Drink Green

       I’m talking about green smoothies.  Sara at Happy Foody turned me on to the idea. I had previously read this article at Vegetarian baby and child, but hadn’t implemented the idea of drinking your greens.  It’s actually very easy and quite tasty. The idea is to mix 40% greens with 60% fruit (plus maybe a little water or ice – we use rice milk).  

      Here are just a few reasons why green smoothies are so wonderful:            

 

They are highly nutritious. 

With a ratio of about 60% – ripe organic fruit mixed with about 40% – organic green vegetables, they taste like sweet fruit, but also have all the nutrition of dark green veggies.

Green smoothies are easy to digest. When blended well, all the valuable nutrients in these fruits and veggies become homogenized, or divided into such small particles that it becomes easy for the body to assimilate these nutrients.

Green smoothies, as opposed to juices, are a complete food because they still have fiber. 

By consuming two or three cups of green smoothies daily you will consume enough of greens for the day to nourish your body.

Green smoothies are easy to make, and quick to clean up after.  

When you consume your greens in the form of green smoothies, you can greatly reduce the consumption of oils and salt in your diet because you are essentially having a salad without the dressing. 

Regular consumption of green smoothies forms a good habit of eating greens and helps curb cravings for sweets – for real:) because I have a serious sweet tooth, so I know.

Green smoothies are a great way to incorporate “coooking greens” (like kale and collards) into your diet on a daily basis – without having to cook them!  Kale actually absorbs toxins beyond its own weight and carries them out of your body! 

 

Elena (my 18 mo. old) has a green smoothie every day for lunch. I’m so excited to have found a way to get some greens *RAW GREENS!* into my little girl, as she is too young to be able to chew them.  Since sharing a smoothie with her at lunch, my dessert cravings have almost disappeared – no joke!  So, drink up!  The health benefits are amazing.

This video from “green smoothie girl” helps to explain how to make them. You can find some recipes here.  

 

 

photo courtesy of Jemnifur on flickr