When I first heard of green smoothies, I was already sold on the need to eat lots of raw, green foods. That’s why raw green smoothies made perfect sense to me from the get-go.
More than that, they provided an easy solution to my pressing problem, namely: how to consume lots of leafy greens without spending whole day chopping and chewing veggies.
However, I know there are people who heard a mention of a green smoothie and wanted to gag. For some people green smoothies is something they have to ease into …
If you are in this category, keep reading. I’m going to provide you with a few simple recipes to make that “easing into” really EASY.
Kale —and other greens, including collard, chard, spinach, bok choy, dandelion, parsley, turnip and beet leaves — are true superfoods. They deliver a bonanza of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. They are loaded with calcium, essential for strong bones and healthy. They provide stress-fighting B vitamins and help our eyes with vitamin A. They even contain small amounts of Omega-3 fats. But when was the last time you had a bunch of kale?
The fact is kale (and other greens) is often neglected when it comes choosing your ingredients. It’s certainly not most people’s first choice when it comes to preparing salads or vegetable side-dishes.
Especially in winter, when there are fewer in-season vegetable choices — kale and other dark, leafy greens that thrive in cooler weather are a great addition to the menu. Plus, they are great for boosting immunity – so a kale smoothie recipe may be just what the doctor ordered ;-).
It’s been over three years now that I’ve been using a Vitamix blender for my smoothies, and – wow – it has made my life so much easier, healthier and more enjoyable to boot.
Prior to buying the Vitamix, I’d been using a different blender – I will not mention the brand here, as it does not matter. It was doing an OK job blending fruits and soft greens, such as spinach, but as it comes to making smoothies with tougher plants – kale or celery, for example – it was awful. It could not handle the tougher jobs, resulting in a chunky texture that was not very palatable. Also, I was afraid to run it for too long, as the engine was overheating quickly.
Let’s face it – with our busy schedules, we don’t always have time to sit down and eat a healthy salad or prepare proper healthy dishes that the whole family would enjoy. But, do not despair! The quick and easy solution is pick up a quick spinach smoothie recipe and to whip up a quick green smoothie for yourself (and your family) that will give you energy, fill your belly, and fuel your tank with all the right foods.
This is a simple smoothie recipe that ups the protein content a bit. The result is a smoothie with a more “staying power,” so it will fill you up for longer.
I used tofu, but you can add any protein powder to your smoothie, or add some chia seeds, or hemp seeds. Blend all ingredients, pour into a glass, sip and smile!
This delightful pumpkin smoothie recipe is like chilled pumpkin pie in a glass, but without the unhealthy fats and excess calories.
This thick and creamy smoothie makes a delicious and filling liquid breakfast, snack or dessert. By the way, this recipe works beautifully with a squash puree too. (It will provide a nice break from all the green smoothie recipes for those of you who need it ;-). )
I think I’m in love. With small black and white seeds, called chia.
I’ve been adding chia seeds to my smoothies for quite some time, but I’ve never tried them on their own. So recently, I made a few version of chia seed puddings – and I was amazed how much I liked them. (My son approved them too, which is also important!)
You can check out this chia pudding here, but you can also simply a teaspoon of seeds to any smoothie for a chia-enriched drink. You’ll reap the amazing health benefits (including lots of healthy protein and fats that will help you bring your blood sugar levels to normal and prevent heart disease), even if the taste and texture will be lost.
For a simple chia seed smoothie idea, combine blueberries, bananas, spinach and chia seeds combined to these pretty purple smoothie.
Out of bananas? If you’re out of bananas, don’t like bananas, or are just looking to reduce the sugar content of your smoothie a bit, add a tablespoon of chia seeds instead! …
Chia seed recipes, such as this chia seed pudding, are all the rage lately, and for good reason. Chia seeds, when combined with water, juice, or milk, gel up and thicken, creating the most delightful smooth, tapioca-like texture that is perfect for puddings, smoothies and other desserts.
Chia pudding a quick and easy breakfast or snack (no cooking required!) is the perfect option when you are on the go. It features nutrient-rich chia seeds, rich in fiber, anti-oxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. It’s a definite upgrade from processed breakfast cereals or commercial puddings!
What’s interesting is that chia is an ancient crop that is experiencing a renaissance. The little black and white seeds used to be a staple of the Incan, Mayan and Aztec cultures, along with the Native Americans of the southwest.
Many chia pudding recipes call for soaking the seeds whole, resulting in a tapioca-like texture. Another option is to simply blend all ingredients in a blender for a more uniform, creamy porridge.
If you never tried adding almond butter, or peanut butter or other nut butter to a smoothie, you are in for a treat!
The banana-peanut butter smoothie combination may be the most popular variation of this recipe, but don’t stop there. Hazelnut, macadamia, cashew butter, tahini, sunflower, pumpkin, etc. – adding any of this will make your smoothie deliciously rich, creamy and distinctly buttery. Plus, the fats in these butters will help with absorption of nutrients, and slow down the release of the fruit sugar into your bloodstream (great for people with high blood-sugar level issues).
Seriously, it doesn’t get any easier than that. Plus it’s delicious!
You really only need two ingredients, tomatoes and cashews, so make sure the tomatoes are really ripe and flavorful, otherwise the recipe will not work so well; although I guess you could try it too with quality canned tomatoes.
Delightfully bright, this carrot soup recipe is packed with goodness. I like to add freshly made carrot juice, but it’s an extra step (and more cleanup), so feel free to skip it and just add a bit more water or non-dairy milk.
Freshly grated ginger gives this sweet carrot puree an extra kick of flavor and takes up the heat a notch (my 9-year-old didn’t appreciate that, so next time I’ll skip it for a milder taste). For some crunch, add a garnish of toasted pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or pine nuts.
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