What do you put in green smoothies??

[Blue Aurora]

I hear a lot of people talking about them and I need to add greens into my diet but I don't have a clue how to make one. Do they taste ok or like purreed salad?

[DoulaClara]

I was worried that they'd taste like a pureed salad, but they're actually pretty good, depending on what's in it. I use either kale or romaine that needs to be used, but I've used spinach before. One of my favorite combos is:

- Giant bunch of kale (stems and veins removed)
- half a cup of blueberries
- banana (the only way I will eat this disgusting fruit!)
- cup of plain yogurt
- splash of orange juice

When I was pregnant with Gianna, I would add ground flaxseed and spirulina.

[bananacake]

If you start with mainly spinach, it won't taste like a salad.

This used to be my standard (before pregnancy):
Ingredients
1 banana
Other fruit you enjoy (2-3 cups chopped) - I suggest various berries, apple, orange, mango, peach, nectarines, etc.
2 cups of spinach
2-4 ounces of water
2-4 ice cubes (optional)
Sweetener to taste (optional)

If you have a low-end blender (as I used to), this is definitely not the type of smoothie where you can put everything in the blender at once & hit "Liquefy". You have to put the ingredients in slowly & add more water as needed.

Start by putting about a quarter cup of water (2 ounces) in the blender. Then add some high-liquid fruit (I use half an apple, seeds removed, and half an orange, peeled). I add Stevia at this point, but you could use honey, maple syrup, or skip the sweetener altogether, especially if you use a lot of fruit.

Then add about half of the spinach. You may need to stop the blender a couple of times to stir it in order to get the spinach to blend, or add a little more water. Add the rest of the spinach and repeat.

And then add whatever fruit you want to. Make sure to include a banana, as that makes it creamier. I use frozen fruit so that it's colder (peaches, nectarines, strawberries or mango), or I add a few ice cubes. For me, it's harder to drink if it's not cold. If you are making smoothies for kids, or the green color bothers you, then use lots of dark fruit: cherries, blackberries, blueberries, etc.

Drink this for a few days to get used to the taste. Honestly, you may not even taste the spinach. Then start upping your greens. I also use kale, collards, or chard.


This is my new standard smoothie

Chocolate Green Smoothie
1 cup coconut milk kefir (strawberry, vanilla or original are all good)
1/2 cup "milk" (I use rice or coconut)
3 tablespoons raw cocoa
2 tablespoons rice protein powder
1 scoop stevia
1 frozen banana (or more)
A couple ice cubes
Tons of greens (I use mostly spinach with some collards and kale)
A small amount of additional fruit, optional (a handful of dark cherries is my favorite)
Agave to taste (if it's not sweet enough)

Blend to smoothie consistency.

Tried and true recipe that I use is:

2 frozen bananas
several cups of frozen berries (I prefer plain strawberries)
water to get it moving
~blend~
Fill with baby spinach, like to the top of your blender and smoosh it down into the smoothie
~blend~

ahhhhhh

I sometimes put in some Udo's Fast Food or soy protein. But that's it. Sarah from Happy Foody does the exact same recipe that I use most of the time. And she's like, my idol.

[COTK]

check out "greensmoothiegirl.com" for lots of good info.

Or just google green smoothies.

---------- Post added at 07:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:43 PM ----------

Originally Posted by HummusDip

Tried and true recipe that I use is:

2 frozen bananas
several cups of frozen berries (I prefer plain strawberries)
water to get it moving
~blend~
Fill with baby spinach, like to the top of your blender and smoosh it down into the smoothie
~blend~

ahhhhhh

I sometimes put in some Udo's Fast Food or soy protein. But that's it. Sarah from Happy Foody does the exact same recipe that I use most of the time. And she's like, my idol.

HA!! She's my idol, too!!! too funny... she has the greatest blogs ever! so are you going to live in an RV someday, too??

[Lady TS]

can I make a great green smoothie without the bananas...

...and with cherries?

[bananacake]

Originally Posted by Lady TS

can I make a great green smoothie without the bananas...

...and with cherries?

Without bananas, they won't be as smooth and shake-like, but it certainly can be done

Originally Posted by COTK

check out "greensmoothiegirl.com" for lots of good info.

Or just google green smoothies.

---------- Post added at 07:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:43 PM ----------




HA!! She's my idol, too!!! too funny... she has the greatest blogs ever! so are you going to live in an RV someday, too??

LOL no, no living in an RV for us. But, I desire to live as healthy as she does.

Originally Posted by Lady TS

can I make a great green smoothie without the bananas...

...and with cherries?

Sure, you can use whatever you want. But it won't be as sweet. Bananas are the sweetest addition to a smoothie. So much, that you do not need ANY additional sweetener. With cherries you might need to taste it and ad some honey/agave/stevia to your liking.

[Lady TS]

Hmmm...I have been pondering green smoothies for some time now....and I have chard and kale in my garden just waiting for me to use them...but I don't know whether I am ready to try a banana again....

Maybe I'm gonna have to get brave and try one and see if I react. I've just come to associate them with itching ears and throat and sneezing and haven't had the desire to try one, even though I've been treated for them months ago!

Well you can definitely go without, just experiment and see what you like best with what you can eat.

Just so you know, spinach is the most mellow green and easiest to "hide" without tasting at all. Kale and chard aren't as easy, you'll want to removed the leaves from the stems and not use even half as much as you would spinach. I'd try a bit, and then slowly ad more and more until you find as much as you can handle. With spinach, I can literally stuff almost an entire bag in and not "taste" it at all.

[Cookie Momster]

I put all manner of things in them. Rarely do I make the same one twice LOL I always put kale in it because I just don't like the taste and this is the only way I'll eat it. Sometimes I put zucchini or broccoli in them cos my hubby doesn't like those but he'll eat them in a smoothie. So I add whatever green leafy veggies I want and then usually a couple of chopped apples and then some frozen fruit of my choice and some apple juice cos you need some liquid. Then I add some wheatgrass and ground flaxseed. They taste really good and of fruit only.

[COTK]

I've been getting mixed info about spreading your greens around. Some say they eat spinach in their smoothies everyday, others say to rotate greens to avoid allergies. Any thoughts?

All I have readily available to me where I live is spinach and romane lettuce. Chard & kale would require a trip to the city an hour away. (do I really want to drive an hour for that disgusting stuff?? )

[Lady TS]

Originally Posted by COTK

I've been getting mixed info about spreading your greens around. Some say they eat spinach in their smoothies everyday, others say to rotate greens to avoid allergies. Any thoughts?

All I have readily available to me where I live is spinach and romane lettuce. Chard & kale would require a trip to the city an hour away. (do I really want to drive an hour for that disgusting stuff?? )

If you/your family is prone to allergies, it is a good idea to rotate foods. I too have read varying recommendations, from a 4-day rotation diet(only eat each type of food once every four days) to the more lenient recommendation of never to eat the same food 3 days in a row...



Guess I'm not much help, am I?

[COTK]

Still love you anyway!

Lately my recipe of choice has been:

1 banana
half can of coconut milk
splash of V8 Splash
Honey
Large handful of baby spinach
5 ice cubes

It's SOOO good and sweet and I don't taste and spinach. DD2 loves it too.