Green Smoothie Recipes

**NaturalLove** · 01-16-2007, 12:45 PM

Hi all,

I've been reading a lot about green smoothies and how great they are for your body. I love smoothies and typically make mine with plain yogur, a small amount of juice and various fruits such as banana, blueberries, strawberries, and peaches. I'm sure I'd be better off if I added some vegetables to my smoothie. Please share your green smoothie recipes.

**SouthernShorty** · 01-16-2007, 04:28 PM

I'll just post links, so here they are.
#1, #2, #3, and #4.

ETA:I don't follow smoothie recipes to the letter, just as guides or to give me ideals.

**NaturalLove** · 01-17-2007, 10:27 AM

I'll just post links, so here they are.
#1, #2, #3, and #4.

ETA:I don't follow smoothie recipes to the letter, just as guides or to give me ideals.
[/b]

Thank you so much for providing these links. I'm so excited! I think I may spend my lunch hour today shopping for smoothie products.

**eri** · 01-17-2007, 09:03 PM

i like to make a huge smoothie that i can sip on for most of the morning. it keeps me full, and i don't have to worry about anymore green leafies for the rest of the day unless i want to. plus it packs a great amount of calcium and iron. i usually use the prewashed bag of greens meant for cooking, or kale if they don't look good. the whole thing usually ends up pea green or mauve, depending on the amount of berries used. it smells very "green" and tastes that way, too. i had to work my way up to it. :P

i fill the blender with greens(yes, all the way to the top), and add a frozen banana and fill halfway with water. after the greens have been liquified, i add a cup of strawberries or mixed berries(sometimes both), a small piece of fresh ginger(really cuts down on the bitterness) and maybe 1/3-1/2 mango if i have it. an apple is nice at the very end, too. i forgot i also like a whole kiwifruit, too. it's spiciness goes well with the greens.

**NaturalLove** · 01-17-2007, 09:16 PM

i like to make a huge smoothie that i can sip on for most of the morning. it keeps me full, and i don't have to worry about anymore green leafies for the rest of the day unless i want to. plus it packs a great amount of calcium and iron. i usually use the prewashed bag of greens meant for cooking, or kale if they don't look good. the whole thing usually ends up pea green or mauve, depending on the amount of berries used. it smells very "green" and tastes that way, too. i had to work my way up to it. :P

i fill the blender with greens(yes, all the way to the top), and add a frozen banana and fill halfway with water. after the greens have been liquified, i add a cup of strawberries or mixed berries(sometimes both), a small piece of fresh ginger(really cuts down on the bitterness) and maybe 1/3-1/2 mango if i have it. an apple is nice at the very end, too.
[/b]

Hmm..I like to cook my collard greens, never imagined eating them raw. I bet you do feel great in the morning. That sounds like a powerful concoction. Why do you put in a frozen banana?

I bet if I ate like this everyday, I'd be skin and bones.

**EllesGarden** · 01-18-2007, 08:20 AM

About two months ago, I started having a green smoothie every morning and I've really had some positive effects.

When I started I used fruit juice, frozen berries and spinach, but as I got used to it, I cut out the juice and use filtered water. I also add flaxseed oil, protein powder and psyllium seed husks.

I've noticed some huge changes since I've been doing this regularly. I've lost about 18 pounds from doing this alone. My skin glows. My poops (sorry) have been regular and bountiful, but the most important change I've noticed is my ankles. Due mostly to my diet (junk, salt and not drinking enough water), for several years I've always retained fluid in my lower extremeties. Since I've been drinking the smoothies every morning, my ankles have been sleek and sexy and I've even lost a shoe size and a shoe width.

Although my diet still isn't perfect, I feel I've finally gotten breakfast down. I'm on auto pilot every morning. I don't have to think about it at all. Now, i just have to work on the other 2 meals.

8 oz of water
1/2 cup of frozen strawberries (2.69 for a 2 pound bag at Aldi)
3 cups of spinach (5.99 for a pound of organic at Whole Foods)
2 tablespoons of psyllium seed husks (3.99 at Trader Joes)
1 teaspoon of flaxseed oil (7.99, I think, at Vitamin World*)
1 scoop of unflavored soy protein powder (also Vitamin World)

Until I got used to the taste, I'd add a banana or fruit juice to sweeten.

*I have a Vitamin World membership (I think it's free) and I get 'buy 1 get one free' at the beginning of every month. This really helps offset the costs.

I hope this helps.

**NaturalLove** · 01-18-2007, 10:30 AM

I made one this morning and it turned out decent. I used Kale, strawberries, a banana, a pear, and some water. It was okay. I think I'll play around with different ingredients. I really like the idea of getting my veggies raw. It's so much better than cooking. I'm not really on a quest to lose weight. I just had a baby 8 months ago and am about 4 pounds heavier than I was pre-pregnancy. I'm just trying to make healthier choices and incorporate more fresh fruits and veggies in my lifestyle. I eat out way too much and eat a lot of processed foods. Lately, for some reason, I've had a weakness for Hershey bars with almonds. I'm not talking about the bite size either, I go for the King Size...lol!

EllesGarden, we're supposed to be getting a Trader Joes here and I cannot wait! Your recipe sounds great. Psyllium Husks and flax seeds are now on my grocery list. Way to go on your weight loss! And the fact that you have glowing skin is all the more reason to do this!

**Nicklicious** · 01-18-2007, 02:54 PM

I started three days ago. I try and do it twice a day, to make sure I get my 5 veggies in for the day. I can say, you feel results almost immediately in the bowel movement area. But not uncomfortable.

I notice I am really really full these days, but not sleepy full, just kinda stuffed feeling. I sometimes eat less lunch to make up for it, because the full feeling makes me feel guilty for some reason.

I'm gonna try the mango and parsley tonight. I'll tell you how that goes. I don't know, but for me the fruits mask the greens really well, so hasn't been a problem for me, tastewise.

I'm excited about the weightloss factor, plus health. A new year baby.

**NaturalLove** · 01-19-2007, 07:00 AM

I'm currently sipping on one that I made this morning. It has 1/2 mango, 1 pear, 1 orange, 3 stalks of celery, and 1 cup water. It's pretty good.

**EllesGarden** · 01-19-2007, 07:45 AM

Ok....I tired a new one this morning.

1/2 cantalope
1/2 banana
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
5 kale leaves with stems
1 teaspoon flaxseed oil
2 tablespoons psyllium seed husks

It was pretty good. I tasted more kale than I really wanted. Tomorrow, I think I'll do half kale and half spinach. I NEVER taste the spinach.