I have an admission - I'm afraid of...

[Beckla]

green smoothies.

Am I the only one?

I KNOW they're amazingly good for me and WANT to try them... but just can't get myself there... any advice?

[Ariannah]

They taste sweet and fruity. Any tender greens you add (I like romaine or baby spinach), will lend a nutty flavour to it. The sweet of the juicy fruit and the greens complement each other so well.

All you can do is give it a shot. Worst you can say is that you didn't like it at all. Then, at least you know, right?

But I love the taste of them.

[Veganforlife]

Hi. My name is Lucy.
I came to this meeting today because I drink green smoothies daily.
I am a ::gulp::

::holding head up proudly::

I am a GREEN SMOOTHIE addict.
There's I've said it too. I admit it. And I must admit, it's something I'm darn proud of!!!

[beanmonkee]

I'm drinking one with parsley in it right now, and it's a little overwhelming at first, but I'm getting used to it. My favorite add-in is kale. There's nothing quite as tasty as a mango-banana-kale smoothie. I have a pretty crappy blender, so some of the greens stay kind of crunchy. I think if I had a Vita-Mix or equivalent blender, it would be easier to get down.

But you should try it! They're great. Not everyone likes the same mixtures, either. I tried a strawberry-banana-romaine smoothie, and had to hold my nose drinking it. Weird.

[Veganforlife]

I was afraid to take the "dive" too, but baby once you do it, well, you'll be coming to the same meetings I'm going to.
They DO NOT taste green. They are wonderful. Quick, easy cleanup and getting a whole lot of food at once that is already broken down for your body to assimilate quickly.
They are power drinks.
Check out Victoria Boutenko's book, "Green for Life". It is full of info about GS's. That is what convinced me.
It's good stuff!
I run home at lunch and whip one up.
Lately it's been
2 cups of filtered water
handful of greens (spinach mostly)
a mango
a banana
the innerds of an orange
tablespoon of spirulina
YUM!!!!:p
My mouth is watering right now.
Now I don't like the die-hard, parsley, kale, cabbage, green, green, green, no fruit involved smoothies. THEY taste green, but if you like that taste, then go for it!

[Veganforlife]

The combinations are endless as to what you can add.
Blueberries, pineapple, apples, grapes, etc.
Sometimes they taste like creamcicles (to me), depending on what I've put in there.
Try it. How do you know if you don't/won't like something until you try it.
And the Vita-Mix does great!

[Rawkinlocs]

I'd say to make a smoothie as you normally would with just fruit. Then, add one leaf of kale or a really small, baby-sized handful of spinach.

Blend it up really well. Enjoy! When I first began making smoothies, before the Green Smoothie "craze" came about - I had learned from another forum where some of the ladies were adding greens to their smoothies and at first I was like, "no WAY!" But I started with a VERY small amount of greens - like I said, one (small) kale leaf. My smoothies weren't even green back then! LOL!

Then, I began adding a little more and a little more. So, that is my advice to you - start off with a small amount of greens and work your way up and if ever you make a green smoothie that just tastes a little too...green for you, add more fruit to it! You can do it!

[spicyfull]

Close your Eyes..........HOLD your Nose....... and Enjoy.........Soon you will be able to open your Eyes and really Enjoy it.

I often hold my Nose when I don't want to taste anything.....

[rawOrchid]

Great advice everyone!

I'm a fanatic!!!

It was 9pm last night and I hadn't had a real big meal... As soon as my mind thought of a green smoothie/soup, my mouth literally starting watering!

I'm pretty extreme so when I started out I would almost dump the whole contents of a box of spinach inside my "industrial" food processor, with a few fruits and water... haha... I ate them, but I've learned to pace myself... and go with WHAT FEELS good for my body! Like Rawkinlocs said, start out with a few leaves...

WHen you start with green smoothies, you never want to go back, you go forward, and start eating green soups (!!!) which I thought, would NEVER be consumed by Moi!

Happy experimenting!

[Veganforlife]

Oh - also be sure to add enough water. When I first started making these? I hardly added any water and ended up with green glue gunk. UGH! Looked like something Shrek walked through to get to Fiona! Couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. Until these nice folks here told me the proper way to drink it. I agree. Start out w/a leaf or two. Romaine is a milk flavor. You cannot even taste the green.
I call them my Shrek Shakes. Folks at work see me drinking them for lunch every day. And the days I don't? They ask what's wrong.

[Raw Jewelrylady]

I Love them as well. I find that romaine is too *lettucey* for me so I stick to kale or baby spinach. I always add bananas, some form of berries-I buy the organic frozen & filtered water.

OK...my new secret ~my smoothies are not green-they are sorta brown as I add a little tbsp of cocao powder in & it gives the smoothie a chocolate taste..YUM!:D

You can get the powder right here at Alissa's store! Something about the cocao that just feels right in the morning!:D

Once you get inot the green smoothie habit-it becomes second nature.

Enjoy,

Lana

[girlsmiley]

Beckla - I am basically repeating what everyone has already said.

Take the dive ... make your favorite smoothie and then add some greens ... your body will *love* you for it :D

I started doing Green Smoothies after I read Green For Life. I started with the Fancy Field Greens and bananas and then switched to just adding greens to my *regular* smoothies.

Try it, Beckla, you'll like it! :D

[Beckla]

You are all so great.

I'm gonna do it. That's it. The gauntlet has been thrown down and I'll try it this weekend. Thanks, everyone!!! =)

[Veganforlife]

Beckla - check out the photo thread of a small green smoothie for some inspiration.

[girlsmiley]

I learned to taste my concoction before I poured it out of the blender ... that way I could add more fruit if it tasted too *green* :p

Small Green Smoothie thread: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=24023

Green Smoothie Recipes thread: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=23906&highlight=green+smoothie+recipes

[Veganforlife]

[QUOTE=girlsmiley;236610]I learned to taste my concoction before I poured it out of the blender ... that way I could add more fruit if it tasted too *green* :p QUOTE]

Good point. I forgot. I do the same thing!

[mershwista]

Rawkinlocs has it right...add the greens bit by bit until you get used to it...it does happen...I thought it never would, too.

[Faithfullyfit]

I'd say to make a smoothie as you normally would with just fruit. Then, add one leaf of kale or a really small, baby-sized handful of spinach.

Blend it up really well. Enjoy! When I first began making smoothies, before the Green Smoothie "craze" came about - I had learned from another forum where some of the ladies were adding greens to their smoothies and at first I was like, "no WAY!" But I started with a VERY small amount of greens - like I said, one (small) kale leaf. My smoothies weren't even green back then! LOL!

Then, I began adding a little more and a little more. So, that is my advice to you - start off with a small amount of greens and work your way up and if ever you make a green smoothie that just tastes a little too...green for you, add more fruit to it! You can do it!

I did this also......1 leaf....then 2....then 3 and now I have 1/2 of my Vitamix filled with greens (which I blend first!) then I add a frozen banana and some organic bluberries and a scoop of BIO-Sprouted Flax. I have to have mine on the really cold side and I LOVE them!!!!!!!I drink 2 a day at least. If I don't finish my huge smoothie- then I pour onto teflex and make GREEN fruit leather in the dehyrdrator. My kids love this!

Have FUN and experiment!

[Veganforlife]

Hmmmm. Green fruit leather - never thought of that - cool - thanks!

[Beckla]

Thanks again, all!!

[vwinters]

I'd say to make a smoothie as you normally would with just fruit. Then, add one leaf of kale or a really small, baby-sized handful of spinach.

Blend it up really well. Enjoy! When I first began making smoothies, before the Green Smoothie "craze" came about - I had learned from another forum where some of the ladies were adding greens to their smoothies and at first I was like, "no WAY!" But I started with a VERY small amount of greens - like I said, one (small) kale leaf. My smoothies weren't even green back then! LOL!

Then, I began adding a little more and a little more. So, that is my advice to you - start off with a small amount of greens and work your way up and if ever you make a green smoothie that just tastes a little too...green for you, add more fruit to it! You can do it!

This is exactly how I started as well. I started adding small amounts of lettuce and kale to my usual fruit smoothies. I got hooked fast.
VW

[jnoelj]

I was always into juicing greens, until I read all the threads here. I finally made one, and I am completely hooked. I also woke up in the middle of the night wondering if I could make one without waking the whole house!! I have always loved dark leafies, and so I add a tremendous amount to a little fruit, along with maca, honey and water. Delicious:D

[mercystreet]

I've only been drinking them a week and a half and I don't think I could go without one for breakfast now. You really don't taste the greens - I was taking this with a pinch of salt when people were saying it but it's true.

In the short time I have been making them I've experimented with different things and discovered the following:

Don't use pumpkin seeds unless you happen to be very fond of the taste - it's hard to disguise.

Likewise with coconut - and if you are using coconut meat from an old coconut, grind it up first and don't use too much. I wasn't keen on it in the smoothie even though I like it on its own.

I put in ground nuts and seeds - my favourite is almonds, followed by sesame seeds - flax will thicken the shake up a lot so I don't recommend it.

The nicest one I've made had: A banana, a fuji apple, baby leaf spinach, a date, sesame seeds, some flax oil, a teaspoon of maca and a dash of agave.
It was really good. (The last three things are optional).

I always use banana and spinach, and then I vary the other fruit that goes in. Papaya, kiwi, blueberries and raspberries all work very well (separately!).

[Beckla]

What a great response.. thanks so much!!! I'll experiment this weekend and be sure to report back -- if it doesn't kill me.

I kid. =)

[xeta]

Hi everyone! I'm on my second Vegan Day. Not completely raw as I am using up some rice and beans rather than give them away :rolleyes:

But, I have had Green smoothies before and love them! Should I worry about the oxalates in Spinach? With respect to kidney stone formation? I've read that potassium helps with this, so maybe the banana/spinach combo is fine???

Any ideas welcome, Xeta

[beanmonkee]

I don't know a lot about this, but it seems to me if you aren't using only spinach as your green ingredient, you should be ok. Mix it up with kale some days, or parsley, or mustard greens, or something.

[beanmonkee]

Oh, and I tried blending the greens before my fruit, and even in my cheap-o blender, it works better than the other way around. Yay!

[Morn]

I'd say to make a smoothie as you normally would with just fruit. Then, add one leaf of kale or a really small, baby-sized handful of spinach.

Blend it up really well. Enjoy! When I first began making smoothies, before the Green Smoothie "craze" came about - I had learned from another forum where some of the ladies were adding greens to their smoothies and at first I was like, "no WAY!" But I started with a VERY small amount of greens - like I said, one (small) kale leaf. My smoothies weren't even green back then! LOL!

Then, I began adding a little more and a little more. So, that is my advice to you - start off with a small amount of greens and work your way up and if ever you make a green smoothie that just tastes a little too...green for you, add more fruit to it! You can do it!

This is a great suggestion! I too have not gone down the green smoothie road so I know what you mean. Next time I am at the vegetable market, I will pick up a bunch of Kale!

[xeta]

Thank you, that makes sense!

[Springtime]

Why are Green Smoothies better than just eating the fruits and veg whole?

Personally I can get a bit grossed by drinking a smoothie, the thickness really... I dunno, spoils it, I guess is the word. I love the taste, but can you just eat the stuff and get as much good stuff from it?

/rebs

[vwinters]

Oh, and I tried blending the greens before my fruit, and even in my cheap-o blender, it works better than the other way around. Yay!

I agree that a little pre-blend/chop of the greens before adding the other ingredients is helpful in both cheap and expensive blenders.
VW

[vwinters]

Why are Green Smoothies better than just eating the fruits and veg whole?

Personally I can get a bit grossed by drinking a smoothie, the thickness really... I dunno, spoils it, I guess is the word. I love the taste, but can you just eat the stuff and get as much good stuff from it?

/rebs

I’ve never like eating greens unless they were loaded with sweet and oily dressings. I enjoyed fruit smoothies and found adding a few greens didn’t change the taste much but it really improved the nutrition. If you don’t like them perhaps you could find another way to eat lots of leafy greens. Roll ups made with romaine lettuce or collard greens are very good. The important thing is to eat your greens! :)
VW

[beanmonkee]

Green smoothies are better because the blender does a much better job assimilating the greens than we ever could by chewing alone. You can try this by eating some raw spinach (or greens of choice). When you are done chewing, and you're ready to swallow, spit out the greens into your hand (or onto a plate or napkin if that grosses you out), and see how well you did chewing. If the blender would do a better job, then the point has been proven.

By "chewing" for you, the greens are more easily digested, and the nutrients are better absorbed. And that's fabulous.

[lodestar]

if you live near a Costco buy the tub of organic mixed greens.
they add a spicey fresh flavor to my smoothies.
kale is a little strong for me.
honestly, a green smoothy has much greater staying power than a regular smoothy, but i do remember adding my first greens with great reluctance.