Green Smoothie Goodness  

Have you had a chance to see these 2 quickie videos on making green smoothies?  Make sure to check back after watching as I have a lot of important tips and techniques to share with you below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxbGd-0NeWk    

 http://www.ehow.com/video_12217088_hide-veggies-smoothies.html  

If I were to influence you in one major lifestyle change (and I hope that through Hypnovation for Health there are many positive influences :- ) it would be to add a green smoothie to your morning routine most days of the week.  I can't emphasize enough how much this one healthy habit could change your life.

About 5 years back I was so depleted of vitamins and nutrients that I had to have weekly transfusions - not something that I relished, especially when one of the needles almost blew out my vein.   Luckily I discovered the raw fusion lifestyle and never had to go back there.

Drinking a green smoothie a day is like having a transfusion, but tastes fantastic and it's painless!  I like to refer to them as a "painless brainless serving of greens per day." 

There will be another post on the glory of leafy greens but suffice it to say that there is not another food group on the planet that has the potential to nurture and detoxify your body!

One woman recently reported that making that one change in her day - starting out with a green smoothie -- she lost 10 lbs. in 2 ½ weeks and went down several dress sizes!

The interesting (and best) thing about Green Smoothies:

THEY DON'T TASTE GREEN -   

You can use just about ANY combination of fruits and vegetables - even making a blended salad with all veggies.  ANY green is good, including using a combination of them - with the exception of iceberg lettuce.  If you have a garden or local grower, you can (and are even encouraged!) to use weeds, like purslane and lambsquarter. 

Spinach, beet greens and green chard taste the least "green".

Watercress, parsley and dandelion are the strongest greens (but you do get used to a greener taste over time and even come to crave it :- )

The ideal ration between greens and fruit is:

40%  LEAFY GREENS

60% FRUITS (and other VEGGIES)

Greens should always be placed in the blender first - closest to the blades as that will help them break down, releasing their miraculous cache of nutrients.

Add fruits, pour in about 2 inches of water - this helps to liquefy the greens and fruits. 

Add ice as it makes the smoothie much tastier.

If it needs some sweetening up, use a little stevia, palm sugar or honey but most likely you won't need that, at least after a few weeks.

TWO WAYS TO TRULY HIDE THE GREEN FLAVOR:

1)  Add banana - one half if you are having the smoothie by yourself - a full one if you are sharing, as bananas are high in sugar.

HINT:  As your bananas get ripe, peel them, break them in half and store in freezer bags.  This adds a lovely consistency to the smoothie!

2)  OR instead try adding fresh mint leaves.  Not only do they camouflage flavor, you are adding EXTRA chlorophyll as mint leaves are also leafy greens.

I am not really pro all of those extra stuff people add to smoothies (almond milk, yogurt)  as I believe that it can interfere with the digestive process.  Read my article below for more on this and of course, you can try out any of the additions featured in the video occasionally for variety.  My two favorite smoothie recipes are in the article.

As an "extra added attraction" I am sharing a bunch of super yummy smoothie combinations below that my colleague, Kelly Marra of Raw Life Coaching sent the other  day.  Feel free to share your green smoothie recipes and experience.  We hope to have a forum set up soon.

Sweet Celery

2 small mangos, peeled and pit removed

1 cup chopped fresh pineapple

1 small orange or tangerine

2 stalks celery, chopped

1 head red leaf lettuce

Water as needed

Combine fruit and water and blend until smooth.  Add your greens a handful at a time and reblend.  You can also add ice instead of water to keep your smoothie cool and refreshing.

Popeye

2-3 bananas

3 cups spinach

1 Cup water

Add all ingredients to the blender and blend well.  Use ice instead of water if desired.

Conquer the Kale

2-3 bananas

1/2 - 1 bunch of dino kale (also called black or lacinato)

1 handful green grapes

½ avocado (optional)

1 TBS chia seeds (optional)

Water as needed

Blend your fruit and liquid until smooth.  Add your greens a handful at a time.  Add the chia and avocado at the end with a final blend, if desired.

Really Awesome Romaine

2-3 apples, cored and chopped

½ lemon, juiced

1 inch chunk of ginger, peeled and chopped

½-1 head romaine lettuce, chopped

Water as needed for blending

Blend apples and romaine together with water.  Next, add just a little of the lemon juice and ginger.  Stop to taste, fresh ginger can be a little spicy.   

Not so Scary Collards

½ papaya, peeled, seeds removed and chopped

1 banana

1 handful strawberries (if organic, leave the greens on)

½-1 bunch collards

Water as needed

Combing fruit and water and blend until smooth.  Add your greens a handful at a time and reblend.  You can also add ice instead of water to keep your smoothie cool and refreshing.

The Rainbow Connection, for lovers and dreamers

5 strawberries (including tops if organic)

1 orange, add a little of the pith (white stuff) for extra nutrition

½-1 banana

1 kiwi fruit

½ English cucumber, peel included

1 handful of blueberries or blackberries

1/2-1 bunch rainbow chard

Water as needed

Blend everything until smooth. 

Cucumbers are amazing for your skin and for rehydrating your body at a cellular level! 

Count your Luck Stars

2 pears

1 star fruit (if you can't find star fruit use 1 cup pineapple) -you don't need to peel it, just chop it up

2-3 handfuls of baby spinach

Water as needed

Blend until smooth.  Add ice instead of water if desired. 

Iron-Clad Booster

2 small bananas

¼ Cup pineapple

5 strawberries (tops included if organic)

2 handfuls of parsley

2-3 handfuls of baby spinach

1 tsp chia seeds (optional)

1 tsp flax seeds (optional)

1 tsp spirulina (super optional, it'll give it a "from the sea" taste)

Water as needed for blending

Combine everything in your blender and blend well.  If you use chia or flax seeds, you'll want to add extra water or drink it right away as they will absorb some of the moisture from the smoothie.   Spinach and parsley are GREAT sources of iron, especially important for women during that time of the month.

Nutrition at the Next Level

2 ripe mangos, peeled, pit removed and chopped

1 handful green grapes

2-3 handfuls greens (romaine, baby greens or spinach)

1 handful sprouts (red clover, alfalfa, mung bean or broccoli are great choices)

Water as needed

Blend mangos, grapes, sprouts and water until liquid.  Add greens and blend again.  Sprouts are considered nutrition powerhouses.  They contain more nutrition than the plants they grow up to be, plus you can easily absorb their concentrated enzymes.  Eating 1 oz of broccoli sprouts is like eating 1.5 pounds of broccoli.

 Raw Beauty in a Blender

1-2 organic apples, cored and chopped

1 cup blueberries

3-4 stalks asparagus

2 handfuls spinach

Water as needed

Blend fruit with water until smooth.  Add asparagus and spinach and blend again, adding more water if needed.  If it's too tart, add a soaked date (don't forget to take out the pit!) and blend again.  The peel of the apple helps collagen production, keeping your skin smooth and elastic (also great for your joints).  Blueberries are rich in antioxidants.  Asparagus helps prevent broken capillaries.  Spinach is also good for the elasticity of your skin.

 Ocean Fields of Strawberry

1 bunch baby spinach

1 bunch flat leaf parsley

1 TBS chia seeds

1 TBS spirulina powder (the "ocean" part)

3 Bananas

1 pint of strawberries (if organic keep the tops on)

2-3 dates, pitted and soaked

Start by blending the spinach, parsley, chia seeds and spirulina with enough water to get the blender going. Then add the fruit and blend until smooth!

Smooth Joints

3 large kale leaves

1 cup fresh pineapple

1 lime, peeled

1 cup cilantro

1 fresh aloe leaf OR edible aloe jell

1 ½-2 cups water

Blend all ingredients together until smooth.  Add ice instead of water if desired.

 Living la Vida Local

2-4 cups of local fresh (or frozen) fruit

2 cups of local greens

Water as needed

Blend until smooth and enjoy the produce Florida has to offer!

Purely Purple

3 cups baby spinach

1 cup red grapes

½ cup fresh (or frozen) blueberries

Water as needed

Blend until smooth and enjoy.

Merry Berry Green Smoothie

1 Cup Coconut water or water

1 handful fresh cranberries

1 handful fresh raspberries or strawberries

1 small pear

1 small apple

2 huge handfuls of dandelion greens or spinach

Blend everything together until smooth.

Savory Smoothie

3 cups baby spinach

1 handful sprouts

1 garlic clove

1 handful basil

2-3 tomatoes

Salt and pepper to taste

Water as needed

Blend tomatoes and garlic, adding water if necessary.  Add spinach and basil, blend again.  Optionally, add sprouts and blend or use sprouts as a "topping" and pour into a bowl and eat it as a "soup."

Salty/Savory GS

1 cup water
4 stalks of celery with leaves, chopped
1 avocado
1 medium cucumber, with skin, chopped
1 lemon, peeled and seeded
1 handful of parsley
2 cloves of garlic
1/4 teaspoon Himalayan or Celtic salt

Place everything in the blender and blend well. 

Mediterranean Soup
3 cups spinach
3 stalks celery
1 sprig oregano
1 sprig thyme
1 red bell pepper
1 large avocado
1 cucumber
1 jalapeño pepper (optional)
1 lime, juiced
2 cups water

 

Place everything in the blender and blend until smooth.

Thai Coconut Soup
2 cucumbers
1 large avocado
1 lime, juiced
3 cloves garlic
6 leaves curly kale, stems removed
½ teaspoon dried turmeric powder
½ inch fresh ginger root
2 cups water
Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.

Kelly's Green Smoop (a cross between a smoothie and soup)

1 red bell pepper

2 green onions

2 handfuls baby spinach

1 clove garlic

½ avocado

1 TBS olive oil or coconut oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Water as needed

Blend until smooth and enjoy.  Optionally, add avocado chunks to your bowl instead of blending it in. 

Green Puddings, because you can't ever go wrong with dessert J

Raspberrylicious

1/2 cup coconut water (or water)

1 pint of raspberries

2 Tbsp. raw chocolate (cacao) powder 

1 avocado

2-3 handfuls of mixed baby greens or spinach or any color Swiss Chard

1/4 cup chia seeds

Blend well until smooth.  Pour into a bowl and let sit for a few minutes before enjoying.  (This will give the chia seeds time to soak up the moisture in this recipe).

Choco-latte

1 banana

1 Tbsp. cacao powder

1 Tbsp. almond butter

2 handfuls baby kale (or any mild green, spinach, chard, etc)

dash of sea salt

dash of cinnamon

honey to taste

coconut water or water as needed

Blend well and enjoy for breakfast or dessert!