by Joanna | Green Smoothies, Kids, Smoothie Recipes
If you are looking for easy healthy recipes and an super-easy way to add super-important nutrients to your everyday diet, you are truly lucky to have found this page!
Because what you will learn here – if you just try it and stick with it – will likely change your life and health for the better (really, I don’t exaggerate one bit – because it happened to me a few years back).
Introducing…Green Smoothies
You probably heard about green smoothies by now, as everyone is raving about them. You may call them blended drinks, green shakes, green smoothies, green fruit smoothies, drinkable salads or salads straight from your blender.
It doesn’t really matter what you call them — as long as you drink them!
The fact is that if you are having problems with eating a healthy diet, and especially if you have picky-eaters in your house who will not eat a green vegetable if their life depended on it – this is a perfect solution to your problem.
The idea to blend various kinds of leafy greens, fruits and vegetables to create a liquid soup with a baby food consistency is not new. About 5 years ago that Victoria Boutenko (from the Raw Family) greatly popularized the concept of the Green Smoothie.
The Green Smoothie is essentially a blended salad made with fruits and leafy greens, with some optional water, blended at high speeds to smooth consistency. Generally, hard or savory vegetables such as carrots or tomatoes are avoided, or only added in small quantities. Only fruits, leafy greens, and some vegetables are included.
Many of you may cringe at the idea of adding spinach or kale to a fruit smoothie, thinking these greens belong to a salad or dinner side-dish and not in a sweet drink.
However, the fact remains that this is the EASIEST, FASTEST, and TASTIEST way to consume large amounts of greens on a regular basis.
Just think about it: it’s MUCH faster to drink the same amount of greens in a smoothie than that it would take you to prepare and consume (and that includes chewing properly!) the same amount of greens, fruits and vegetables in a salad or other dishes.
Great things I love about smoothies is they only take about a minute to prepare (with a good blender, such as Blendtec or Vitamix), and a minute or two to drink.
And, when you make a green smoothie, the smoothie making blender will do the chewing for you!
There is really no excuse not to have them!
Important: Quick preparation does not also mean quick consumption. Do not just gulp down the entire glass of smoothie quickly. It is recommended that you drink your smoothie SLOWLY – mixing it with your saliva for best digestion and assimilation of nutrients.
Benefits of Green Smoothies versus Green Juice
Drinking freshly made juices made from vegetables, greens and fruits is an EXCELLENT way to add important nutrients to your diet. Juices contain super-concentrated nutrients that the body can absorb almost instantaneously — there is no need to digest anything! This gives the body a rest, while flooding it with great nutrition — great for people who have serious health problems and want to heal quickly.
However, juicing may or may not be an ideal solution for you.
One problem is that you may be skipping juicing — and therefore not benefiting from it — because it’s more work. I used to do a lot of juicing in the past and I still try to do it, but let’s face it – it is quite time consuming and really messy. My problem is over since I started making green smoothies. Making smoothies is a super easy way to eat lots of greens, and a great alternative to juicing. It is much faster, less messy, and you also get fiber in addition to juice, so you get that feeling of satiety. If you can discipline yourself to make fresh juices regularly, great! Otherwise, stick with green smoothies, or — I believe the best solution is to drink both!
Another problem with juice is that you leave behind the valuable fiber that slows down the absorption of nutrients and provides the feeling of fullness. This can be seen as a benefit, but can also be a problem ;-). Drinking a juice is not a “satisfying meal” in itself. So if you juice, then go on to eat junk food because you feel hungry, it’s better to have a green smoothie, that will leave you satisfied for longer.
Fortunately, whichever option you choose, you cannot go wrong. Whether you are making vegetable juices or blending green smoothies, you are doing your body a huge favor.
So, How Do You Make A Smoothie?
Let’s start with some great ingredients for your smoothie creations.
Great Ingredients For Your Green Smoothies
GREENS: kale, bok choy, chard, spinach, parsley, romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce, mint, basil, cilantro, or other.
FRUITS: bananas, pears, apples, mango, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, kiwi, pineapple, melon, papaya, watermelon, grapes, or other.
VEGGIES: cucumber, celery, avocado (small amount only).
Some fruit and green combinations you may want to try:
- Spinach with bananas and strawberries
- Spinach with apples, bananas, and some lemon or lime juice
- Spinach, bananas, peaches, mango
- Romaine lettuce with bananas
- Romaine lettuce with cucumber and bananas
- Romaine and celery with blueberries
- Parsley and ripe pears
- Parsley, celery, apple and pears
Add 1-2 cups of water and blend until smooth. Adjust proportions to your liking. Try to experiment with different greens and fruits. Fruits are added for sweetness, so make sure they are really RIPE, especially bananas. Beautifully ripened bananas look like this:
Okay, so I need to add more spinach here, but I really love sweet taste of bananas!
In the beginning, when you are just starting out with the green smoothies, you may want to add just a little bit of mild tasting greens (such as spinach), to let your taste buds get used to the taste. Start adding more greens of various kinds (many of them are stronger tasting) later on.
Greens to add to your smoothies: spinach, arugula, Swiss chard, dandelion, kale, collard greens, beet tops, and whatever else you can find in the store or in your garden. Young, tender greens are better. Iceberg lettuce, although not very green at all, can be used too.
This is what a green smoothie looks like:
Don’t be discouraged by the “greenness” of this drink. It tastes delicious, trust me on this!
Just try it for yourself, OK?
(Plus, if you really don’t want the green color, you can easily make it into a purple or red smoothie by adding lots of mixed berries, and fewer green ingredients).
Green Smoothie Recipes
Here are more ideas for your delicious green smoothie creations. Feel free to adjust the quantity of ingredients:
Spinach-Apple-Banana
- 1 head of spinach
- 1 apple
- 1 banana
- 1-2 cups of water
Spinach-Raspberry-Strawberry
- 1/2 head of spinach
- 1/4 cup of raspberries
- 1/2 cup of strawberries
- 2 cups of water
Pinapple – Mango – Romaine
- 1 small pineapple, peeled, cored, and chopped
- 1 large mango, peeled, cored, and chopped
- ½ head romaine lettuce
- a tiny piece of fresh ginger
You may want to add some water.
Personally I don’t really love Romain in my smoothies, but sometimes it works well. You’ll just have to try it for yourself. If you don’t care for it, substitute a different green.
Kale – Banana – Berry
- 2 leaves kale (kale is rather strong tasting, so you may want to start with less)
- 2 bananas
- 1 cup of strawberries or blueberries or raspberries
- 1 cup of water
Apple – Mango – Lettuce
- 5 pieces of green leaf lettuce
- 1 ripe mango
- 1 apple
- 1 cup of water
One note here on using frozen fruits in your smoothies. Personally, I don’t like smoothies that are really cold, so if I’m using a lot of frozen ingredients, I add some hot water to the mix to make them room- (or rather – stomach-) temperature. I know that many people like frozen drinks, but drinking a lot of frozen smoothies is not really that healthy, in my opinion.
I admit – I am totally hooked on green smoothies!
However, I never use exact recipes – I constantly experiment by adding different ingredients, depending on what sounds good to my body each day. Even thought some concoctions taste more delicious than others, I haven’t been completely disappointed yet!
Now that you know how to make some basic easy healthy recipes for green smoothies, you can experiment with other variations on this theme. When you are ready, start incorporate other, stronger tasting greens into your smoothies.
Submit Your Smoothie Recipe!
When you find a taste you love, why not submit your favorite smoothie recipe in the comment section below!
Find more smoothie recipes and tips on my blog.
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 | Featured, Green Smoothies, Smoothie Recipes
Have you already tried a green smoothie recipe with kale?
Kale —and other lelafy greens— 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 ;-).
When cooked, greens provide more than nine times the recommended amount of vitamin K, which helps our blood clot.
I read once that it was common for our ancient ancestors to eat up to six pounds of leaves per day. You can just picture them wandering from one place to the next, just picking and chewing leaves as all they long they went. That’s a huge amount of greens by anyone’s standards today.
Can you picture yourself devouring a grocery bag full of greens each and every day?
The USDA recommends we eat a minimum of 3 cups of dark leafy greens a week, and very few of us even eat that per week or even month.
How would you feel if you could get those three cups in one large glass?
kale smoothie recipes
Health Benefits of Kale
Kale is really the Queen of Greens. Many health experts consider kale as one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet.
Kale belongs to the Brassica family (Brassica oleracea). This family also includes broccoli, bok choy, kohlrabi, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage and collard greens. All these greens are well known for their sulfur-containing phytonutrients, which are claimed to help with cancer prevention.
They are also rich sources of vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C, and manganese, and is a very good source of dietary fiber, copper, calcium, vitamin B6, and potassium. The health benefits are so numerous, it will be hard to list them all here!
So why not add it to your family’s diet with these easy recipes!
Kale Smoothie Recipes
I use kale A LOT in green smoothies. My son loves kale smoothies too!
I find it really mild tasting (unlike lettuce, Swiss chard, or dandelion greens, for example), so you usually don’t even know it’s there. The fruits really help to mask the strong flavor of the greens.
For most greens, you don’t need a high-speed blender to make a good green smoothie, though the process will be quicker and the result creamier if you do. Kale, however, can be really tough on your blender, so it’s best to use a high power blender, like Vitamix or Blendtec.
Tip: If you don’t own a power blender, try removing the rough stems first, and then just blending the leaves with water for a few minutes first, before adding the rest of the ingredients.
A banana, an avocado, or a small handful of nuts is very helpful to good texture, and a few dried dates will bump up the sweetness in a relatively nutritious way. But beyond that, it’s fun to vary the other ingredients. Try mango, banana, lime, and cilantro, for example—or whatever your palate desires.
Kale Smoothie Recipes You and Your Family Will Love!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients on high speed until creamy. If you like, you may also add a piece of avocado, to add more healthy fats and more creaminess to your smoothie. Add more banana (can be frozen) for a more sweet, thicker smoothie. Enjoy!
3.1
https://greenreset.com/kale-recipes/
6 Delicious Kale Juice Recipes
Kale is also great for juicing.
If you have tried to make kale juice before and it tasted horrible, you may have given up. Plus, some juicers are just not made to juice something like kale.
Do not give up! With the right kale juice recipe, you will love drinking this green!
Just remember that dark greens have strong taste that is not palatable on its own. Always mix green juice them with other sweet tasting veggies and fruits.
You’ll need a lot of kale to make juice. A 1.5 pound bunch of kale yields about 1 cup of vivid green juice using a juicer. You will get more from the kale if you roll the leaves into balls and juice them together with the carrots and apples.
Ingredients
Kale Apple Juice
- 5 granny smith apples
- 5 kale leaves
- 1-2 inches of ginger root
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- Place all ingredients in a juice extractor or Vita-Mix, juice/blend and enjoy! Serves 4. For babies 12 months and older: dilute by 50% with water and serve!
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Green Kale Lemonade
- Green lemonade contains a big bunch of kale in it along with apples, celery, ginger, and an organic lemon. It tastes amazing.
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- 1 bunch of kale
- 2 stalks of celery
- 1 inch piece of ginger
- 2 apples
- 1 lemon with the ends cut off.
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- Wash all your goodies thoroughly and pass through the juicer. Ginger adds heat to this tart kale lemonade.
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Miracle Tonic Kale Juice
- This variation has some carrots and cucumber added to the mix.
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- 4 Medium carrots
- 2 Stalks celery
- 1 Big or 2 small red apples (pitted)
- 4 Kale leaves
- 2 inch length of cucumber (peeled)
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- Run ingredients through your juicer. Yield about 2 servings.
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- Tip 1: If you feel like having a special treat, you can add some watermelon or cantaloupe chunks if available. This may push the juice quantity up to 3 small servings.
- Tip 2: You can add some ginger for extra bite if you wish. Lemon also goes well with this combination.
3.1
https://greenreset.com/kale-recipes/
More juice recipes:
Minty Kale Juice
Mint adds an interesting touch to this kale juice.
1 1/2 pounds kale
4 peeled parsnips
4 large (or up to 8 small) green apples
1 lime (more or less to taste)
12 ounces mint leaves (about 2 large bunches)
yield: makes about 1 pint of juice, serving two.
Juice and enjoy!
Mixed Greens Juice Recipe
2 limes, zest removed
½ bunch Swiss chard
½ bunch kale
½ bunch dandelion
½ cucumber
2 Granny Smith apples
Juice and enjoy!
Kale Mary
Here is a good one – a Bloody Mary inspired non-alcoholic kale drink.
2 pints grape or cherry tomatoes (they taste better than out-of-season regular tomatoes)
about 1/2 pound kale
4 ribs celery
2 lemons
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Dash hot sauce
Garnish: celery rib
Mix horseradish and soy sauce in a glass. Add tomato juice and stir well until horseradish is well distributed. Add kale juice, celery juice, lemon juice, and hot sauce. Stir well. Serve with celery rib garnish, over ice if desired. Serve immediately. Makes about 1 cup juice (Recipe via Seriouseats).
Enjoy with some crunchy kale chips!
Kale Chips: Low in Calories, Guilt-Free Chips
Here is a recipe for a healthy alternative to potato chips. These crispy little bites of raw kale nutrition are a big hit with young kids (and adults).
Kale Chips: No-Cholesterol, No-Guilt Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 bunch of curly kale, washed well and cut into pieces
- 1 lemon, juiced
- a splash of olive oil
- a splash of agave or maple syrup
- seasoning to taste: salt, pepper, etc.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
- Wash 1 bunch of curly kale and cut into chip pieces.
- Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet and toss with olive oil.
- Add some seasoning to taste: salt, pepper, etc.
- Add the juice of 1 lemon.
- After you’ve massaged your kale with oil and seasoning for a few minutes, take about 1 tablespoon of agave and slowly drizzle it over the kale.
- Bake for about 30 minutes.
- Be amazed!
Notes
Keep in mind that the kale will shrink, so you may try make more than you think you need. If your oven can be set on a low temperature, around 100°F, you can also try to make raw kale chips in the oven. Otherwise you’ll need a dehydrator to make raw kale chips. If using dehydrator, let dehydrate 12 plus hours, until kale is crunchy!
3.1
https://greenreset.com/kale-recipes/
For a much more detailed raw kale crisps recipe, visit this website.
Kale Chips: healthy alternative to potato chips! via http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilovemypit/3425805140/sizes/z/in/photostream/
How To Choose Kale
The deeper the color of the leaves, the higher the nutrient content will be. Make sure that the kale looks fresh and not wilted. Avoid leaves with a lot of yellow or decay. Smaller, tender leaves are best. Pay attention to the stems as well. Make sure that they have a healthy appearance and trim off any thick stems and small blemishes before juicing or cooking.
You can choose either the dark green curly kale or a purple variety. Alternatively you can opt for ornamental kale, which has a less potent flavor. Dinosaur kale is a slightly sweeter choice.
The bitter taste of kale becomes more pronounced the longer it is stored, so it’s best to use it when still fresh. Kale keeps quite well in the fridge, provided that you store it unwashed. As with most of your leafy greens, it is a good idea to wrap the leaves in a paper towel, before placing it in a plastic bag to keep them fresh.
It’s best to buy organic kale grown to avoid toxic, systemic pesticides that are difficult to wash off. Unfortunately, when grown with petrochemical pest controls, kale is number 12 in the Dirty Dozen, tying with collar greens and slightly less than lettuce. Chemical pesticides are toxins, and eating lots of them can be toxic to the central nervous system –including the brain and spinal column, others may disrupt the endocrine function in the body which secrets hormones directly into the blood stream; they may increase the risk of cancers and other diseases.
Make sure you thoroughly wash your greens. Some of the leaves come from right on top of the ground and are usually covered in grit and sand.
Kale can be used in salads and in place of lettuce on sandwiches. However, for these purposes, use only very young, small, tender leaves. Kale is also delicious when steamed with diced onions, and garlic, a little bit of salt and pepper.
For all my blending recipes I use Vitamix. If you don’t already own a VitaMix, I strongly encourage you to check out what this machine is capable of! For more information about VitaMix you can go directly to the VitaMix website. You may also want to read my post about the Best Blender.
I LOVE my VitaMix and highly recommend investing in one if you are ready to make serious changes to your diet. I have had mine for almost 5 years and use it daily!
If you decide to purchase Vitamix – be sure to use Promotional Code 06-004554 to get free shipping.
The Making of Kale Smoothie: Inside of my Vitamix
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 | Blender Reviews
OK, if you read any of my previous blog posts, you know by now that you should be drinking lots and lots of fresh green smoothies every day.
So today, I’m going to talk about my favorite smoothie maker that I use at least 3-4 times a day to prepare green smoothies for myself or my family.
If you are searching for best blender for smoothies, keep reading and your search will soon be over 🙂
How my life has changed after getting a Vitamix Blender for my birthday
It’s been over four years now that I’ve been using a Vitamix blender, 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 a regular blender that was probably quite similar to what most people have tucked away in their kitchen cabinet somewhere. 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 sucked!
It could not handle the tougher jobs at all, 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.
This resulted in almost complete avoidance of these greens and veggies – even if I could drink them from time to time (reasoning with myself that I’m doing it for my health), my son and husband refused to touch the stuff and I couldn’t blame them for that.
I did a bunch of research online and discovered that the general opinion was that a Vitamix is the best blender on the market. So, following long deliberation – after all spending over $400 bucks for a small kitchen appliance that you can get for a less than a fifth of the price sounds crazy to most people – I decided to ask my husband to get me a Vitamix for my 44th birthday.
My Totally Biased Vitamix Review
Warning! I love my Vitamix, so don’t expect an unbiased review. I use it every day, 2-3 times or more. I’m also an affiliate for Vitamix, so if you use the Promotional Coupon Code 06-004554, I receive a small commission while you save on shipping :-).
When it arrived, I went out and purchased all kinds of fruits, and tough greens: kale, collards, celery, etc., etc., and started experimenting – and I was elated. I could not believe how smooth the consistency was – I could not feel any of the chunkiness of un-blended fibrous parts of the plants.
Plus, the smoothies passed the hardest test – my son loves them!
He regularly drinks smoothies made with the kale, parsley, collards, dandelion greens, arugula, celery, romaine lettuce (although too much romaine is not very palatable to me), and almost every other green I can find.
The dimensions of the blender are quite impressive at 52.07 cm tall, 22.23 cm deep and 18.42 cm wide (update: they do have a smaller version now, one that easily fits under the kitchen cabinets on the counter), allowing for large fruits and vegetables to enter and blend in the machine at the same time. The blades are very durable and are designed to pulverize whole foods, saving you time and fuss in the kitchen so you can spend less time cutting and preparing the meal and more time enjoying it.
Whether you are preparing smoothies, making juices, hot soups, baby food, nut butters or frozen desserts, this efficient blender will prepare it in less than a minute. With it you can chop, cream, blend, cook and complete many more tasks, all with one single blender. This is impressive and saves you space in the kitchen and money, by only needing one machine for all of these different tasks. The machine even cleans itself. You simply add in a drop of dish soap and some water and turn it on High for 30 seconds. This means less muss and fuss for you in the kitchen, leaving you with more time to spend with your friends and family.
It is easy to use, so you will not have any trouble getting started and figuring out how to use all the different features. The soft-grip allows for easy handling of the container so you can take it on and off easily without spilling. The ergonomically-designed handle makes it comfortable and easy to grip onto the blender, preventing slippage.
It even features a spill-proof vented lid with plug, to ensure you are always safe while using the machine and can add in ingredients without having to continuously turn the machine off to add in new ingredients.
Every machine is designed to offer outstanding performance and unsurpassed durability, so you know you are making a smart investment and getting a blender you can rely on.
Vitamix is a company that stands behind its products. It has been manufacturing high performance blending equipment for nearly a century now, so you know you can rely in them as a company and what they have to offer. They supply only dependable, high quality blenders that work effectively and efficiently, and which last you for years to come.
They even offer reconditioned machines that can save you some money, which are backed by the industry’s best warranty and are offered to you with a 30-day no risk guarantee. They go through quality inspections for testing of all machine parts and functions, as well as replacement of components that cannot be reconditioned, so you always know you are getting the very best blending machine.
Is Vitamix really the only blender that will do the job?
Blendtec is another top pick. To be honest, I chose Vitamix before I even knew that Blendtec existed, however, after doing some post-factum research I still concluded that Vitamix is a better choice for me – mostly because it has a tamper. The tamper allows me to prepare smoothies with very little liquid, or no liquid at all – I can just push the ingredients down so the blade can process them, without worrying about what to put first so that the pieces do not get stuck.
Vitamix vs Blendtec
Here is side-by side comparison of both blenders.
(Here is a video I found on Youtube: a battle between Vitamix vs Blendtec. To be fair, I don’t think you need to put whole apples into your blender. I don’t do it when I make green smoothies, even though I have Vitamix, as I don’t like to use the tamper. But whenever I make blended salads with little or no water, I’m sure glad I can push down the tomatoes or cucumbers, as they do get stuck in the process.)
So, if you’ve been thinking about getting a new blender and still hesitating whether or not to buy VitaMix – because of the price considerations – I say, DON’T. Consider it money well spent, and an investment in your family’s health (think about all the savings on doctor’s visits and medications).
For more information about VitaMix you can go directly to the VitaMix website. You may also want to read my post about the Best Blender.
I LOVE my VitaMix and highly recommend investing in one if you are ready to make serious changes to your diet. I have had mine for almost 5 years and use it daily!
UPDATE:
But what about hand blenders?
Can they make a decent smoothie?
Absolutely!
A hand blender is a FANTASTIC option, especially in a small kitchen or when you’re on the road. For a long time, I didn’t consider a hand-held blender as a viable option for making smoothies, but boy, was I wrong!
For some reason, when I tried to make a smoothie, it didn’t come out right. Of course, after I discovered what I was doing wrong, making smoothies even with a handheld immersion blender is a breeze! After I learned a few tricks, the smoothies come out delicious every time!
Regardless of whether you want to make smoothies with immersion blenders or not, it’s still worth it investing in one of those. They’re super versatile, plus they’re cute too!
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 | Salads, Soups
Green smoothies are great, but they are sweet-tasting, and sometimes, for whatever reason, we want a more savory flavor.
Plus, the fruit content in many smoothie recipes may be a problem for some people with diabetes and blood sugar issues.
Also, the smoothies are really, …well… smooth (duh!)- almost like baby food – which is important for good assimilation of nutrients, especially if you add hard-to-chew greens, such as kale or collard greens. So, for variety, you may want to add some crunchiness to your meals from time to time.
Whatever the reason, I encourage to add some Green Power Soup and Salad Recipes to your blending repertoire :-).
Low-Calorie, Low-Sugar, Low-Fat Raw Blended Soups and Salads
Ingredients For Blended Soups: Green Power Soups are made of juicy vegetables and leafy greens. The idea is that you create a soup base first, by blending the tough ingredients with some water, and then add softer ingredients, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach and zucchini and blend everything at low speed to add texture. The soup should have thick, creamy consistency with crunchy texture, and can be eaten from a bowl.
Best Ingredients for Blended Salads. Green Power Salads are made of primarily juicy vegetables and greens, that are blended at lower speeds than smoothies, for shorter times, WITHOUT ANY WATER. They have thicker consistency, crunchy texture, and can be eaten from a bowl like a soup or stew.
The best ingredients for blended salads include cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, peppers, and zucchini, with only delicate greens added, such as spinach or lettuce. The reason not to add hard and bitter greens such as kale is that you are only blending the mixture to a consistency of thick salsa or stew – and these ingredients would make it unpalatable.
Herbs, Sprouts and Condiments. You will want to add lots of herbs, such as basil, dill, parsley, cilantro, and other for outrageously delicious taste. Sprouts are also terrific to add to the blend or just sprinkle on top. If you don’t have fresh herbs, dried herbs are fine too. You may also experiment with other condiments, such as curry powder or hot sauce, onion or garlic.
Sweeteners. Even though this is supposed be a savory tasting recipe, adding some sweetness is really important. Of course, you may skip sweeteners altogether, but – unless you have strong reasons to do it – I really advise you to also add a little bit of sweetness for more yumminess. I like to add some sweet fruits, for example, a piece of a sweet pear, apple, a few strawberries, or grapes, but you may choose to add a little bit of honey, agave syrup, or some other sweetener to make the blended salad even more delicious.
Green Power Creamy Avocado Energy Soup
As I said, the only difference between soup and salad is just that you add a bit of liquid, such as water, to your soup; whereas salads require no added liquid – which makes them a little bit more tricky to do, especially if you don’t have a powerful blender (see the tips below).
So, let’s start with a soup recipe that I put together in a spur of the moment – my husband was coming home soon and I wanted to make a blended salad, but did not have the usual juicy ingredients in my kitchen that are required for salad, such as tomatoes and cucumbers.
I blended the tougher ingredients first – in this case celery with a piece of avocado and a bit of water to create a soup base, and then added other ingredients on low speed to create some texture.
Here are the ingredients that I used (just because I had them in my kitchen at the moment) – and the soup turned out quite tasty!
Ingredients for soup base:
1 large stalk celery
2 lettuce leaves
1/2 small avocado
Blend well on high speed. This will create a nice creamy base.
Ingredients for texture:
1 small zucchini
1/2 pear or a bit of agave (for sweetness)
fresh basil leaves to taste (from my window garden)
a small piece of green onion
Blend on lowest speed that will get the job done. Optionally, you may just chop these ingredients and mix them with the liquid. I also a pinch of salt.
Pour into a bowl and enjoy!
Live Avocado-Cucumber Soup
Here is another soup recipe from my soup ebook. This rich and creamy blend of avocados, cucumbers, and cilantro is luscious and satisfying. It is garnished with pieces of cucumber and cashew sour cream. (To make cashew sour cream simply blend a handful of cashews with water and add a splash of lemon juice.)
Simple and delicious!
Live Avocado-Cucumber Soup
Ingredients
- 2 ripe avocados, halved, pitted, peeled and diced
- 4 cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and chopped
- ½ jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus a few springs for garnish
- 4 tablespoons fresh lime or lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ cup water
- For garnish:
- 1/2 cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1 julienned radish, for garnish
- ½ red bell pepper, cut into strips, for garnish
- ½ cup fresh corn kernels, for garnish
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Variations:
- Substitute cilantro with fresh dill, chopped for Cucumber-Dill soup.
- Add 1 cup chopped spinach or lettuce.
Instructions
- Put the avocados, cucumbers, jalapeno pepper, cilantro, lime juice, lemon juice, water and a dash of salt, if using, in a blender and process until smooth. Adjust the seasonings to taste. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about one1 hour or up to 3 hours. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish each portion with radish, bell pepper, corn, and cilantro. Serves 4-6.
- Garnish with cashew sour cream. To make cashew sour cream, squeeze some lemon juice into cashew cream.
3.1
https://greenreset.com/green-blended-salads/
How to Make a Blended Salad?
This is important.
Because you are not going to add any water to your salad, so it is important to start with ingredients that contain most water – tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. – so, cut them into pieces and put them into your blender FIRST. Switch your blender ON and keep it on the lowest speed that will get the job done. Next, gradually keep adding other ingredients – leafy greens and herbs. If adding honey or other sweetener, add it to the mix at the end, so it doesn’t just stick to the container.
This is important especially if you are using a regular blender to make the blended salad, and not VitaMix – which is the best blender on the market to make green smoothies and blended salads. It’s expensive, but totally worth it!
Low-Calorie, Fat-Free Blended Salad Recipe (No Salad Dressing Required!)
The problem with many salads is that the greens are soaked in fatty dressings with many unhealthy ingredients. Of course, you may make healthy low fat salad dressing yourself using a blender, like I describe in one of my other posts.
This Italian-flavored Green Power Salad requires no salad dressing whatsoever – and it still tastes delicious!
Ingredients:
• 1 stalk celery
• 2 tomatoes
• 1 cucumber
• 2 scallions
• some fresh basil leaves (adjust quantity to taste)
• some fresh oregano (can substitute dried oregano)
• raw honey or raw agave nectar (adjust quantity to taste)
• optional jalapeno or other hot pepper
• 5 oz spinach
• optional toppings: handful sweet bell pepper, diced, 1 chopped celery stalk
Step 1.
Save 1/2 tomato and a piece of cucumber for garnish. Blend the remaining tomatoes, cucumber and celery in your blender.
Step 2.
Chop the remaining ingredients and add to your blender and blend on slow speed. If you don’t have a powerful blender, then you may want to add spinach gradually as you blend. Remember to use low speed. If you have a Vitamix, use the pusher to help do the job.
Step 3.
Pour the salad into a bowl. Chop remaining tomato and cucumber and sprinkle on top.
Enjoy!
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!
