Raw Food Wannabe: Green Smoothie Rave

I am so wanting to go 80 to 90% raw, organic food, but alas, it is not in the funds! However, I have come to the realization that it is OKAY not to be 100% raw! Whatever improvement I make in that direction is going to make me that much healthier.

I was watching a video on you tube were David Wolf said that(I'm not directly quoting here, just paraphrasing) having an all or nothing attitude is dangerous. he specifically said that you DON'T have to be 100% raw vegan if you are not in a position to. You will definitely still see health benefits! I can testify to this personally. While going 100% raw would be fantastic, I have felt better in just adding a green smoothie everyday. I try to get in one green smoothie everyday (usually for breakfast). It gives me so much energy, which is huge for me because I had a hard time finding the energy to accomplish basic tasks like dishes, laundry, and even spending as much time with my kids as I should.

I would suggest to anyone who wants to add greens as well as more raw fruit into their diet, EAT GREEN SMOOTHIES!!! They are so easy to make and a very easy way to get some awesome nutrition into your kids! You can make it nice and thick by adding more ice or bananas and create a fruity ice cream. I know what you are thinking, "my kids won't touch anything green with a ten foot pole!" Blueberries are very good at disguising the greenness. You can try the super hero approach and tell them (especially good for boys) that it is a Hulk smoothie! If the Hulk drinks it, it must be good, right? Or maybe a witches brew is more up your alley? Worth a try.

You can also use the frog in the boiling pot approach. Just start out by adding a couple leaves of spinach. Each time add a little more until you reach a satisfactory amount. The greens are much less noticeable if you add them slowly. I have also found that my 2 year old will never turn down a Popsicle! Make the smoothie, and if they don't eat it, pour it into Popsicle molds and pull it our later for a healthy snack or a treat after dinner.

You could also experiment with chocolate smoothies and adding greens to those. The brownness will hide the green, and who the heck can turn down chocolate?! You can also try having your kids actually help make the smoothie. Kids LOVE to help out and if they help make it themselves, they will probably be more willing to taste it. Helpers like to help themselves to what they make.

My mom never made green smoothies, but it was always a treat when she made banana ice cream! Yum!!! She would fill the blender about halfway with FROZEN bananas, then add orange juice for the liquid and maybe a little honey and vanilla. There are so many terrific green smoothie recipes out there, but honestly, I usually just throw stuff in the blender. I do follow a basic list though. This is what I usually do:

Kate's Green Smoothie:
Fill blender halfway (yes halfway, this is for me, not for my boys. I would probably put a little less if it was for them so it would not be as noticeable)with your choice of greens. I have tried and liked spinach, kale, turnip greens, mustard greens, collard greens, and rainbow something or other, I can't remember the name. You can do just one type or do a mixture.

Then add some liquid (usually water, but you can do any kind of milk or juice)to just about cover blades. Sometimes I have to add more later on. Then I do a couple squirts of flaxseed oil to get in my omega-3's. I like to add my sweetener at this point because I like to use frozen fruit and when the smoothie gets so cold from the fruit, it is not as easily dispersed, but you can add it later. Either way is fine, I've done both. I like to use agave nectar or raw honey. I tried stevia, but wasn't wild about it in the smoothie (I do like it in other things).

Then I blend this concoction together until all the greens are nice and blended. If I had a fancy Vita Mix or Blendtec, I wouldn't have to do it this way, but I only have a ordinary blender. I have found that with my ordinary blender, I can get the greens in smaller pieces if I blend the greens before I add the fruit.

So after I blend the greens, I add my fruit, which is usually 1-2 frozen bananas and about a cup or so of another type of fruit like strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, mango, or whatever fruit you like. I have discovered that I like to do 2 frozen bananas with non-frozen of the other type of fruit. If you want to use all frozen fruit, you will almost definitely have to add more water. My blender begs for more water if I do all frozen fruit. If I do all frozen fruit, I also might use a little less banana. I use the frozen banana specifically because I like the consistency and the pleasant sweetness it adds. So creamy!!!

At this point I taste test (you always have to taste what you are making, of course!). I usually end up adding more sweetener, not that I need it. Then kick up my heels and enjoy! : )