My family and friends laugh and shake their heads at me all the time. They can’t believe how I’ve changed my eating habits. They now think I’ve gone to a new level with the green smoothies. The funny thing is, they are all surprised when they love them.
My mentor and chiropractor, Dr. Martha Linn, told me, a few years ago, about a mango and spinach smoothie. Yuck, was my first response. She had me taste it, and after I got over the initial yuck factor I was surprised at how good it was.
I started making them right away. They are super easy to make plus, you don’t need a strong blender, so you can make them anywhere.
I didn’t venture too far from the one smoothie until Martha had me read “Green For Life” by Victoria Boutenko. The book opened my mind to a lot of new information. It made sense to me. After reading it, for me personally, this was something that I was going to incorporate into my life. In the past few years there has been so much great info about greens and especially kale. Once I discover something that good for me I find away to bring it into my everyday.
Through trial and error, I took different things from different recipes and came up with this, to me, delicious and ever-changing Kale Smoothie recipe.
My big test was on my husband, Jeff. He rolls his eyes at me all the time but goes along in support anyway! It wasn’t the taste test that got my husband hooked on kale smoothies. It was how he felt afterwards. He admitted the huge difference in how he felt immediately after he drank it. Now he comes home and can’t wait to get his kale smoothie.
I have to say, this is the best habit I’ve developed since I started to exercise. Knowing that my body has this powerful green that will be immediately absorbed because it’s already broken down by the blending, this makes me happy.
I also share this with my beautiful black lab, Gracie. She knows when it’s Green Smoothie time. With full disclosure, Gracie doesn’t like the mango and spinach smoothie. Oh well, can’t win them all!
I will say, for the first few times it seemed like a big commitment, but stick with it because the payoff is huge.
I like to enjoy my smoothie before I have lunch. I wait a half hour before I eat anything else. It gives it time to digest and get it in your system. You will also make healthier food choices and portion control will not be an issue. The afternoon lull will disappear as well.
The best advice I can offer you is, do this often, and make it your own. It’s worth your time. You can make it in the morning and take it with you for the afternoon. If you don’t like pears or they are out of season try white peaches or pick something else.
There are endless options. One great green to add when you start is chard (any variety). This will make the smoothie creamier and will take out bitterness from the other greens. To power it up you can add a handful of greens from the tops of carrots or radishes. I don’t find that a small amount of those greens changes the flavor. Add whatever is in season and, hopefully, local and organic. This is the time to enjoy all that the summer season has to offer.
Please share with us any changes to the smoothie you make so we can offer more suggestions and get people drinking their greens.
Cheers!
