I have always wanted to love "the smoothie." I can't tell you how many experts, or nutritionists, or naturopathic doctors have been on my show over the last 5 years stressing the benefit of a real-food smoothie. And then there's a green smoothie -- you pack it with kale or spinach or some other leafy veg you're likely not getting enough of, and boom! You're now giving your drink a super-power it never had before.
I remember the first person I saw drinking a green smoothie. It was my Sociology professor in second year university -- circa 2002. He was tall and fit and would guzzle an entire bottle of sludge every class. I can't tell you his name or what the class was about, but I do remember that green smoothie.
Here's the thing about the smoothie -- I like my smoothies to be, well, smooth. I'm not interested in choking on a piece of lettuce mid gulp. And while I do like food, I also like food to taste good. If it doesn't taste good, I won't eat it. Plain and simple.
As anyone will attest, I'm a busy, multi-tasking mamma; while I do my utmost to eat healthy and prepare meals from scratch 90% of the time, sometimes, I don't eat enough during the day and then turn to the crap. Here's another thing about the smoothie, though: it's also a multi-tasker. It combines liquid, fruit, veg, protein and whatever else you want to shove into it, into one cup. What an efficient little beast! I'm ALL for efficiency!
I'm not suggesting using a smoothie as a meal-replacement (that would be cray cray imho), but some people do. But I'm TRYING to find recipes that a) are easy b) are cost effective c) TASTE GOOD!
Today, I made my FIRST green smoothie. Ironically, it's red, but there's more than 1 cup of kale inside :) And it actually tasted good! I would drink it again, for sure, which is good, 'cause there's another cup in the fridge. Dare I say, I may give this to my daughter to pump up her veggie intake. Muahahahaha.
Green Smoothie:
- coconut water (1.5 cups)
- 2 cups (or so) of raw, de stemmed kale
- 3 handfuls of frozen fruit (I used raspberries, blackerries, blueberries)
- 2 tbsps of greek yogurt
Blend your coconut water and kale up first and make sure you butcher that kale in so there are no leafy leftovers. Then add the rest of the ingredients and blast away. I tasted the smoothie along the way to make sure it was good. I'm sure you could add honey or coconut sugar or something good to sweeten it, if you wanted.
I think I could do this! The best part is, there are no rules. Start with a base, add your fruit, your protein and any extras (I didn't have an chia or I would have added that). You get to play mad scientist and whip up a new concoction every day.
Tomorrow I think I'll incorporate some avocado....
What are your favourite smoothie, or green smoothie, recipes?
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