Stalks & stems in green smoothies?

[islesgirl]

Hi everyone. I'm back ---after slipping a lot for about 2 weeks. I find that the green smoothies are wonderful for energy and am beginning to have them again tomorrow. But I was wondering how much of the stalks and stems you use from the greens like kale, and collards as examples? :)

[rawgreenyogini]

In my Vita-Mix here is my concoction:

2 cups water ( or young coconut water )
fill greens up to the very top ( it comes out to about 4-5 cups )
blend a little to make some room for the fruit

add:

2-3 frozen bananas ( depends on how large they are )
1 papaya
meat from 1 young coconut

give it another wiz


Drink up!!!

for the greens:

I use any combination of the following or sometimes I just use mono greens:

kale
spinach
romaine
dandelion
beet tops
carrot tops
celery tops
watercress
cilantro

[islesgirl]

In my Vita-Mix here is my concoction:

2 cups water ( or young coconut water )
fill greens up to the very top ( it comes out to about 4-5 cups )
blend a little to make some room for the fruit

add:

2-3 frozen bananas ( depends on how large they are )
1 papaya
meat from 1 young coconut

give it another wiz


Drink up!!!

for the greens:

I use any combination of the following or sometimes I just use mono greens:

kale
spinach
romaine
dandelion
beet tops
carrot tops
celery tops
watercress
cilantro

Sorry to be such a pest but I still don't know how much of the stalks and stems to use from stuff like kale, dandelion, collards, chard etc.? I believe that collards have pretty thick stalks with a sort of bulb at the bottom (or that may be the kale (I've forgotten) but I need to know if we should add them to the vitamix too? Or is the nourishment mostly in the leaves? I know the fiber must be in the stalks. Any further input here will be so much appreciated. Your smoothies must be delicious!:D

[rawgreenyogini]

The whole leaf.... EVERY PART IS EDIBLE.

Why don't you run an experiment. How much do you want to make? 1 cup of smoothie, 4 cups of smoothie?? Obviously the more quantity you make the more greens and other stuff you will be putting in there. So I cannot tell you how many "stalks" to put in your smoothies because I don't know how much you are making. I usually don't count the amount of leaves I put in.

I'm not real sure I'm answering your question tho????


If you are not used to eating greens, I would only start with about 2 cups of greens. Take your leaves and cut them ( yes stalk and all ) into smaller pieces to measure out 2 cups.

[jacsam]

I use as much of it that looks healthy and good. With spinach, I just wash it and throw the whole thing in. Yum!!!:)

[alicia_2007]

I use the stalks and stems. I went to a Sergei Boutenko talk about Green Smoothies and he said that so many people discard the stalks, stems and leaves of some vegetables when they are full of nutrition. So I just wash my greens and chuck the whole thing in!

[Eva]

Hoping no one throws tomatoes at me for this one....

But I sort of disagree with using the whole thing in all circumstances. I sometimes didn't use the stems when I was using a really crappy blender. Now that I'm using the VitaMix, I don't even chop up or remove ANYTHING. I just throw in some greens, some fruit and water, flip the on switch and go.

But to have a nice creamy consistency that makes you want to DRINK it sometimes, it may be necessary to just cut off the stalk and chop the greens up a decent amount if your blender's more basic.

I do have a juicer, though, and the stalk is great to juice with some fruit if you juice...

[lanettasmouse]

i use everything. stalks, stems and most seeds. the nourishment comes from the whole plant is the way i see it.

[Eva]

I just reread, and you have a Vitamix. I'd say thank your lucky stars and toss the whole thing in. :eek: :D

[islesgirl]

Yup, that's all I wanted to know. I will use stalks and stems - the whole thing. It wasn't measurements I was concerned with - just whether or not you used them from top to bottom - so-to-speak! Thank you so much all of you delightful people.:D

[veganman]

Hi Islesgirl.....

nutrition-wise, I think the whole thing is the way to go. Digestion-wise, the stalks can be kind of starchy and may be difficult to digest with the fruits for some people. Trial and error....;)

[sport]

I have just had a chat about this as I prepared breakfast.
I was asked by a fellow raw foodist why I was taking the stalks off as she used stalks and all. I replied that I feel that there is only so much green that you can add to a smoothie and have it still taste nice.
As there is more nutrients in the leafy part. if discarding the stalks means that I get more leafs in then that is how I go.
I think that it is a matter of taste.

[FreeLily]

I throw it all in...produce is expensive and whatever keeps me from having to buy more I'll do!

[cayenne]

Stalks and stems may add too much fiber. Yes you can get too much as we have experienced! So it all depends on the strength of your digestive system how much you can handle! After 3 1/2 years raw I can still only use soft baby greens, but that is me. Others are blessed with a stronger digestive system, see what works for you!

[Stina]

If it tastes bitter to you, discard the stems.