Update to this post: I have a video up now if you would like to take a look. How to make a green shake
I was asked about green shakes from a group I am in and I sent this in reply. I decided to post it here as well.
Green shakes are the best thing that has happened to me in a long time! The kids beg me for them. The biggest benefits from green shakes are as follows;
1.Energy!
2.Drinking a meal instead of eating(comes in handy when you have kids..lol)
3.Nutrients
4.Healing benefits
I am going to start putting some recipes on my blog for them but to be honest, anything goes. Here are some combinations I use
1 banana(or more if you really like them) as a good base, then add:
-Strawberries(frozen works great because it makes it “shakey”) I usually will put about 4-5 strawberries(these are the big ones from the frozen strawberry bag from Sam’s)
-Frozen Mixed fruit
-a Pear
-an apple
- an orange(great for sickness)
-Mango(my favorite, but I haven’t been able to find good ones lately)
Then add your greens(I usually put in about 1 cup to 2 cups of greens. Start small at first-1/2 cup) Your body will soon start to crave more!
Spinach(good for first timers because it is milder)
Collards(my favorite)
Kale(dh’s favorite)
Mustard-spicey
Most days I will also add about ½ - 1 serving of nuts as well. I usually have about 2 servings of nuts a day.
I have put old fashioned oats in my shake and that works great as a thickener. I have put raw cacao in them and it tastes great with Strawberries. I usually add enough water to where the blender is flowing smoothly. You might let any frozen fruits sit in the water a bit to make blending easier. Blend long enough to where there are no discernable pieces of greens. That is important. If you want, you can come over and I will show you how easy it is! I usually have about 2-3 shakes a day. These fill a big mason jar. I eat, on average, 6 times throughout the day. When eating raw, you really can eat as much as your body needs. If you do a search on raw food, you will come across several good websites. Just do a search within a forum on green smoothies. There are tons of ideas(including putting superfoods and such in your shake like maca powder(I have done this), and weeds like dandelion leaves(I have some waiting to be used). Let me know how things turn out if you try it. If you are interested in making the MOST excellent shakes, go for the vitamix. There is a link on my sidebar to get it.
8 comments:
So you don't add any fruit juice or yogurt? Just water? I'm a big smoothie fan (more so in the summer) and have never tried putting greens in. Sounds good!
No fruit juice or yogurt! You really should try it, the banana acts as a thickening agent. No milk either.
Okay I just made one with a banana, a Granny Smith apple, and 1/2 cup spinach....delicious! I'm shocked at how good it is! My boys looked at me like I was nuts so I called it my "Incredible Hulk" drink and they both wanted some and loved it! Gotta go make another one for them!
Yay! That's awesome.
Hey Crystal! This is Christine in Greenville. Remember me? lol
I just wanted to let you know that this post inspired me to make my first "somewhat" green shake today. "Somewhat" meaning it had plain yogurt and a bit of orange juice that had to be used up, but it also had frozen strawberries, oatmeal, and at least 1 cup of kale! Oh, and I added just a dab of honey. I'm not used to smoothies like this but was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The kids liked it too, so I didn't get enough. I need a gee-normous blender, apparently. How do you do it? What do you feed the kids?
PS: Have you thought of freezing a green shake into popsicles? It was an idea I just had seeing how much my kids enjoyed it. Wouldn't the neighborhood kids love that? LOL
Hey! I've been thinking about you. I even looked on your blog recently but didn't see any updates. How are you? We miss you guys so much. As for the blender, I have a vitamix, the big daddy of them all! LOL As for the kids, they are on a kid typical diet though we do give them green shakes and I try to give them other raw foods. I don't freeze my shakes, though you can. They are just so good straight up. I usually make a little over a mason jar size just for me so I don't see freezing that much shake. Too much time! Are you online now?
No, I wasn't online then. :(
I've been lurking here on your blog. My blog, on the other hand, is friend-locked, so without being listed on my friend's list you won't see much. I think you have to join LJ to be friended. :(
My kids want my smoothie's. I have to share, and they drink A LOT. I have to make to 6 cup blender-fulls at a time. I wanna Vitamix.
Call me or email me or something when you can! I would love to hear from you.
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