Green Smoothies

A few of years ago, a couple of gals in our ward did a RS cooking night based on the book Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfield. It was about getting more nutrition into our family meals. (There's also another book along that like called Stealth Health by an Oregonian dietician Brenda Ponichtera.) Great class and information. In that class, Joanna taught us about putting spinach in smoothies. I thought that there was NO way my guys would go for it, but they did. So for a few years I've been buying bags of spinach, then throwing them in the freezer. The fun part is crunching the spinach up into little bits. Anyway, we made smoothies with yogurt, bananas, frozen berries and a handful of spinach. As long as there is blueberry, or another dark fruit, it seemed drinkable. And nutritious!

Green Smoothie Revolution:
The Radical Leap Toward Natural Health
by Victoria Boutenko

http://greensmoothierevolution.com/
http://www.rawfamily.com/recipes
http://freegreensmoothierecipes.com/recipes/

Fast forward to last October. I saw the book above at our little Troutdale Library and checked it out. I learned about an Oregon woman who was trying to get more greens into her family's diet, as they were all suffering from ailments such as diabetes, heart disease, etc. Long story short, she started blending the greens. Then she began blending them with fruit so the smoothies were more tasty. I read her book, and then read her first book called Green for Life. It's a lot more technical about the nutrition in greens, etc. Anyway, I've been having a green smoothie most days since then. Scott will have some, and Ian has fun slurping them also. (Straws are the ticket for him!) Lately if I don't give him one, he asks for one. Victoria Boutenko is pretty radical (compared to the Standard American Diet—S.A.D.), and I don't want to scare you away...but throwing fruit and greens into the blender takes just a few minutes. The best 'fast food' ever. There has only been one time that I really couldn't choke one down. I added another banana and it was OK. I've kept a journal so I can remember what combos I/we like the best, but really it's been fun. AND NO COOKING! I've included some links, with recipes. She's all about just starting with water, adding fruit and greens and not really following a 'recipe' per se. I've been doing them for lunch, sharing with Ian, and saving some for late afternoon snack.Or we have a smoothie with a family meal. I did banana, fresh pineapple, mixed baby greens and water last week and all liked it. Unlimited options, so check the recipes to get ideas.

http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/

While talking about green smoothies with my friend Debbie, I found that she and her husband were having them regularly also. They have been following another person who is a 'soccer mom' version of the gal above. (And she speaks of the author about as one of the pioneers in the field.) She is trying to make it doable for a family and offers a 12 step program to going all whole food. (step one adding green smoothies, step two adding a salad every day, step three appropriate dressing, etc.) She makes 3 qts. of green smoothie every morning. She has a quart, then gives a pint to each of her kids. Her recipes and program are not all online free. I did find her basic book shown below at the library. Debbie and Stan are light years ahead on eating healthy. Stan is diabetic, so they are always trying to do what will help him the most. They us the other things she recommends like chia seeds and coconut oil, etc. I haven't done that yet. I'm kind of like those 'fence sitters' Elder Maxwell talked about some: wanting to be in Zion, but keep a summer house in Babylon! I have good habits I'm developing, but bad habits I'm still working to eliminate. I think the closer we can get to the Word of Wisdom with healthy the better, but not for all vegetarian/vegan. Debbie and I went to a free class this month (2/4) by Robyn Openshaw (AKA Green Smoothie Girl).  She was very interesting, and feels very strongly about young mothers helping their children learn good heath habits. She also started research this because of a sick child.

I'm not perfect at this...especially the additional expensive things. Scott still would prefer 'meat and potato' land, but is usually willing to try dishes.. Some of the stuff in these books is a bit out of my league now, but I've really enjoyed feeling heathier drinking one for lunch everyday. There is actually a non-fruit one that I love. If you like guacamole you might like it. It's avocado, romas, water, cilantro, onion, garlic, green pepper and salt. Hope there is something interesting to you!




Robyn’s Green Smoothie Template Recipe

Makes 8 cups of 100% raw smoothie.

Put 2 1/2 to 3 cups water (or some ice also) in your blender.

(Optionally, add:

½ t. stevia (herbal sweetener) or
up to ¼ cup raw, organic agave nectar (low glycemic index)

¼ whole lemon, including peel (anti-skin cancer, high in flavanoids)

2-3 T. fresh, refrigerated flax oil (omega-3 rich oil)

Gradually add greens until, briefly pureed, the mixture comes up the 5-cup line (or less if you are “converting”):

¾ to 1 lb. raw, washed greens, added up to 5 ½ cup line:

spinach, chard, kale, collards, mixed greens, celery, turnip greens, beet greens, arugula, dandelion etc.

Puree greens mixture for 90 seconds until very smooth.

Gradually add fruit until the container is very full, blend 90 seconds or until smooth:

1-2 bananas

1-2 cups frozen mixed berries

any other fruit to taste: pears, peaches, apples, oranges, apricots, cantaloupe, mango, pineapple, etc.

Make a full blender and you’ll have some to drink, and some to share.
Why is the green smoothie habit worth 10 minutes of your day?
One quart is 12-15 servings of greens and fruit. That quart costs about $2.50. (Think of what people are spending daily on Starbucks or the $1 fast food menu...)

p.s.  Tips:  For beginners and those trying to convert children (or spouses!), consider using LESS greens and MORE fruit (especially berries and bananas) in the beginning, gradually working up to a 50/50 ratio as described here.  Consider using only spinach the first few days, then sneak in chard, collards, and kale, the other mild but excellent greens gradually.  Add other savory or bitter greens only when your family are “experts” in green smoothies!  Add a bit more water if you feel the smoothie is too thick. Also, add dark berries if the smoothies is too 'green' for someone...or say it's a Shrek smoothie for kids.

http://www.wordofwisdomliving.com/

Finally, I read about a new blog on your health. I just spent a few minutes there, but really liked what I saw.  The man that started this is a church member and engineer and very down-to-earth and Word of Wisdom based. His daughter wrote a guest post on a blog I read, and I'm hooked. I'll have to go back and read from the beginning of the year. Here's a taste: "My parents taught me good habits as a child, but over the past few years my dad has gotten really serious about studying nutrition. I’ve been encouraging him to start his own blog so he can share all that he’s learned with the rest of us. It’s now up and running and it’s called Word of Wisdom Living. It’s becoming a real community, with people asking questions and sharing what works for them.

In January he started one year of “Healthy Changes”, one small thing you can change in your diet or lifestyle each week. He’ll post a new one each Monday for the rest of the year. So far these have touched on topics like soda, fried foods, exercise and vitamin D. You can even download a little reminder card that you can hang on your bathroom mirror to help you remember. He’ll also be reviewing some of his favorite health books, sharing nutritional blogs and medical journal studies, and some of his favorite healthy recipes.

I know that I am biased, but my dad is a really smart guy. I think we all could learn a lot from him. Here’s to a healthy 2011!"

Back to Dee—OK, and here's one I really like below:

And by the author: "Though an avid student of nutrition, I am neither doctor nor scientist and don’t pretend to be. In fact, that is my credential: I’m a private person studying a public puzzle: how to live. In my search I have read over a hundred books, plus many, many articles and studies. Whatever I have been able to learn, I freely offer for your consideration and comment."

by Dee, wife of Barbara's son Scott