Generally when Dave goes out of town I have a project.
I clean out all the closets or I paint a room. Some trips he comes home to find that I’ve figured out a new filing system or I’ve labeled a whole batch of pictures.
So when Dave went to China this last time I outlined my “project” carefully.
I was going to get healthy.
This Hashimoto’s stuff has kind of given me a little bit of a scare. My general theory about health is that you just pick up and keep on going no
matter how awful you may feel and everything works out.
But the only
problem was that this time around things weren’t “working out.”
I was so tired I could hardly see straight. Which equals a grumpy, emotional mother/wife/friend, etc.
I was determined to get a handle on things.
So first I set goals for myself to sleep more. And second I set out to the farmer’s market and came home with this:
I read up on the couple “green smoothie” recipes I had on hand and whipped up this:
This was what greeted my children when they walked in the door from school:
I was so proud of myself as I plugged my nose and tried to gulp that stuff down. I must have really messed up on the recipe because it did not resemble the deliciously refreshing smoothie my cousin had whipped up for me last summer.
I hoped the kids would somehow miraculously love my creation but they had about the same expression I pictured on my own face when they tried it.
About ten minutes after they got home I came in the kitchen from the laundry room to find this:
Yeah, my health plan has a way to go.
But gradually we’re getting better!
Since then I have experimented with recipes and have come up with a few winners (which I will post soon), but in the meantime, please send green smoothie ideas my way. I’ll share yours and mine at the same time and we can all get healthy together 🙂
This blog is the BEST for healthy schtuff:
http://whatcindyeats.blogspot.com/
Check out February for some good smoothie recipes.
This gal had some health issues and has an amazing knack for just "throwing" ingrediendts into a bowl and making them taste amazing. She captures a few of those recipes on her blog.
When I was little my dad came home from a business trip to find new stairs.
Our old stairs were right by the front door and looked straight into the bathroom which drove my mother crazy, because with eight kids that bathroom, the first thing you saw when you walked in the door was never clean. So while he was gone she had the neighbor come over an turn the stars at the bottom.
milk, banana, spinach, peanut butter, choc protein powder or nesquick, ice – yum!
this isn't a "green smoothie" per se, but it's good.
1 cup water
2 large handfuls spinach
1 cup frozen berries
1 cup plain greek yogurt
1 tbs. honey
1 banana
1/2 cup ice
this is about one serving large serving, so double it if you need to serve more.
We live on green smoothies here!! I've found that almond milk gives a little extra sweetness which is nice. I usually use lots of berries in mine. Blueberries are SUPER good for you so I load up on those. I try to put about a cup of spinach and a small leaf of kale in each shake. The kale is so power packed with vitamins that you dont need a ton of it. Plus it's virtually tasteless which is nice to throw into dinners without picky family members noticing.
My mother always puts in half an avocado to her shakes to make them extra smooth (again cant taste it)
Another good way to make them delicious is to put in 1/2 a cup or so of greek yogurt. 🙂
A splash of OJ or Apple juice helps too. 🙂 Good Luck!
We've been trying to make little changes each week instead of just throwing out everything in the cupboard! My dad's blog helps us.. http://www.wordofwisdomliving.com/
There's a new healthy change each week.. this week it's about adding stretching to your routine.
I don't know if this is healthy enough for your goals but it is my favorite… my one year old eats it up like ice cream 🙂
Frozen banana, milk, peanut butter and a couple handfuls of baby spinach…
Its a winner for me because I can't think of another way to get a one year old to eat that much raw spinach. 😉
My husband has been very into his green smoothies lately. The kids have started calling them Kermit smoothies but they like them!
I get to attend the conference in DC this weekend and really looking forward to a morning away!
I totally feel your pain with hashimotos, I've had it since I was ten. Mine has been low lately and not regulating so like you I have been completely exhausted! I have noticed a big difference in the way I feel and the energy I do get every morning from my green smoothie, so keep doing them and playing around until you get the taste you love! 🙂 Here's what we put in ours:
+ 1 cereal bowl of frozen tropical blend fruit from costco
+ 3-4 large handfuls spinach
+ 1-2 fresh bananas, if I'm just making one serving I use one.
+ about 3/4 cup greek yogurt
+ raspberry/cranberry juice (also at costco) I just pour it until there is about an inch at the bottom of the blender.
+ 2 tablespoons ground flax seed
Hope that helps and good luck with getting everything regulated!
carlandemily.blogspot.com
My favorite green smoothie I posted in this post.
http://myrecipetolife.blogspot.com/2012/03/dear-march-glad-youre-here.html
Enjoy!
check out http://www.skinnytaste.com, she has a green smoothie on there and it looks delicious. I have made several of her recipes and they are all delicious & heathy!!!
My go-to smoothie recipe-
I start by filling my Vitamix with OJ or water to the 3 or 4 cup line, depending on how thick I want it.
Then I add:
2 handfuls of spinach
1 handful of a frozen mixed berries (blackberries, blueberries, & raspberries)
1 handful of frozen mango
1 handful of frozen strawberries
1-2 carrots
1/2 of avocado
1-2 spoonfuls of plain greek yogurt
*Sometimes I add a frozen banana for a creamer texture and the banana covers any bitterness you may get from the greens*
I blend on high for a couple of minutes to get it completely smooth.
big handful of spinach
1 banana
2 large spears pineapple
2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate (or 1 1/2 c. orange juice and no water)
1 1/2 c. water
2 c. ice
*all ingredients are approximate.
Pineapple is key in sweetening things up. 6 kids and all of them like this. It's a miracle. It's the best when we freeze them into ice cubes or popsicles.
I was diagnosed with hashimotos in September after 21 years of a goiter and thyroid issues. I wish you the best!
Just from what I have played around with I have learned to not put in more than one leaf of kale–if I put in more I end up plugging my nose! I don't use juice I just use fruit, water, veggies, and I add a little honey to make it more sweet. Pineapple does give it good flavor. Sometimes I add plain yogurt to make it creamier. And this may seem elementary…but don't use spinach that is beginning to wilt…that was about the grossest thing I have ever drunk!!!
I'm sure you just have to adjust to your own tastes..but that is what works for me! Good luck!!
I have mine on my blog:
http://westernwarmth.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-green-smoothie-recipe.html
I LOVE green smoothies. If I go a day without one I crave them the next day…
I am somewhat in your shoes as I have Hyperthyroid problems that cause me to be shaky and anxious and ALWAYS SO TIRED. I'm 31 and when that fatigue hits it makes me feel like I'm not able to really live and enjoy life the way I want and need to. I got a Vitamix for Christmas and have tried the smoothies in their recipe book. Some are good and some are horrible. PLEASE post any that you try and love as I'd love a few good ones to be my "go to's". Thx!!
Green leafy veg like Spinach and Kale work better if you cook them, then cool them…you can add the cooking liquid in too.
Also, do you use vitamin supplements? Those have literally saved my life. I found a great company with tremendous products. Just using supplements alone, I have been able to reduce my blood pressure (part of my personal crazy health issue – crazy because of my physically fit body, breaking down!!) by 10+ points in a month. I believe in supplementation, even though I too try to eat healthy, smoothies included. The company is Usana Health Sciences out in Utah. If you want more info, look into it, or hit my email: heycoop2 at msn dot com.
Love green smoothies, but much tastier with more fruit and less spinach. Like this book: Green for Life. But I always throw in greek yogurt for protein no matter if it calls for it or not. Hope you feel better!
Every single morning I put 3 bananas, about 10 frozen strawberries, some almond milk, some OJ in a blender. Lots of readers have said to add spinach and that you can't taste it at all…I have yet to do that, but I'd bet it would be even healthier. Patrick and I share it but all the kids love it…simple, mild, not pushing it, if you know what I mean. 🙂
Hurray for green smoothies! I LOVE them! I like a bit more banana and fruit in there so it tastes more like a fruit smoothie.
Check out this really good YouTube of how to make a green smoothie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXr8-jru1KE
She also has a great website:
http://greensmoothiegirl.com/
Good luck!
8 oz unsweetened almond milk
1 cup of spinach
1 cup of kale
1 whole banana
1/2 frozen blueberries
1/2 frozen strawberries
1 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsps warm water (just to loosen it up if it's too thick)
I have this green smoothie every morning for breakfast. I put in a ton of kale and spinach, which gives it a bit of an "earthy" flavor, but the banana really sweetens it up. I don't use any additional sweeteners other than the sweetness already found in the fruit. 🙂 This sounds horrible, but it comes out a bit of a brownish color because of all of the greens and the blueberries. Don't be scared! Try it! It's delicious…I'm just waiting for someone to believe me!
8 oz unsweetened almond milk
1 cup of spinach
1 cup of kale
1 whole banana
1/2 frozen blueberries
1/2 frozen strawberries
1 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsps warm water (just to loosen it up if it's too thick)
I have this green smoothie every morning for breakfast. I put in a ton of kale and spinach, which gives it a bit of an "earthy" flavor, but the banana really sweetens it up. I don't use any additional sweeteners other than the sweetness already found in the fruit. 🙂 This sounds horrible, but it comes out a bit of a brownish color because of all of the greens and the blueberries. Don't be scared! Try it! It's delicious…I'm just waiting for someone to believe me!
I LOVE green smoothies and drink them most days. My absolute favorite is so refreshing it is a kale apple smoothie. If you google Real Simple kale apple smoothie it is the first one to come up from the magazine Real Simple.
You must try it!
Also just some things I do for health that help a ton are eating probiotics everyday and mostly taking at least 6000 IU of Vitamin D3. You can research why this is so important. A lot of it is the way it regulates your hormones and mood which can help with so much!
looks like you already have plenty of 'advice' but mine is…only use spinach. it's much milder and it never tastes good later. so make whatever you're going to drink right then and that's it. after sitting a while it's yucky.
Good luck. you're an inspiration to me!
Hashimotos is familiar territory for me. It seems like it takes too long to get things (meds and diet) working again….at least it did for me. I know you just want to feel GOOD again. It will happen. In the meantime, this is my favorite smoothie recipe. I hope you enjoy it too. (Sorry I don't have exact measurements, but you can experiment until you get the flavor you are looking for.
Skim Milk (about a cup)- adjust depending on how thick you like your smoothies (I don't know if you have access to Winder Farms in AZ, but their skim milk is THE best!)
Diet V8 Splash (about a 1/2 cup – I like the orange colored one)
1 Tablespoon vanilla slim fast(great flavor booster!)
Handful of baby spinach leaves
1 frozen Banana
about a cup full of frozen fruit (I get it at Costco and it has Strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapple in it)
Mix all that and enjoy
PS…sometimes I add some frozen blueberries depending on their price and my mood. :o)
Start out with using alot of spinach with fruit, the spinach doesnt have a strong taste and you can accustom your taste buds little by little by adding a little more vegetables every time. That way your kids will drink it too, we have one about every morning and Preston loves it!
My husband likes to throw in chocolate or vanilla Slimfast powder in with his, which takes the bitterness away. My 2 year old gobbles them up! Another tip I would have is to freeze your fruits and veggies if they start going bad and then you can add them to the smoothies later, which makes them thicker and helps you to avoid wasting them.
I just started green smoothies two days ago and working my way to get the kids to drink them too. I found this recipe at http://happyfoody.com/2009/08/10/happy-foody-green-smoothie-challange-2009/
This one also looks good.
http://lindawagner.net/blog/2011/08/green-smoothie-for-weight-loss-part-2/
I've only used water, no dairy in my green smoothies…for now.
First I juice Kale, spinach, ginger, parsley and green apple.
Then I take the juice and blend it with–and this is the key here–fresh frozen pineapple chunks.
Looks like you've gotten a large response already. We love green smoothies. My 3 year old son asks for them. The more you make them, the more you will be able to come up with the right amounts of everything you put in. This is my basic smoothy, but I play around to add variety all the time depending on what fruit is in season.
2 large handfuls of spinach (I also like to add Kale (just the leaf part) and collard greens but when I make it for my kids I omit this because the don't like it as well)
banana (this makes it creamy and sweetens it enough that you don't need other sweeteners. I ALWAYS use banana)
strawberries or other berries, blueberries are always yummy.
ice – make is more slushy and cold
vanilla
optional things when I have them: flaxseed oil, chia seeds
enough liquid to make it blend. I usually use water. If I have oj I use that for variety
My green smoothies are similar to Brianne's but I add flax seed powder and wheat germ. I also sometimes add cocoa bits from the health food store. Bananas really make it palatable. Also, I've found that the baby organic spinach that is pressed is so much easier to use then the kind you have to wash like crazy. Love almond milk in it and the kale gives you plenty of vitamin D. Good luck on your healthy eating quest.
I've also been taking raw probiotics from the health food store and I've stayed very healthy this Winter.
Supposed to say prewashed not pressed. Auto corrector strikes again. 🙂
2 Frozen bananas
2 large handfuls of spinach,kale, or chard
1-2 T cocoa powder(start out with less and add to your liking)
some almond milk
It is a kid favorite!!
you have lots of great advice. But the one game changer I find with the green smoothie is banana. Frozen banana is better. When your bananas start to go brown, peel them and throw them in a a freezer bag. They add a sweetness and smoothness to the smoothie that helps the kids get them down!
I read your blog everyday and have been for sometime. Your blog actually inspired me to start my own blog, which I did in October. I actually started 2 blogs. The first was a family and spiritual blog and the second a cooking blog which took over and it's the one I am concentrating the most on.
Anyway, I saw your smoothie post and wanted to let you know that I have tons of "green" smoothie recipes that actually taste good on my blog (go to my blog and click on the recipe link and it will show the smoothie recipes) I even have some kid friendly ones that the kids will love.
The spinach smoothie is a great one to start with and then the spinach and kale one. Some of my newer recipes are a bit more nutritional tasting but I am so use to kale now that I can eat tons. Kale is an acquired taste, I think. I also have a lacinato kale salad recipe listed on my sidebar that will change your life. It's the best kale recipe and all my friends in town are devouring it. It's a make ahead salad, so you can make it when you have some time and eat it later for a quick & healthy lunch. Ok, enough said, as I could go on and on all day.
I do understand what you're going through and I have just recently (this past year) changed my overall diet for the better. I look and feel the best I have ever felt. My kids are now eating healthier because I am!
Cheers girl and let me know if you try and like any of the recipes.
Jackie of marin mama cooks
I don't usually comment but love your blog. Me and the fam (including two toddlers) have a daily green smoothie. I don't use recipes, just a basic "formula". In all my stumblings around with it I have come up with a few rules:
1. always add a handful of mild greens (spinach, kale, chard, etc.)
2. frozen banana is a must. It adds so much to the texture and flavor.
3. If you have it, add a mango. Mango is such a mild flavor but really covers up any other sort of green or vegetable you can put in.
4. throw anything and everything you can into the mix: berries, peaches, oranges, plain yogurt (for creaminess), avocado (more creaminess), flax seeds, pineapple, produce in your fridge that needs to be used up, apples, pears, try to use in-season fruits and you will get a lot of variety! (don't throw everything listed here all at once, just think about flavors that go together and go with that.
5. If the taste or texture of a smoothie is not to your liking, add in some fresh lemon or lime juice. It really brightens the flavor. If it's still gross, throw in some agave nectar or honey. When foods are cold, we can't taste them as well, so blend in some ice. As a last resort, throw in some apple juice. That will sweeten it right up.
6. Drink it through a straw. It makes it more fun for everyone and you'll be surprised how much you can get down before you realize the green smoothie you made didn't actually taste that good! 🙂
Just experiment, and if it comes out awful, choke it down and just do something different next time. Your body will love you for it!
I'm sure you have a vitamix or blendtec. That makes all the difference. My husband and I joke if there's a fire, he'll get the kids and I'll get the vitamix! 🙂
This is the one we have nearly every morning: baby spinach, banana, frozen mango chunks and frozen pineapple tibits (both from Trader Joes, ice and water.
Another favorite is baby spinach, kiwi, banana, green grapes and pear (and ice and water.)
I'm pretty sure your downfall was the broccoli. Some people can tolerate them in smoothies, but for me it totally changes the flavor. I try to avoid the "sulphury" veggies like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, as well as bitter greens. I can gag them down but the kids won't even pretend. Stick to sweeter greens like spinach, kale, collared greens, and use plenty of carrots, berries, and fruit for sweeteners. Lemons and limes also cut the "green" flavor. Don't give up. Green smoothies have changed my life and the health of my family. Love them!
Shawni! Boy do I have a few recipes for you. Here's my healthy living blog, I just posted some smoothie recipes that I LOVE…including a green smoothie.
http://gettingmyhealthon.blogspot.com/2012/05/recipes.html
Just in case you're wondering, spinach and kale are considered "goitrogenic" foods which basically means they can hinder thyroid functioning. While greens are healthy for most people, you might not want to overdo it with spinach and kale if you've already got a thyroid issue. Broccoli and soy also fall in that category.
A lot of people believe gluten might be one cause of hypothyroidism. My TSH levels have been somewhat elevated for 2 years (borderline…no medication yet). When I got a reading that was above borderline, I told the doctor I wanted a little time to try a few things before starting meds. Cutting out most of my gluten was one of the things I did. It has been incredible how much better I feel. My TSH got back to normal, and I've been needing almost an hour less sleep at night compared to before. It's been truly amazing. It might be worth a try for a few weeks…just to see if it helps. Hey, I totally understand if you want to throw this idea in the trash too:). I've found it livable by using quinoa, oats, and brown rice instead of wheat.
good luck to you!
I love my vitamix!! You can blend up anything and you're kids wil never know. Our family….I have 4 boys…loves this recipe.
1 ripe banana
Big handful of spinach….about 4 cups
1 1/2 cups orange juice
2 cups frozen light colored fruit….dark fruit makes it brown
There's a bag at WM with strawberries, I pick out the strawberries and use them for different smoothies.
Pineapple juice, orange juice concentrate, or dates. They are super sweet, so a little goes a long way. Also, mix your greens a little. Some greens have more potent tastes than others. Kale and collard greens are strong. Spinach and romaine lettuce are a little less offensive 😉 If you do half of each (ie. half kale and half spinach, or half collards and half lettuce) they're much easier to drink.
ALWAYS drink them cold. They will more than likely be awful if they are not cold.
Also, think of them as an acquired taste; the more consistently you have them, the better they start to taste to you. You may feel like you're choking down the first few, but it gets better. You could start (especially with the kids) by making them more fruit than greens at first, and gradually adding more greens as they get better at drinking them.
My kids are 2 and 3 and drink them well only because we've had them consistently everyday. Now they drink about 3/4 greens to only 1/4 fruit and still think they are getting royal treatment 🙂
I have a green smoothie every day. I usually use one orange and 2 other fruits (bananas, berries, peaches, mango, whatever I have on hand). Then I add 1-2 cups of spinach. I have found that the biggest improvement to taste comes from using a straw!
Wait….hot dogs aren't' healthy? Haha just kidding.
I drink a green smoothie every day. It's about the only healthy thing I do, but I do it. So that's good, right? Keep on, keeping on! It gets easier!
xoxo,
Sierra
Oh, Just Living the Dream
always add a banana….always!
I concur with the gluten free diet. I did it for about a year and it made a HUGE difference in my health. I eat a little now and then and am doing fine with it, but try it, it may make a big difference.
Something I have found to work well for our little family is to blend up the spinach and freeze it in a silicone muffin pan. Once frozen pop the disks out into a ziplock bag and you have frozen spinach on hand at anytime. I was buying the big tub from Sam's but with only 3 of us I ended up throwing a lot of it away because it went bad before we could use it. Here is where I found the idea (gotta love Pinterest!) http://www.muffintinmania.com/2011/07/green-smoothie-cups.html
Although I just used water, a milk, and the spinach and it worked great!
Cook the green veggies.
Smoothie the rest.
I do a green smoothie for my protein shake every day and I look forward to it so much because it's SO good.
Handful of spinach
About 1/3 full of almond milk
Couple spoonfuls of greek yogurt
Frozen berries
One banana
(one scoop of yucky protein if after a workout)
I make them for just me so you'd have to make it up for more if you're doing it for everyone. But it's SO good. And the frozen berries seem to blend better than ice to make it like a smoothie.
Good luck! Thanks for your inspiration all the time. 🙂
xo
Amanda
http://derekamanda.blogspot.com
Ditto Lisa's recipe. You can't really go wrong with frozen fruit, yogurt, oj, and a bunch of spinach and a few kale leaves. So delicious!
Also, I saw Brooke's comment above… I also read her dad's blog, wordofwisdomliving.com. It's awesome and he does so much research! Plus he's so endearing, it's hard not to love him. 🙂 Check it out. You'll love it.
My sister has Hashimoto's and has gone from feeling rotten to doing great with a gluten-free diet.
We love this one:
http://sugarbetty.blogspot.com/2011/04/berry-spinach-smoothie.html
The dark berries hide the fact that it is a "green" smoothie.
Good luck to you!
I was diagnosed with Hashimotos the same week as you posted about it. Along with T3 and T4 Thyroid hormones, I am on a Paleo type diet and am feeling great. I never did feel the overly tired stuff, but most folks do.
My fav green smoothy:
1 banana
2 cups spinach
1 cup coconut milk (I use light)
Blend. Yum!
best post ever. amen.
Sorry ladies, but I say bag the spinach and go for kale or chard instead. Unless I've grown it myself, spinach never tastes that great in smoothies to me. I have to add a ton of other sweet stuff to make it taste merely palatable. Plus, spinach is not a 100% great food for all people… there are a number of issues that may cause spinach to be almost bad for you, like kidney disease, thyroid probs, anemia, etc. (That being said, kale can have similar ill effects.) Not saying we don't put spinach in smoothies.. but if I want everyone to really enjoy the smoothie and not just choke it down, I leave it out. The only way I can really counteract the blah spinach taste is to use orange juice instead of water.
Anyway, here's our simplest one. It is like the foundation of our green smoothie:
Big bunch of kale.
A handful of frozen strawberries or other berries.
One banana.
Water.
Optional: an orange or 1/4 cup orange juice.
I say keep it simple at first so that as you add stuff, you know how it changes the taste.
I agree with the lady about the straw. You have to drink it with a straw.
Jonah of course has a completely different method… throw everything you have in the smoothie. He can make that work, but I can't.
I think greensmoothiegirl is coming to Arizona soon…
http://greensmoothiegirl.com/events/
Actually, I just checked. She's coming next Saturday to Mesa. You should go. She does a great presentation and really gets you committed to the green.
Love you Shawni!
love this post!
This one serves 2:
1 banana
2 hand-full frozen spinach
2-3 hand-full frozen fruit (strawberrys, blueberries, raspberries will make te smoothie red, mango let it be green!)
some mint leaves
two drops stevia (liquid)
water til smooth
I love it!
And it's better without any dairy product, because milk or yoghurt together with the fruits will ferment in your body.
I use this recipe: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/01/skinny-green-monster-smoothie.html
Great recipes with or without Juice Plus Complete Powder:
http://teamjp.net/health/complete2.shtml
Juice Plus+ Complete® is a whole food based beverage mix that provides balanced nutrition in every scoop. Juice Plus+ Complete can be used in any number of ways: as a healthful "on-the-go" breakfast, pre-exercise energy drink, post-workout recovery drink, or a late night snack. It comes in your choice of two delicious flavors: French Vanilla and Dutch Chocolate.
I just started smoothies with the Complete in addition it to my Juice Plus capsules but not on a daily basis because it has soy and that interferes with thyroid function. I have had Hashimoto's for 8 years. After taking Juice Plus for 6 months (still on synthroid) my numbers have been better.
Another tip. Cut up bananas before freezing. Then you don't need ice and the smoothies are sooo good!
Any questions about Juice Plus+: http://www.kpiccolasharesjuiceplus.com
My favorite is one ripe banana, a huge scoop of Greek yogurt, maybe a 1/3 c of pineapple, at least a 1/2 c of peaches, sometimes some pear, some frozen strawberries, and a squirt of honey (it mellows out the yogurt a bit). Oh yeah, then lots and lots of spinach and a little liquid to get the consistency right. I have used water, milk, rice milk, and coconut milk and like it with any one of those.
I haven't read through all of the comments, so I hope I'm not repeating anyone. Frozen fruit or ice helps any smoothie taste a lot better! Frozen bananas work great to give it a creamy thick texture. A concept I learned 2 years ago, that has changed my life, is to always eat fruit on an empty stomach. Eating fruit after meals or combined with other foods (besides leafy greens and non-starchy vegetables)is actually harmful to our health. I'll stop there, but here is a link if that rings true to you.
http://www.bestfoodist.com/
I hope you start feeling better! I believe you can cure yourself of this condition by using the right food as your medicine.
I love your blog and your family is the cutest!
After my own health scare a while back, I started researching health and natural foods and the Word of Wisdom. I found the School of Natural Healing online and the books Eat to Live and Disease-Proof Your Kids by Joel Fuhrman, MD. Both the School and the books deal extensively with how the modern American diet is slowly killing us all, creating allergies, auto-immune problems, cancers, heart disease, etc. They have given me a new perspective, especially in light of my knowledge of the Word of Wisdom and the "truth" of the gospel. I've been so grateful for the information that I've learned that I just thought I'd share.
We make green smoothies based on Green smoothie girl stuff. I make mine VERY easy. I don't really measure. But I typically fill the blender up with spinach, add a banana, add several handfuls of frozen strawberries, add about 2 cups water, and blend. It's actually really good. My kids and husband like it. I also add a few squeezes of sweetner, (agave from costco is what we use) and depending on how long it's been since we've had them, I add more just to help. But when we've had them often, I add less because it doesn't seem to need to be very sweet.
Try this, it's SO easy. 🙂
What a great post! My favorite is simple: Just do Wheatgrass. (Like the kind you find a Jamba Juice where they cut and juice it for you) My Mother developed cancer at the age of 40. They operated once and told her she HAD to have chemo or she would not live. She refused and studied the story of Ann Wigmore (GREAT book about her life) who cured herself, and many others, of various diseases all from Wheatgrass. Mom went hard core into Wheatgrass even growing it herself. That was 33 years ago and she remains cancer free and can run circles around woman half her age. It is LIQUID SUNSHINE! (Just think…cows grow all that muscle from eating grass alone) Amazing how you can now find this at EVERY Jamba Juice store! To deal with the strong taste…the trick is to mix it with fresh orange juice or something similar.
Here is some of the story of wheatgrass:
http://www.wigmore.org/miracles_wheatgrass.html
You do need a specific juicer for Wheatgrass. Pick a metal one. (like they use at Jamba Juice) They work so much better and last longer. Like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Omega-J8006-Nutrition-Commercial-Masticating/dp/B001L7OIVI/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1336182529&sr=8-9
This is the best company who will auto deliver sprouted Wheatgrass right to your door:
http://www.sproutman.com/wheatgrass-products/fresh-wheatgrass-and-sprouts
Happy Living Foods!
I second the motion on D3! I take 8000 IU"s a day and lots of B complex. Two biggies for thyroid issues. Killing yeast is huge also. We love the green smoothies and the key to getting it down the kids is the organic frozen berry mix from costco. I turns the smoothies pink even with lots of spinach and it is really sweet. We use orange juice as well. I drink a quart a day, easily.
My absolute favorite green smoothie is this one:
http://withstyle.me/2012/01/16/market-monday-spiced-pear-smoothie/
It is so crazy good! Also, we now call any green smoothie and "Ugly Smoothie" (thanks to the genius that is Catherine Newman!) and my girls LOVE that 🙂
Have you checked out 100 Days of Real Food?!
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/
She has tons of great info, advice, and recipes.
Btw, I am madly in love with your blog. Thank you for such fabulous humor, wisdom, joy, and super gorge photos!
xoxo
The hot dog picture is the best I've seen on a blog in a long time. Love it. Good luck with your healthy quest!!
All the best with your health quest! Green Smoothies are so good. This site is great http://greensmoothiegirl.com/ the lady will be in AZ next weekend. One of my favorite recipes I got from a friend who received it from her MIL who worked at a Raw food restaurant – was that wordy enough?! : ) http://stogdillfavoriterecipes.blogspot.com/2008/04/green-drink-or-smoothie.html
We don't have farmer's markets open yet and the produce at the store isn't all that fresh. So here's what I do for our Green Smoothie every morning:
Organic, baby spinach
Frozen strawberries, peaches, mangoes & pineapple
1 fresh or frozen banana
(blueberries or raspberries, optional)
No-sugar added juice (white grape & peach) and a splash of milk
We love green smoothies (including the kids) and you have to start out with a little bit of green and a lot more fruit and yougart to get yourself and your little ones hooked. Then little by little you can add more spinach or kale or both so that in the end you have more green than anything else. But start little at first and just make it taste good.
DEFINITELY try this one. My 4 year-old and 21 month-old gulp this down every day with me. My older boys are still a little resistent because they don't like the berry seeds floating. But seriously! This is tasty!
Singing serving: 1 C. almond milk (almond milk is the basis for a good smoothie, in my opinion), 2-3 C. baby spinach ( I like to do more, but start small), 1 banana, 1/2 c. frozen raspberries, 1/2 c. frozen blueberries, 1 packet stevia sweetener.
This is what I drink after a hard workout and it makes me feel amazing every time!
Sorry – my almond milk HAS to be almond breeze unsweetened vanilla.
Here is a website I love: http://www.unconventionalkitchen.com/
She has great smoothie recipes and even her dessert black bean brownies are awesome.
We do green smoothies daily, and have for a few years now. Love how easy it is to get extra greens in with a simple drink!!
We don't tend to follow – or write down – recipes, but one I happened to write down was for an Apple Crisp Green Smoothie. It was delicious!
You can see it here: http://www.jessicalynette.com/food/apple-crisp-green-smoothie-recipe/
Wow, what a response! I'm probably going to repeat what a bunch of people said. But rather than sharing a specific recipe, I'll share with you my general smoothie "formula" (kinda like when you're building a salad or making a viniagrette).
You need:
A creamy base
A "secret" ingredient (veggies)
Fruit
Berries to mask taste & color
Examples of what I use:
Creamy base = combination of bananas, plain yogurt (I use TJs kefir), you could also use non-dairy like almond milk
"Secret" ingredients: Handfuls of spinach, TJs VERY GREEN dietary powder supplement
Fruit: Can be juice, can be frozen Costco mix with pineapple, mango, papaya, etc. Today I used pomengranate juice + fruit
Berries: This is kind of crucial to me. Fresh or frozen berries have a strong flavor (as do bananas) that help mask the "green" taste… and mask the color. Blueberries & strawberries are my favorites.
Yes, there are a million possible combinations – just go with your taste buds for what you are in the mood for – (citrus-y, sweet, nutty or veggie packed). Glad to see someone mentioned CHIA SEEDS – amazingly good for you and tasteless. Also, all the COCONUT you can put in – both water, oil and meat (fresh or shredded). DATES are also amazing to sweeten a smoothie (only need a handful) with great health benefits. And tossing in ALMONDS is helpful as well. Best of luck.
Peaches and Cream Green Smoothie – my husband's breakfast EVERY DAY and my lunch several times a week:
1 cup almond milk (sometimes I use coconut milk)
banana
2 cups fresh spinach
1 tsp ground flax (optional)
1 1/4 cups frozen peaches
So yummy. Can't wait to try some of the other smoothies in these comments!
Haha)) Love your story! I know it's tough to face the truth but I love reading about other people's failures on a healthy path) The reason is that media flashes with all that quotes of how easy and simple and tasty and fun it is but come one… if you are a freshman, it's really hard to start and enjoy at the beginning. For example, my biggest struggle started way before cooking. Before i read the juicer reviews written at the juicer.guru I had a lot of problems with my own juicer with all that smoothies painted my walls all around the kitchen)))
Cool!
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