“Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food.”
– Hippocrates
The holidays are here, and green rules regarding decorations. Yet, how often have we heard our children say at the dinner table, “Yuck! That’s green! I don’t like green stuff.”
It’s not only children who have an aversion to healthy green food. My father said, “I don’t eat green stuff,” more often than I care to remember.
Well, this VIDEO may be the solution to the challenge of providing our family with their daily dose of greens in the form of a tasty drink that is quick, delicious, and according to juicing aficionados, SEXY.
The secret to smoothie success is pulverizing the green vegetables into a thin liquid. The biggest complaint people have is vegi-chunks in their drink. We want a smoothie, not a chunky.
Most conventional blenders do not have the horse-power capability to pulverize stems like the ones found on kale. Using something like the Nutri Bullet creates a smooth green drink. Add an apple, pear, or grapes as a healthy sweetener. Then, you’ll have a drink even your children will love.
It’s a great, painless way to consume the daily requirement of green foods. Yes, I said painless. Chasing a fast child around the house with a spoonful of green liquid vitamins or steamed spinach can be downright painful.
Dark leafy greens like spinach are important for skin and hair, bone health, and it provides protein, iron, vitamins and minerals. Health benefits associated with consuming spinach include improved blood glucose control in diabetics, a lowered risk of cancer, and lowered blood pressure.
It is also a great source of vitamins B1,B2, B6, E, K, C, and A, in the form of carotenoids, and the minerals manganese , iron, copper, calcium, and potassium. It is also a good source of dietary fiber, phosphorus, zinc, protein, and chlorine.
A Green Smoothie is also low in calories, yet it is very filling, because it contains high amounts of water and fiber. You may feel as if you ate a full meal. If you’re trying to lose weight, it may help fight hunger and cravings allowing pounds melt off easier.
There is controversy about too much calcium in green drinks causing health issues. A recent study notes the calcium in green drinks is easier to digest than dairy calcium, and the real problem is not in a drink made up of green vegetables but rather the other ingredients often added to drinks. Know what is in your smoothie. Keep it simple like this recipe.
I’ve been putting off making green drinks. This is the perfect reminder and just what I need to get back on the wagon again. Thanks so much.
I hate boring old vegetables. I have never wanted to just munch on carrots and celery so this is often how I get my greens in for the day. Thanks for the video
I hear you Summer! I am not a big fan of some cooked vegies but do like them raw, so raw carrots in with my green drink is a great way to get a healthy balance. So glad you liked the video. Thanks for your comment.
Grew up on Popeye and I love my veggies – especially spinach. Making the smoothie smooth and not chunky is a helpful tip. As you suggested, adding fruits is not only great for my grandkids, but for myself as well. Tastes better and extra nutrients as well. Thanks for all the tips! I feel healthier already.
Julie, so glad you enjoyed the green smoothie tips because they are tried-and-true. And, yes! Fruit does make everything taste better. Thanks for your comment.
I’ve been a fan of spinach since childhood, Kathleen, and yes, Pop-Eye has a lot to do with it. 🙂
Fortunately, spinach is part of the Indian diet and there is a version similar to the smoothie where spinach is ground and cooked with spices. In this version, one can add other vegetables, meat as well as paneer or cottage cheese. The dish is divine!
Vatsala I love spicy Indian Spinach Dishes as well, and one of my favorites is Saag Paneer, spicy creamed spinach with chunks of cheese cooked in it. Anytime my husband and I travel we always look for an Indian Restaurant so I can order that dish. I learned to love Indian food when I was a child (Military Brat) in Berlin, Germany and would go to the British Officer’s Club for dinner with my parents. Many of the cooks were Indian. Vatsala, Thanks so much for your comment.
I have always loved vegetables of all kinds. My father was a produce manager for Safeway for over 40 years so he introduced us to every vegetable imaginable when we were kids. And yet, I have never tried green smoothies. Time to do a little experimenting. Thanks for the inspiration!
Marguita, it sounds like you had wise parents indeed, you will be surprised at just how delicious this green drink is. Thanks for your comment.
As I am drinking my green smoothie with spirulina and comfrey today- great info thanks
Suzie, thanks so much for your comment and I know your green-drink will make you so healthy.