by Joanna | Green Smoothies
With summer season quickly approaching in the Northern hemisphere, the time of the year when magazines start pushing juice cleanses, crash diets and quick-fix boot camp workouts designed to get women into tip-top bikini body shape.
So, what’s the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to get a bikini body WITHOUT dieting, working out or going on a juice cleanse?
Just put a BIKINI on your BODY, and you’re done!
Voilà.
Okay, so maybe you’ve heard this one before, but I couldn’t help but laugh out loud when I first read this, so I hope this brings a smile to your face too 🙂
With that clear and out of the way, let’s talk about how you can get that healthy, glowing look – whatever you choose to wear and do this summer — as well as, yes, perhaps even lose a few pounds here and there… if you want to!
Let’s be honest, we all want quick results without any effort, but it’s just not possible.
What I’ve found is drinking green smoothies is the easiest thing you can probably do for yourself — your health, your weight, your energy, your skin, your mind and spirit, etc… — that will get you the most results in ALL those areas of your life.
But sometimes–even that isn’t enough!
That’s right. Even the most health-conscious sometimes fall off the wagon and can’t resist the temptation of too much food…
So, what to do?
Introducing….
Appetite and Hunger Reset!
A program that will help you lose weight, feel lighter and younger, and boost your immunity, as well! (And we all know how important that is in the times of pandemics.)
It’s time to bring your hunger under control and reset your appetite to where it should be!
And finally start losing those extra pounds once and for all.
To find out more, go here.
To Your Health!
Joanna
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this Green Reset blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
by Joanna | Green Smoothies
Peaches make a great base for a smoothie because of their delicious flavor and great texture. I love fresh, ripe peaches straight from the tree, but unfortunately these are only available for a short time in the peachy season.
In other times of the year, I like to buy frozen peaches and add them to my smoothies.
3 Peachy Smoothie Recipes
(with leafy greens!)
Simple Peach-Banana Green Smoothie
- 1 peach
- 1 banana
- 2 cups spinach (or other leafy greens or sprouts)
- 1/2 cup water (adjust the amount to desired consistency)
- Blend all ingredients until smooth and creamy.
Peach-Strawberry Sensation
- 2 peaches
- 1 cup strawberries
- 2 cups lettuce (or other leafy greens)
- 1/2 cup water (adjust the amount to desired consistency)
- Blend all ingredients until smooth and creamy.
Peach-Banana Smoothie with Avocado
- 1 peach
- 1 banana
- ½ cup blueberries
- 1/4 avocado
- 2 cups fresh kale (or other leafy green)
- 1/2 cup water (adjust the amount to desired consistency)
- Blend all ingredients until smooth and creamy.
I’ve been also adding lots of fresh sprouts to my smoothies lately (since I started my new career as a professional sprouter 😉 – to see my organic sprout garden, go here).
Why Peaches? Peach Nutrition and Health Benefits
Why not? Some people are afraid to eat fruit because of sugar content, but truth is the phytonutrients in fruits and vegetables will help keep your body working at its best, so consuming a diet that meets your daily recommended amount of fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to give your body a strong defense against disease. In the case of peaches, they provide vitamin C, potassium, lycopene and lutein. Research shows that lycopene and lutein may help prevent heart disease, macular degeneration and certain cancers.
How To Select Peaches
When buying fresh peaches, choose the ones that give slightly to pressure and are aromatic. Don’t refrigerate as the cold will lessen the flavor.
Buy organic peaches whenever possible. Unfortunately, peaches (as well as spinach, kale and strawberries) are on the “Dirty dozen” list for the highest pesticide residue load ranking according to the Environmental Working Group. If organic peaches are not available, peel the fruits to reduce exposure.
Nectarines can be substituted for peaches in any of these smoothies. Peaches and nectarines are the same species, even though they are regarded commercially as different fruits. Nectarines have smooth skin, while peaches have fuzzy skin.
Smoothies: The New Fast Food
On another note, just this past weekend I went to New York city (which is just a 15 minute drive from where I live, with no traffic). I wanted to show my son the view from the Empire State building (which he can see from his bedroom window). The weather was gorgeous, so the view was truly spectacular. It was a great family outing – and – what I’m loving is that it’s so easy to find fresh, delicious food – including smoothies!
Check out this fast food joint, which you may be able to find next to a hot dog stands when walking the streets of Manhattan – it rocks!
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
by Joanna | Green Smoothies
It seems like I hear people talking about food and eating a healthy diet — and what it actually means — all the time. (Perhaps it’s because I’m fascinated with this subject myself — so I suffer from a “cognitive bias,” lol.)
Most of us are already aware of the fact that WHAT WE EAT directly affects HOW WE FEEL, and HOW HEALTHY (or UN-healthy) we are. We care about what we put into our bodies to the point we take countless photos and post them on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and now even TikTok.
(Just yesterday, I had to laugh out-loud. I was in a hip vegetarian restaurant and everyone was taking pictures of their food, including me of course!)
Yep, people looove their food.
However, it seems that almost everybody is focusing on the protein, fats, and carbohydrates. Those who are a little more into health, may also focus on Omega 3s, Vitamin D, and calcium.
Especially, if they find out that I’m eating a 100% plant-based (vegan) diet. They seem to be concerned (for me) about calcium, vitamin D, omega 3s, and Vitamin B12.
What I want to ask THEM is: “Are YOU eating your GREENS???”
Dark, leafy bitter greens are the missing ingredient in the Standard World Diet today.
Leafy greens are one of the most nutrient dense foods. They seem to have it all: proteins, fats, carbs; antioxidants, vitamins, minerals — pretty much everything that we need to be healthy.
The most important question to ask anyone who is not experiencing the level of health they desire is, ‘Are you eating greens?’ Chances are the answer will be ‘NO.’
A while ago I went to my family doctor for a general checkup. I haven’t seen her in 3 years. She asked me what I was doing that I still looked like I’m 27, while I was 47 years old at that time. Obviously, that was an exaggeration ;-). But it was nice to hear, plus I do feel awesome for my age.
Here is what I do every day to ensure that I’m getting lots of greens into my diet:
Drink Your Greens in Green Smoothies
Here are some green smoothie recipes, to get you going:
And don’t let anybody scare you away from greens, by talking about oxalates, oxidation, or other nonsense. Sure, you may experience a cleansing reaction, but don’t let that deter you.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
by Joanna | Green Smoothies
I think I may have bought the bunch of the GREENEST BANANAS that were ever sold on the Eastern Side of the continental US (specifically, in New Jersey). I wrote a couple of days ago about the Peach Avocado Smoothie that I made and how I laugh at those who say they don’t buy green bananas (or, even worse, sing it).
But here I am. Two days later, and still no ripe bananas. 🙁
So I ended up making a smoothie with some peaches, papaya, avocado, cucumber, plus collard greens and dandelion greens (shown in the photo), and the smoothie turned out quite green, even for my taste. I mean it was okay, but nothing to rave about.
So, does that happen to you and what do you do in such situations (other than closing your eyes and gulping it down as quickly as possible)?
I wrote before about various ways to fix a smoothie that doesn’t taste so great, but what’s your go-to method?
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
by Joanna | Green Smoothies, Smoothie Recipes
Have you ever heard someone say “I don’t buy green bananas”? I suppose it’s a reflection on getting older, when there is no guarantee that we’d still be alive tomorrow, so we don’t make plans that far ahead. Apparently there is even a song that refers to that:
‘I don’t own an umbrella, if it rains, I guess I’m gonna get wet. I don’t buy green bananas because I don’t plan that far ahead.’
I don’t subscribe to that dim view of the future, and I usually buy bananas in all stages of ripeness, including green, since I only go shopping once or twice per week. Today, however, I found myself with no ripe bananas in my kitchen. All I had were really, really green bananas, which left me with a dilemma: to blend or not to blend.
You see, lately my morning smoothie routine depends heavily on ripe bananas. I have to admit that I use them all the time. Especially now, in the cold wintertime, I depend on them on filling me up with their sweetness and calories.
I decided to treat it as a challenge to come up with a smoothie that’s filling and delicious, and yet banana-less, using the ingredients I had in my fridge and pantry. Here is the result and the recipe, if you decide you want to try it too :-).
Peach Avocado Celery Smoothie with Strawberries and Dates
- 1.5 cup peaches, frozen
- 1 cup strawberries, frozen
- 1/2 small avocado
- 1 head of romaine lettuce
- 3 celery stalks
- 6 dates
Blend in your favorite blender until smooth. Enjoy!
To find more recipes for smoothies without bananas read this post.
