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Back to Basics: Rainbows & Green Smoothies

Laurena@LifeDietHealth

Zingy smoothie in a glass

Back to Basics: Rainbows & Green Smoothies

Recently I’ve been getting my greens in the form of smoothies! You can’t imagine how many people turn their noses up at that! 😛 Smoothies yes. 🙂 Green smoothies no! So, just because of the colour it becomes less tasty? Really?

I’ve added this to the back to basics series (along with crumble, pancakes and houmous )because although most people can make a smoothie – some people don’t vary the ingredients OR add GREENS! That or they just buy them ready made! … it’s so easy – get that blender out!!! 😀

Put everything in the blender
Pulse to break down, then blend until smooth.

Well, when I thought about it I realised that we’re not used to consuming unnaturally green (processed) foods. When I thought of green foods I thought peas; broccoli; rocket; salad leaves; avocado; beans; cucumber; grapes; kiwi; melon; pistachios; mint; herbs; cabbage; spinach and kale. All natural wholesome foods. Possibly you could find pistachio or mint ice-cream and I’ve seen some green baklava (pistachio again). Aside from pea soup, or pesto I’m finding it really difficult to think of anything ready made which is green!?

Fresh green vegetables from the garden: Peas & beans

 

Rainbow foods! Have you heard that saying? That we should eat a ‘rainbow of foods’? The nutrients that the body requires can be found by consuming a variety of colourful fruit and vegetables. Red foods, pink foods, yellow foods, white foods, brown foods and orange foods, are everywhere: cereals, cakes, crisps, jelly; pizza; sauces; spreads, dips; meats; cheeses; bread; chocolate and smoothies… in fact, I would guess at most things in your cupboards and fridge!? But… green?!?

Eat the Rainbow: Red, orange, yellow, purple, white and green foods 🙂

Back to green! Green foods are traditionally thought of as natural and healthy 🙂 Good reason too! Leafy greens contain a range of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre including a good dose of calcium, vitamin C and potassium 😀 BUT you know what? You can add a handful to your smoothie and it can still taste of pineapple or mango or strawberry despite the colour green (from chlorophyll). So even though you might be one of the ‘yuck-green-smoothie’ people… the benefits of drinking (or eating) one of these far outweighs the aversion to consuming something green!

Green smoothie bowl
Breakfast green smoothie bowl

Here are a few delicious green smoothie ideas for you! SOOO yummy and so good for you! Seriously just add a handful of greens to your smoothie – kale, spinach, watercress, peashoots even rocket! Start small and build up gradually… yumyumyum! You can have a smoothie for breakfast, for a snack, for dessert or just as an anytime burst of energy! 🙂 TRY IT! 🙂 Share your pictures on instagram @LifeDietHealth

Green Smoothie (vegan & Free-From)

  • Servings: 1-2
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print page

Gather

  • 100ml plant milk  (I used homemade almond milk)
  • 1 banana
  • A thick slice of pineapple
  • A handful of mixed berries
  • 4 stoned dates
  • a handful of spinach
  • * optional 1/2 cup of ice
  • Half a pineapple
  • 2 kiwi fruit
  • 1 apple
  • 2cm fresh ginger
  • 2 handfuls of kale
  • *optional fresh apricot, coconut & seeds to decorate
  • 1 mango
  • 1 carrot
  • 1/4 cucumber
  • 1/2 cup of ice
  • 2 handfuls rocket

Prepare

  1. Put the milk in a blender, then add the rest of the ingredients finishing with the greens then the ice if using.
  2. Pulse a few times until the ingredients are chopped into smaller chunks, then blend until smooth. Check the consistency, taste test and adjust as necessary (use more milk or more fruit).
  3. Pour into a bowl (for a smoothie bowl) or a glass, add some toppings (or not!)
  4. Enjoy! 🙂

Serve & Store

  • I usually make it and eat/drink it immediately!
  • Can make and store in the fridge to consume later (within the day)
  • Add some toppings such as dried fruits, coconut, nuts, seeds.
  • Use different greens and gradually up the amount used! 🙂
  • Try different fruits – mango, oranges, kiwi, cherries.
  • Add in more vegetables – carrots are sweeter than most, red & yellow peppers work great too!
  • Try adding some herbs or spices – fresh ginger or tumeric is great, so is mint.
  • You can use fresh fruit, tinned fruit (in juice not syrup) or frozen fruit.
  • Use liquid – milk, water or coconut milk to make a more liquid smoothie.
  • Sweeten naturally using dates or banana.

Thick green creamy smoothie
Zingy smoothie in a glass
Delicious green smoothie bowl
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