Rotate greens in smoothie?

[gritsnla]

Right now I am loving a GS with bananas and romaine or spinach. I try to rotate these two. Do I need other greens or just let my body tell me what it wants? The brain is new to raw and is trying to learn as much as possible. Still waiting for a few more funds to get A's book, but gleaning much info from the 'net. I see other GSs with lots of other ingredients, right now this tastes good and I at least think its a good mix of nutrients for me. Any thoughts appreciated.
Keep it raw!
Grits

[elikat37]

Personally, I have been having green smoothies with baby spinach, 1/2 banana, some berries for the past few days and YUM. Though, today I had one with romaine...I didn't care for it as much.

I would say that you should have whatever appeals to you and you enjoy. Why not rotate them? But, if you absolutely love one you should stick to it and enjoy the heck out of it.

[Banshee]

If you like it, go with it!
You don't have to make a smoothie with a ton of ingredients, and as long as you vary your diet, using those greens will work great. I basically go between kale, spinach, and collard...those are the ones I really like so far. But I don't stress about not using others...
My smoothies usually have 3 ingredients in them because its quicker and more simple....that's what works for me.

[maui_butterfly]

i think its good to rotate around a bit, but i am like you and usually go between two faves: spimach and clover sprouts, and probably once a week doing something different then that.

i just started sprouting, and its AMAZING how many sprouts you can grow easily for PENNIES... i am pretty thrilled about that! (especially since I live in maui, where spinach is $7/lb!!!)

[gritsnla]

Maui - do you grow or harvest the clover sprouts yourself? I have seen the alfalfa and mung bean sprouts in stores but not clover. Just wondering.

Speaking of sprouts - how do you wash/clean alfalfa sprouts? They're so small anyway. Thanks.

Trying raw and lovin' it!
Grits

[SuzyQ]

Kale is soooo good for you that I would highly recommend adding some of it.

[Blazin'Jane]

I use spinach and mixed dark greens in my salads and try to use other greens in my smoothies. I'm kind of a "variety" freak, thinking that the combo of nutrients is a little different in each different kind of green. I've been surprised that beet greens make a nice smoothie.;)

[maui_butterfly]

Maui - do you grow or harvest the clover sprouts yourself? I have seen the alfalfa and mung bean sprouts in stores but not clover. Just wondering.

Speaking of sprouts - how do you wash/clean alfalfa sprouts? They're so small anyway. Thanks.

yep, i'm doing clover, alfalfa, lentils, some gourmet seed mixes (radish, broccolli, etc.), and forbidden rice. I never would have imagined how dang easy it is to grow these suckers. soak the seeds overnight, then every day rinse them in the morning and in the evening, and in a few days a few seeds turns into a HUGE harvest of beautiful delicious nutritious sprouts!!!

all you need is a mason jar and some mosquito netting, or pantyhose, or wire mesh. this video shows you how to do it easily. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvDggHRwHEw

i ordered the seeds from www.sproutpeople.com, but then i found they carry the seeds in the bulk section of my HFS. they had mung and alfalfa too. and any whole lentils (not split) will also sprout easily, and they are tasty to snack on.

the sproutpeople.com website has GOBS of information. i hope you get inspired to sprout, because it is so fun and just ridiculously simple.

[ForTheHealthOfIt]

i ordered the seeds from www.sproutpeople.com, but then i found they carry the seeds in the bulk section of my HFS. they had mung and alfalfa too. and any whole lentils (not split) will also sprout easily, and they are tasty to snack on.


Do you go to Mana Foods?
I used to live on Maui. I sure do miss it and I know that my family and I will be back there one day.

[Andre]

I think of greens like fruit, so I try to get some variety:

Kale
Collards
Bokchoy
Cilantro
Swiss Chard
Mustard Greens
Dandelion
Spinach

These are my favorites. This list contains some of the most nutritious greens at the lowest price. Dandelion is free. Variety is extremely important!

And sprouting is SO easy and fun!

[Conscious Midwife]

i just started sprouting, and its AMAZING how many sprouts you can grow easily for PENNIES... i am pretty thrilled about that! (especially since I live in maui, where spinach is $7/lb!!!)

OK I', about to get a bit more serious with my sprouting.



Regarding the greens rotation...

I think Arugula and Kale add a great kick, especially with berries.:D

[maui_butterfly]

Do you go to Mana Foods?
I used to live on Maui. I sure do miss it and I know that my family and I will be back there one day.

howzit, girl? look me up when you return to the islands, we'll toast with coconuts!

i live in Kihei, so i make the trek to mecca, i mean mana :) about 1/month. i try to buy the vast majority of my foods from the swap meet farmer's market on saturday. i like buying directly from local growers, especially here on the island where so much of the food (95%) is shipped in. from a carbon footprint and a sociopolitical standpoint, it just makes sense. plus its a friendly scene, they all know me now, i know who sprays and who doesn't, and i even have an under the table source for 1/2 price longan ("you buy 10 lbs, i give you half price!")

[Aleesha Sattva]

i've read it's very important to rotate your greens the reason is...

greens have a mild toxin in them. the reason is... they want the critter to go graze on something else, not to eat all of them - it's the way greens survive! so for the health of your body... rotating greens is important.

*taken from victoria boutenko's "green for life" - but put into my own words not hers*

[EZ rider]

Awhile back I started making my GS as a mono meal by putting enough clean water into the VM to cover the blades and then turning it on low speed. Then I add a few ice cubes through the top followed by about 9 oz of greens, usually either spinach, romaine, or kale. I move the speed up to high for long enough to blend it smooth and drink fresh. It tastes and looks very green. :)

[Aleesha Sattva]

9 oz... i can't imagine measuring my greens. how much is 9 oz? a handful? two? less?

[EZ rider]

how much is 9 oz? a handful? two? less?Next time your at the grocery store look at the packaged greens for the 9 oz package.

[ForTheHealthOfIt]

howzit, girl? look me up when you return to the islands, we'll toast with coconuts!

i live in Kihei, so i make the trek to mecca, i mean mana :) about 1/month. i try to buy the vast majority of my foods from the swap meet farmer's market on saturday. i like buying directly from local growers, especially here on the island where so much of the food (95%) is shipped in. from a carbon footprint and a sociopolitical standpoint, it just makes sense. plus its a friendly scene, they all know me now, i know who sprays and who doesn't, and i even have an under the table source for 1/2 price longan ("you buy 10 lbs, i give you half price!")

I used to go to the swap meet too, well the one in kahului. I stayed at the rainbow's end surf hostel for a couple months and then rented a room in a house in Kuau with my wonderful S. African roomates who I adore and miss dearly.

[gritsnla]

You miss a couple days and you miss good advice.
Thanks everyone.
Grits