Say...just how much GREEN must one add to make a green smoothie?

[ciarac]

I have been browsing the site for green smoothie recipes. I am surprised to see that many of y'all just add, say, 2 or 3 leaves of spinach to make your smoothie green. I don't argue that those 2 or 3 leaves are better than none, but, although there's no rule, I would have thought that adding more would be necessary.

Incidentally, on the rare occasions that I make a green smoothie, I add about 10 or more leaves of spinach but it makes me nauseous so I don't drink it. Talk about over kill. I should try the less is more approach.

Anyway, My question is, how much green is necessary, in your opinion, to feel the benefits??

[Revvell]

Well, if ya can't get it down, it doesn't really matter does it? LOL

When I make mine I usually throw in a few handfuls of spring mix along with a handful of spinach BUT, I'm also making a full Vita-Mix container which is about 4-5 healthy servings (although I usually drink it in 3 servings).

Revvellicious

[catdeveer]

i make mine pretty hard core. veganforlife would be proud!

my fruits and greens really vary a lot depending on what i have on hand.

i'll use maybe some watermelon and an apple or pear (or no fruit at all), a whole head of romaine heart or half of a red leaf lettuce head or 1/2 bag of spinach, nut mylk of choice, coconut oil, one celery stalk, a carrot, a tomato, sometimes beet, sometimes garlic, sometimes red pepper (sweet), sometimes sprouts, sometimes a banana, whatever.

gets interesting, but filling. i usually make about 30 oz at a clip and that's a meal. usually either breakfast or lunch. i usually do fruit at the breakfast one but not the lunch one.

[belle]

I add a ton of greens to mine... ex. bunch of spinach or 1/2 bunch parsley and 1/2 bunch kale, 1/2 large head of romaine and few celery stalks

the more the better, imo

[Veganforlife]

Well, if ya can't get it down, it doesn't really matter does it? LOL

When I make mine I usually throw in a few handfuls of spring mix along with a handful of spinach BUT, I'm also making a full Vita-Mix container which is about 4-55 healthy servings (although I usually drink it in 3 servings).

Revvellicious

WHA????????
Now THAT is hard core!

I use about 3 handfuls of fresh greens and if I have my pre-blended greens, it's maybe a pound...

It's YOUR call. Make 'em so you like 'em.

And catdeveer - I am proud. So is Victoria, Popeye, Shrek and all the other greenies out there!

[Revvell]

WHA????????
Now THAT is hard core!

*thumps the mouthie one on da haid* Aren't you s'posed to be working or something?:rolleyes:

[sfdreams]

I've just started with the green smoothies, but I tend to stuff as much of the green stuff (usually spinach, now that I found Kale I have been using that as well) as I can in the blender. I also use a little banana, agave, and cashews. The other day, I added kiwi. This morning I added ground cocoa nibs.

I've been loving them. Thanks Veganforlife, for planting the seed and getting me started on them!

[LadyGilliam]

I'm a little newer to the green smoothies as well. I still can't handle the flavor of the green without some sweetness added to it.

3 lg handfuls kale
water
ice
1 apple
1 banana
1 kiwi (sometimes)
raisins to taste (makes it reeeeeally sweet though)
mint to taste

I have been able to have this everyday at lunch for the past week and I'm still not tired of it!!! :D

[noodle-o]

I usually will put in 1/2 apple or 1/2 pear, 1 frozen banana (sometimes), some fresh ginger, 1/2 cup water or some coconut milk, maybe 1/2 an avocado, and fill up the rest of the blender with a variety of greens (kale, chard, green or red leaf, spring mix, turnip greens, mustard greens, etc. - just whatever I have on hand). Sometimes I will make it sweeter with a mixture of berries, or more savory with citrus or sometimes even some spices (cayenne, curry, etc). Just whatever I am in the mood for.

[tali]

I add two cups of water, my fruit for the day and then fill the rest of the container with greens. That ends up being half a bag of the pre-mixed greens.

I recently "discovered" mache (lambs lettuce). It's really tasty and has a similar taste/feel as spinach so I now have something to alternate my spinach with.

[tanawana]

If memory serves me correct, in Victoria's book she says to try and get about 2 full bunches a day in if you are 100% raw, but she also states by blending you don't need as much this way. Wish she was clearer on these points though. Even the 80-10-10 way recommends the same amount of greens on average daily. Which is about 1.5 - 2 pounds then. Celery can also fit the bill too.

I say whatever works and do the usual "listen to your body" :D

[britaniefaith]

veganforlife -- what do you mean by pre-blended greens?

by the way, you ARE the green-smoothie queen :) I hope to one day be able to match up to your green drinking skills lol I'm up to 2 smoothies a day and so far so good!! loove them.

[Lavendula]

veganforlife -- what do you mean by pre-blended greens?

by the way, you ARE the green-smoothie queen :) I hope to one day be able to match up to your green drinking skills lol I'm up to 2 smoothies a day and so far so good!! loove them.

yeah, preblended greens? the ones in a bottle from the store, like odwalla?
i do more greens-love parsley, celery and chard with pineapple/ mango, no bananas for me.

[RawCutter]

i put either 1 or 2 bunches of kale in a 1 liter juice

[rawstrawberry]

OMG you need to really hardcore my smoothie every morning:

Raw Hemp protein powder
Scoop of Raw Protein by David Wolfe
Cold Pressed Hemp Oil
Big Ol Chunk of Ginger
Big ol Chunk of Tumeric
Bunch of Parsley
Half bunch Arugula or watercress
Raw Green Powder
Maca powder
Camu Camu extract
Foo-ti (sp?)
Half a cucumber
Dulse

Yup hardcore...

RS

[GoingtoRAW]

Instead of water I use organic apple juice or 1/2 organic apple juice 1/2 Rejuvelac for my smoothies. Is that OK???:o

[Revvell]

Instead of water I use organic apple juice or 1/2 organic apple juice 1/2 Rejuvelac for my smoothies. Is that OK???:o

Use anything you want. Play with your food, 'member? :D I use at least 2-3 cups of OJ, sometimes grapefruit juice, sometimes water, sometimes nut mylk. We be adults! We can do whatever we want now! How cool is that?

[Allison]

The first time I tried a green smoothie, I did not like it at all. So I used a smaller amount of greens and more bananas. Then as I got used to them, I upped my greens and lessened my bananas. Now I love green smoothies so much that I actually crave them. I cover the blades in the Vitamix with water, then pack in greens all the way to the top and blend. Then I add one frozen banana and blend again. I have one like this every day and love it, but I think it is an acquired tasted.

Allison

[SmilingRawDancer]

I use 2-3 heaping tbsp of dehydrated and ground collard greens. (I've been making my own green powder, collard is my FAV!)
And then 2 cups of whatever fruit I want.
Right now I'm loving:
2-3 tbsp green powder
1 cup pineapple (fresh)
1 cup frozen berries (I used cranberries earlier, but I needed alot of stevia to counteract the greeny flavor)
And alot of water. It thickens up as it sits because the greens were dehydrated, so they suck up some of the water. So I add AT LEAST enough water to cover everything.

It's delightful. I couldn't do it without the stevia, though :)