Green Smoothies For Dummies
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Even if you didn’t start your children on green smoothies at an early age, there’s definitely hope for them in their older years. As your kids get older, take the time to emphasize the importance of healthy foods for their mental performance at school, their physical performance with sports, and their highest chances of succeeding as adults.

As your kids get older, let them make their own smoothies and encourage them to try new combinations. Offer them to use healthy superfoods such as raw cacao powder, carob powder, spirulina powder, hemp powder, or coconut oil. Even ingredients like peanut butter or yogurt are okay if using them means your teenager is actually drinking a green smoothie.

Pineapple and Grape Pick-Me-Up

Preparation time: 3–4 minutes

Blending time: 2 minutes

Yield: 2 servings

1 cup pineapple chunks

1 ripe banana, peeled

1 cup red or green grapes

2 tablespoons ground flaxseed

1 teaspoon spirulina powder

1-1/2 cups water

2 cups baby spinach leaves, loosely packed

  1. Combine all the ingredients except the spinach in the blender and secure the lid.

  2. Starting at low speed and gradually increasing toward high, blend the ingredients for 30 to 45 seconds or until the mixture contains no visible pieces of fruit.

  3. Add the spinach and blend again at medium speed for 30 to 45 seconds, gradually increasing the speed to high. Blend on high speed for another 15 to 20 seconds or until the entire mixture is smooth. Pour the smoothie into two glasses and enjoy!

Per serving: Calories 215 (From Fat 23); Fat 2.5g (Saturated 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 56mg; Carbohydrate 47g (Dietary Fiber 6g); Protein 4g.

Pack one serving in a plastic container and place in a cooler with an ice pack. Send it to school with your teen for a mid-morning or afternoon snack.

Apple and Lime Bright-Eyed Morning Tang

Preparation time: 3–4 minutes

Blending time: 2 minutes

Yield: 2 servings

2 red delicious or gala apples

1/2 avocado, peeled and pitted

Juice of 1/4 lime

2 tablespoons ground hemp seed

1-1/2 cups water

1 cup celery leaves, loosely packed

  1. Cut the apples and remove the cores, keeping the skin intact. Cut the flesh into quarters. Combine all the ingredients except the celery leaves in the blender and secure the lid.

  2. Starting at low speed and gradually increasing toward high, blend the ingredients for 30 to 45 seconds or until the mixture contains no visible pieces of fruit.

  3. Add the celery leaves and blend again at medium speed for 30 seconds, gradually increasing the speed to high. Blend on high speed for another 15 to 20 seconds or until the entire mixture is smooth.

  4. Pour the smoothie into two glasses and enjoy!

Per serving: Calories 244 (From Fat 117); Fat 13g (Saturated 1g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 50mg; Carbohydrate 32g (Dietary Fiber 9g); Protein 7g.

Banana and Brazil Nut Brain Fuel

Preparation time: 3–4 minutes

Blending time: 2 minutes

Yield: 2 servings

2 ripe bananas, peeled

1 cup halved strawberries, stems and leaves removed

2 Medjool dates, pitted

6 raw Brazil nuts

2 cups water

1/4 cup fresh parsley

2 large kale leaves

  1. Combine the bananas, strawberries, dates, Brazil nuts, and water in the blender and secure the lid.

  2. Starting at low speed and gradually increasing toward high, blend the ingredients for 30 to 45 seconds or until the mixture contains no visible pieces of fruit.

  3. Remove and discard the kale stems. Add the kale and parsley and blend again at medium speed for 30 seconds, gradually increasing the speed to high. Blend on high speed for another 15 to 20 seconds or until the entire mixture is smooth.

  4. Pour the smoothie into two glasses and enjoy!

Per serving: Calories 323 (From Fat 108); Fat 12g (Saturated 2.5g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 27mg; Carbohydrate 56g (Dietary Fiber 8g); Protein 6g.

If you don’t have Brazil nuts, use 6 raw walnut halves instead.

Instead of strawberries, try 1 fresh peach (skin on and stone removed).

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book author:

Jennifer Thompson has been working with raw food, juices, smoothies, and detox for over two decades to help people heal. Today, she shares her expertise worldwide, offering lectures, workshops, training, and one-on-one consultations at various health and detox retreat centers. She shares fantastic recipes and time saving lifestyle tips on her site healthybliss.net.

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