Green Smoothie.

Is it just me, or does that sound…unappealing? Kinda lumpy? Bitter? Gag-worthy? You might be surprised!

I took a Ten Day Green Smoothie Challenge, and I’m here to tell you all about it!

I’m always looking for ways to incorporate healthy living into my life, and I’ve been purposefully increasing my fruit and vegetable consumption over the past few years. I’d heard of Green Smoothies, but all my previous smoothie attempts had been highjacked by wimpy blenders and I’d ended up with a slightly clumpy, almost chalky texture that was unpalatable.

However, I am not easily deterred.

I decided to give it another go.

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At the recommendation of my health-conscious daughter-in-love, I purchased two cookbooks she regularly uses: Simple Green Smoothies by Jen Hansard & Jadah Sellner, and Run Fast. Eat Slow. by Shalane Flanagan & Elyse Kopecky.

I’ve given Simple Green Smoothies a thorough trial run, and will share my experience.

You Need a Blender 

I made my first Green Smoothies using the blender I had on hand, an Oster 12-Speed. It was a tricky and time consuming process. If you want to give this a try before purchasing a high-end blender, I recommend you thoroughly blend greens and liquid before adding other ingredients. When you add frozen fruit, make sure it’s chopped into small pieces. It’s going to take a bit of patience.

Now, go purchase a better blender! A professional-quality blender gives a silky-smooth smoothie in under a minute!

Blender Recommendations

• Vitamix Professional Blender–my daughter-in-law uses this. It’s the Queen of the Kitchen Blenders, and you’ll pay accordingly.
• Nutribullet–my dear friend Colleen is an avid Green Smoothie maker of several years and she swears by this gem. She likes the separate “to-go” cup practicality.
• Ninja Professional Blender–I LOVE mine! My husband bought the whole shebang, an entire Mega Kitchen System. If only you will be drinking smoothies, you may prefer the Nutri Ninja Pro Blender.

Ingredients

• Liquid: Water, Coconut Water, Flaxmilk, Almond Milk, Hempmilk, Cow milk, any liquid of choice. I really like coconut water!
• Greens: Spinach, Kale, Arugula, any green of your choice. I use Organic Baby Greens. Greens are in the “Dirty Dozen” list, and organic is widely available and not cost-prohibitive.
• Vegetables: Carrots, beets, other veggies as desired.
• Fruit, frozen and fresh: You will want at least one frozen fruit in your smoothie. Mango gives a nice thick creaminess that I particularly enjoy. Most of the recipes in the Simple Greens book call for a frozen banana, however everything is completely interchangeable!
• Add-ins: Peanut or almond butter; chia, hemp, or flax seeds; protein powder…

I swap out my Smoothie additions day by day. The Collagen, Flaxseed, Hemp Hearts, and Chia Seed all offer a boost of protein to your Smoothie. The seeds are all high in healthy Omegas and are a great addition to your diet. Flaxseed should be purchased whole and ground within a day or two of usage. I have a coffee bean grinder dedicated to flaxseed.

The Big Question: How Do They Taste?

I was a skeptic. I couldn’t imagine drinking greens. And I had no hope that my husband would join me in this healthy endeavor.

Was I Ever Wrong!

I’ve tried many of the recipes in my book, along with some variations, and every single Green Smoothie has been delicious!

My Husband Enjoys Them!

Did you catch that?

My husband enjoys Green Smoothies!!

I’ve whipped up a batch of smoothies almost every morning for a month, and he has happily drank them all–even the ones I made with kale!

My friend Colleen is a creature of habit who has drank the exact same smoothie every morning for several years. I’m more of a butterfly, flitting and fluttering from one pretty flower to another. Every evening I look through my recipe book and select which deliciousness we’ll be sampling the next morning.

This beauty may be my favorite so far. The Simple Monkey is made from spinach, almond milk, bananas, cocoa powder, and almond butter. Ohhhhhhh, it’s so good!

Benefits

• Increased consumption of produce (we all know we need to eat more! So much nutrition!)
• It keeps me full until lunch
• The increased fiber intake keeps everything moving along
• I feel I can see a difference in my complexion
• You feel oh-so-virtuous when you start your day with vegetables

I have been surprised at how well I feel all morning after a Green Smoothie. I have plenty of energy, don’t feel tired or hungry, don’t get a headache. When I get up, work out, shower, and then drink my Green Smoothie while I have my devotions, it feels like I’ve won a Trifecta! (Or maybe a Quadfecta? I don’t think that’s a thing…)

I highly recommend the book Simple Green Smoothies.

I appreciate all the charts, instructions concerning purchase and washing of produce, and in-depth nutritional information. I love that they explain the benefits under each recipe (“The pigment molecule found in cherries promotes firm skin and keeps connective tissues strong.”) There are even instructions on how to make your own nut milks, coconut whipped cream, granola, nut butters, vanilla, and more.

For more information, here’s the link to their website, Simple Green Smoothies. 

If you decide to purchase the book Simple Green Smoothies, I’d love it if you click through my link! After you give it a try, please let me know what you think. I can’t wait to hear all about it. 

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