Another Green Smoothie

That wonderful time of year is coming. The time of year when I can wake up, go to my garden, grab some ingredients to throw in my blender.  Fresh is best. And it doesn't get much fresher! Yum. Not much is ready in the garden, it has been a S L O W spring.  But...I have enough spinach to start the harvest for my smoothies! Of course I am not organic certified, but I don't use pesticides in my garden.

1/2 banana

handful of FRESH spinach

handful of frozen pineapple

handful of frozen mango

1 T wheat germ

1T ground flax seed

1 T raw honey

1/2 c silken tofu

1 c almond milk

 

Blend and enjoy the creamy greenie!

Citrus Smoothies

Again, I have a smoothie most mornings, just haven't been posting. Lately, my FB have commented or asked about my SOTD post...time to blog.
We have a lot of fresh citrus fruit at our house. My sons school sells citrus by the case as a fundraiser.  Good fruit, don't want it to go to waste, good vitamin C, gonna put it in a smoothies.
I have found, I don't like the whole citrus in the blender, even with my vita mix. On a side note, did you know that the pith of citrus fruit (the white "skin") has many health benefits. Maybe, I need to suck it up (no pun intended)!  Anyway, so far I have been juicing my oranges.  I would probably continue to juice the grapefruits, the pith on them is very bitter.

Citrus Smoothie

1/2 banana

juice of 1 tangelo

juice of 1/2 grapefruit

1/4 c frozen blueberries

1/4 cup silken tofu

large handful of spinach

 1 T wheat germ

1 T ground flax seed

1 T Raw Honey

1 T chia seeds

I also love that my 18month old will come over to me and suck down a bunch of my smoothie! Good nutrition for her.

Yesterday's smoothie was another citrus smoothie.

1/2 banana

juice of 1 tangelo

juice of 1 grapefruit

skinned kiwi (did you know you CAN eat the skin of a kiwi? Not for me, but you can!)

handful of kale

1 T wheat germ

1 T ground flax seed

2T hemp seed

1 T bee pollen

2 oz aloe vera juice, not aloe vera gel!

 

 

Okay, aloe vera juice. Something new to try in my smoothie. I bought a bottle, will use the bottle, will not replace the bottle! I can smell it in the drink, even though I can't really taste it. The smell alone is enough to put me off. Besides that, the research I have done doesn't prove any health benefits. CAREFUL: it can be a laxative. Just so you know I DON'T speak from experience. 

It Isn't Easy Being Green

Everything green smoothie.  I needed inspiration today, couldn't think of a good smoothie. I looked in the fridge and pulled out everything green.

It Isn't Easy Being Green

1 Banana (okay, so not green!)
1 Cup coconut water

1 6oz container key lime yogurt

handful fresh spinach

2 peeled kiwis

1 cup diced honeydew melon

juice of 1/2 a lime

1 tsp barley grass powder

2 T hemp seed

1T ground flax seed

1T wheat germ

1 T honey

Very good. Can taste the hint of lime. Everytime I use kiwi, I feel a bit of tingle in my mouth. I think the blended seeds produce that effect. I don't get that feeling when I eat the kiwi whole. Anyone else?

Post Flu Smoothie / Cucumber Melon

It has been a while since I have even wanted a smoothie.  The stomach flu got me. Took me down. Sent me to the ER to get rehydrated (2 L later I started to feel a bit better. I am still not up to full eating strength. I am better, but my meals are smaller and I am just not hungry. Not a bad thing for the diet plan, actually.

I made myself a smoothie a couple days after the flu that would be easy on the stomach. Have you heard of the BRATT diet for after the flu.  Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast, Tea.  That is what this smoothie is based off.  The coconut water is good for electrolyte recovery, ginger is a digestion aid and pears are the same as applesauce (mild and easy to digest). 

Flu Recovery

1 Banana

3/4 C coconut water

1 cube of ginger

1 pear (home canned)

1/2 cup cooked white rice

Blend until the rice is smooth. 

 

Today's smoothie is very healthy looking. GREEN! Hubs watched me blend it up and decided that he didn't want any! He did try a sip and determine that the smoothie was pretty good!

 

 

Cucumber Melon

3/4 cup diced Honeydew Melon

3/4 cup diced musk /cantelope Melon

1 banana

4 inch chunk of peeled cucumber

1 T honey

handful spinach

 

Blend until smooth.

 

This smoothie doesn't require a liquid, the melon and cucumber have enough on their own that it blends to a nice smoothie consistency.  You can taste the cucumber, just a hint. Mint would be a good addition to this smoothie. Maybe in the summer when I have fresh mint in my garden.

Immune Boost

Little girl is sick. Puke on the carpet sick.  Since I know today will mean I have my hands in puke (glamorous job that it is) I thought I best boost my immune system. I still have 2 more kids that could potential catch this bug.  Today's smoothie is full of immune boosting benefits and tastes so yum!

 

Immune Boost

1 banana (always a banana!)
1 packed cup of spinach leaves

2 cups orange juice

1/2  cup Greek yogurt

1 T bee pollen

1 T Goji berries

2 T raw honey

handful of frozen strawberries

almond milk to make 4 cups

Except for the banana, everything above is full of immune boosting properties.  Here's hoping it works!

Mostly Green, Blue Smoothie

Yesterday was another busy day. I converted two bags of apples into 35 pints of applesauce. The apples were so sweet that for 7 pints I only needed 1 cup of sugar.  Lots of work, but so worth the good food set up for winter!

Today's smoothie is a green smoothie.  A good way to get veggies into a diet.  Drinking smoothies has really made me look at food differently. Don't judge the taste of something solely on the look including the color. Today's smoothie is a funky greenish color, but it tastes delicious!

Mostly Green, Blue Smoothie

1 large handful of spinach

1 banana

1 ripe plum, pitted and skin off

1 cup blueberries

1 T wheat germ

1 T ground flax seed

1 T raw hemp seed

2 T raw quick oats

enough almond milk to make 4 cups

Blend and enjoy.

I have found for a mid line blender, I get the best blend of the greens if I blend the banana, with the greens, and a splash of milk.  If I add the spinach last I have ended up with chunks of spinach that I didn't like chewing. I should note that a high end blender purees everything and does yield a smoother textured smoothie. I don't mind my mid line blender or the texture I get.