mix but will a blender do? We make fruit smoothies but I think I want to try one with spinach. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Yes, you can use a regular blender – just blend it well. Put a big handful of spinach in and try it. It’s just an easier way to eat your greens. 🙂
For now I will take your word for it :)….but maybe one of these days I’ll get a bit braver and actually try to make one. I’m still trying to make a good smoothie of any kind- somehow I can’t seem to get them ‘just right’
This had never occurred to me, but sure, why not? I’m assuming you cook the spinach first? Does the kale have to be cooked? Do you recommend watermelon as the fruit?
I saw your topic discussion about large photos in the Blogathon group, and, despite picture sizes, I just had to see what you meant by “green smoothies”. At first I thought you meant the COLOR green (yeah, totally over my head there). I was expecting pictures of (literally) green smoothies. I saw the first photo of spinach and … well, let’s just say “ew.” 🙂 But, I actually TRIED it. If you add enough sweet stuff (strawberries, bananas, and orange juice went in mine), you can’t really taste the greens.
All I have to say is, I’m a be-leaf-er.
Yum!
Hi Jan:) The title made me curious yesterday and after reading it, i chopped an avocado into my smoothie today! Never did that before:) It worked really well though, good idea with the greens. I also just watched a programme recently about losing weight, and it said that having a meal that has been all mixed up with fluids in a smoothie stays in stomach much longer than the same ingredients all eaten individually (even if you drink the same amount of fluids with it!). Quite fascinating i thought. Anyway not sure if i’m brave enough yet to add spinach haha.
Hi Lily,
That sounds so yummy. I never thought about putting an avocado in my smoothie. Did it make it thicker and creamy?
Spinach doesn’t have much taste it just makes the smoothie an “interesting” color. 🙂
Yes indeed! The texture was amazing:) I put it in with yogurt and banana, and it turned the whole thing a really nice green. And the creamyness was incredible, the avocado wasn’t even that ripe too. I quite like the ‘no taste’ thing with the spinach, avocado does give a taste that takes a bit getting used to:)