green smoothies

So I've been asked a few times about how I make my green smoothies. I was first introduced by my good friend Wendy who read a book called Green for Life. This lady's website is awesome! Her whole family is raw foodists, and she's done extensive research!(They even have a silly music video about eating raw). I totally got into green smoothies about 2 years ago started making them in my regular Oster blender, which worked great! Then I got the much coveted Vitamix as a wedding gift and it's changed my life in regards to green smoothies! (this website is also awesome and has videos that show you how to make different smoothies/soups)

Soo this is the base of how I make my smoothies and I just change up the ingredients. My measurements make 2 - 32oz cups.

This morning I started by cutting a fresh pineapple. I watched a video that said to use the core and all (when using a vitamix).

I always start my smoothies with the soft, fresh fruit on the bottom because they are softer and blender easier. (also learned from a video)

So I've put in 1/4 of the pineapple, banana (you can peal and freeze them too if they are ripening faster than being eaten) this one is fresh, and a whole avocado, pit included, not peal.

So here again, 1/4 of pineapple, banana and avocado, pit included.
I learned to put the entire pit in when I bought my vitamix from Costco. The lady giving the demonstration was a nutritionist and said an avocado pit is the only way to get Omega 9. So why not? And the vitamix can handle it and blends it smoothly.

Then I add my frozen fruit. I put in about 5-6 strawberries, and mango - probably 1/2 cup. I get my strawberries at costco for $8-$9. Awesome! It lasts about 2-3 weeks. The mangos, I get at Trader Joes. I sometimes use frozen pineapple instead of mango.


Then I add my greens. I get my spinach from Costco. It's $3! Amazing! As opposed to $4 for the handful I use in my smoothies. This bag will last about a week with our morning smoothies and daily salads for lunch.

My LARGE handful of spinach.

Today I used chard because I had it and it needed to be eaten. Normally, I use kale. Kale is soo awesome and the most nutritious green but it is bitter and tough to chew so I like it best in smoothies.

I add 2 cups of water at first, then add more as needed.


I got so excited and started blending! I forgot my carrot and cilantro! Cilantro is one of MY favorite things to put in a smoothie. It adds such a great flavor! mmmm

Here it all is! (minus carrot and cilantro)

Anddd.... I forgot the lime (peal included), and a sliver of ginger! Sooo good for you! Be sure to blend it well so you don't get ginger slices. (I don't love the flavor of ginger so I use a little bit, and make sure it's blended so I don't have to chew it)

Blending! Again, make sure you blend it long enough that the avocado pit and ginger are blended thoroughly. Here is where you would add ice if needed. I didn't in this smoothie and it would have benefited from it. The frozen fruit didn't make it cool enough.

Sorry a little blurry, but there are our smoothies in our D.I. cups. These are 32 oz and I read on http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/ that you should have 32 oz a day of green smoothie!

Green Smoothie girl is in Utah I think and has classes. Her website is AWESOME! She has videos, facts, recipes, and a "cook" book you can buy (but I think her website is adequate enough)

And again, Green For Life has all the facts about the importance of greens in your diet, and also the importance of blending them so that all the nutrients can be absorbed. This book is on my Summer reading list!


One more tip I learned from the Costco lady is if your spinach is going bad, put it in your blender with a bit of water, blend and freeze. Then put the cubes in your smoothies. It worked beautifully!

I love green smothies and I feel fantastic when I eat them!