I’ve been using my Vita Mix juicer/blender dream machine for almost twenty years now (same machine—only one small part replaced). I tell everyone that I’d give up my car before I’d give up my Vita mix. Now before you get the idea this is a commercial for this amazing appliance, let me quickly say that the reason I’m even referencing it is because of what I really want to talk about — green smoothies.
Green smoothies are smoothies with greens blended through them — simple. Greens are incredibly nutritious, however people struggle to eat enough of them with regard to quantity and many find them hard to digest. It has been suggested that this is due to not having enough stomach acid and enough jaw strength to chew them till they are a creamy consistency. Blended greens have their tough cell structure pulverized and so are effectively pre-digested. Adding fruit makes them taste great and is also a clever way of getting the recommended amount of fruit into the diet, which most people don't get enough of either.
Besides being incredibly healthy, they are a huge time-saver. They really are a meal in themselves. Some people add a handful of almonds, walnuts or protein powder for extra nutrition. I add a 1/3 C mix of golden flaxseed, hemp seed, and chia seed to my smoothie (all three seeds are loaded with Omega 3’s).
And here’s where I must talk about the Vita Mix again (and another machine, the Blend Tec will do the same thing): this appliance has a 240 hp motor. It can grind a block of wood face-powder fine. So you can imagine what it can do to tiny flax, hemp, and chia seeds. Also, you know those little and often irritating seeds in raspberries and strawberries? They are loaded with phytonutrients and trace elements, but who’s gonna chew them enough to access the health benefits? No one. Again, this is where a high-speed blender comes in — you won’t find a single seed when blended in the Vita Mix.
Honest, this isn’t a Vita Mix commercial. This is a huge push for the green smoothie (but you need the right tool to make them). Summer means lots of fresh greens and fruits. Summer also means lots of activities and less time for meal preparation. No problem. Just whip up a batch of green smoothie, pour everyone a glass, and out the door you go — taking a healthy, cancer-fighting, immune-boosting, brain-protecting meal with you.
Every day I make and consume 2 quarts of green smoothies. I use collards, chard, kale, spinach, bok choy, radicchio, etc. in all sorts of combinations. I try these meals out on any breathing body that dares cross my path, and almost 100% of the time, people cannot believe there’s any sort of vegetable in this stuff. Well, except for my husband. Rich calls the stuff “sludge” and refuses to even look at it. But this is the guy that adamantly preaches that “gravy is one of the cornerstones of life!” ‘Nough said.
Now here are a couple recipes to consider. But understand: This is not rocket science. Just maintain a ratio of 60% greens to 40% fruit and experiment. In the beginning though, you might not add as many greens and you may want to add ¼ to ½ C frozen fruit juice, just until the family mentally adjusts to the idea that they’re drinking their spinach and kale, instead of chewing it.
Peach-Spinach Smoothie
6-8 ripe peaches (rinse well; remove stone but keep skin)
3 large handfuls spinach (wash leaves well)
3 C water
Blend well. Add ¼ - ½ C frozen juice concentrate if desired.
Download this recipe.
Banana-Pineapple Smoothie
2 bananas, peeled
½ fresh pineapple (leave core, peel only slightly)
2 leaves kale (wash well, remove stem)
1 handful spinach (wash well)
4 C water
Blend well. Add ¼ - ½ C frozen juice concentrate if desired.
Download this recipe.
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