Talk to me about green smoothies

[KristinCB]

I'm trying really hard here and trying to figure out a plan of attack for maybe trying one. The thought sorta makes me nervous but willing to give it a shot.

What is your favourite way to make them? Low calorie preferred

[Darcy Baldwin]

Slide into it by just putting a handful of spinach or kale into your smoothie, processing it tons before using, and go! you can increase gradually as you get used to the taste. Don't expect to jump right into it and love it if you aren't a fan of green stuff.

I also add powdered kale to my smoothies when I don't have real kale. I dehydrate a batch when I'm making chips, an use my spice grinder to pulverize it. Then I can add it to anything I'm cooking, and often throw a tablespoon or 4 into non-'green' smoothies for the added benefits (i also put it into just about any baked item I make).

[Jenn Barrette]

I buy the huge tubs of organic spinach and just add a few handfuls into our fruit smoothies. Doesn't really change the taste IMO.

[kristijoy]

Ginger. I love ginger. THe first green smoothie I tried had lots of spinach and ginger. To me, that is definately the way to go. Taste like ginger instead of a green thing! LOL!

Here's the link. YUM! I also like that she suggested putting this on in smoothie tubes to freeze. This recipe makes several cups. I took a smoothie tube in my sack lunch each day for a few days and had a green smoothie on the go!

Enjoy: http://onceamonthmom.com/green-detox-smoothie/

[mariewilcox]

I make my normal fruit smoothie and add a handful of spinach to it. I also add chia seeds for protein and fiber and some plain greek yogurt and a bit of honey. I also puree spinach with a bit of water and freeze it in ice cube trays and toss the ice cubes into my smoothie to make it thicker.

[Kara]

I do the same as Marie. I was surprised at how little the taste changes when you add greens like spinach or kale. I'm not a huge salad person so this is a great way for me to get some greens in!

[glumirk]

I bought some frozen kale and I like it a lot better than spinach. I've just been mixing it into my protein shake. 1 cup milk, 1 scoop whey powder, 1 kiwi, about 1/4 cup kale and some frozen blueberries. I was nervous, but I really like the flavor that the kale adds to it, surprisingly enough. I wasn't a huge fan of the spinach ones, but drank them anyway, but I really like adding in the frozen kale.

[ripal]

I buy bags of spinach, celery, baby kale, romaine lettuce from Costco. Once I get it home, I mix it all up (chop lettuce and celery) and then pack it in ziplock bags to store in freezer. Each morning, I take out a bag and dump it in my blender along with apple, banana, strawberries, chia seeds and some other stuff.

[Libby Pritchett]

I've actually learned to love green smoothies.

Mine is actually pretty high in calories, but it's going to be my breakfast smoothie every day of the contest (this is actually 2 servings - Jeff & I split it. It's a big 24oz glass each)

1 large handful of power greens (http://newstarfresh.com/ns/products/newstar/cooking_with_powergreens/)
10 baby carrots
1/4 medium avocado

1/4 cup raw almonds
1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/4 cup oatmeal (uncooked)
1 tbsp golden flax seed

1 fuji apple
1 orange
1 large chunk of fresh pineapple
10 globe grapes with seeds
1 banana

[hollyxann]

I usually make mine with spinach, frozen mixed fruit, and then whatever else I feel like adding in, sometimes a banana...or peanut butter. It's pretty much whatever you want. You can't really taste the spinach at all but make sure you really chop it well.

[Sherri Tierney]

I tried one I saw on Pinterest with spinach, pineapple, yogurt and something else. It was delicious. I like spinach but not fond of the idea of drinking it. I was surprised to not taste it at all.

[dana]

i like ones made with lots of greens (normally spinach and kale), cucumbers, celery, a little ginger - and a little fruit, usually some pineapple and either apple or pear. i add herbs sometimes too (.e.g, cilantro). i am not a fan of berries in my green smoothies - or bananas ...

[Darcy Baldwin]

Dana - do you not like berries or bananas because they're fast sugar or because you don't like the taste?