One Green Planet has a great bit on how to create the perfect green smoothie. It really is a no-fail meal in that you are the master and there are no rules. However, if you’re fairly new at this then undoubtedly drinking your veggies sounds awful. In this article One Green Planet highlights some great tips that make the task less daunting. With me, I started out with vanilla hemp milk, frozen bananas, agave, and a handful of spinach… there was hardly any green in my “green” smoothie!! Now I’m able to include a whole head of lettuce, several cups of spinach, wheat grass, and broccoli along with a banana and coconut water.
So work your way up to the Green-ness and go at your own pace. The way I see it is this: regardless of your green to color ratio, you’re replacing a potentially fattening, oily, animal-based meal with pure fruits and veggies … that cannot be a bad thing. Ever.
Slurp up! Check out my green smoothies (Awesomeness: cantaloup edition and Hazelnut Kale) or Skin Beautifying Smoothie for more inspiration!!
The article from One Green Planet:
Guide: Amazing Green Smoothie Combos
Posted on March 29, 2012 by Jennifer Valentine: Editorial Manager, OneGreenPlanet.Org
A few notes:
-Ripe, frozen bananas make a great smoothie base, adding a sweet flavor and creamy texture. Try using one banana and half a cup of other fruit. If you don’t like bananas, use a cup of one or more of the other types of fruit listed.
-If you’re shy about greens, try starting with 1 cup instead of 2, but be sure to use a whole cup of liquid.
-If you don’t have a high-powered blender (like a Vitamix or Blendtec), try blending the liquid and greens together before adding the frozen fruit. This will ensure a smooth consistency and make the mixture easier to blend.
-Feel free to use as many add-in’s as you like! They’re a great way to add flavor and extra nutritional punch to your smoothie.
-This matrix is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible smoothie ingredients. Once you’ve mastered the basic smoothie, don’t be afraid to experiment with other ingredients like avocados, carrots, tofu, soy yogurt, kiwis, apples, and other greens!
½ to 1 cup liquid | 2 cups greens | 1 cup frozen fruit | add-in’s |
soy milk | spinach | banana | nut butter |
almond milk | kale | cherries | cocoa or mesquite powder |
coconut milk | swiss chard | blueberries | vanilla extract |
coconut water | romaine or leaf lettuce | strawberries, raspberries, blackberries | protein powder |
flax milk | turnip, beet, collard, dandelion greens | mango, pineapple, papaya | ginger, cinnamon, other spices |
hemp milk | parsley | peach, plum, pear | dates |
And finally, here’s my favorite combination!
The “Doesn’t Taste Green” Smoothie:
½ cup plain or unsweetened vanilla almond milk
2 cups organic baby spinach
1 frozen banana
½ cup frozen blueberries
1 T mesquite powder
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 scoop vegan protein powder