Posted by Lucy Slight on 20 July 2012 - 1:56pm
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Make It Green
When a friend of mine told me a couple of years ago that she'd started putting spinach in her smoothies, I was beyond repulsed (and yet kind of intrigued...). She swore to me this concoction she'd come up with was delicious and that she felt more awake and energised throughout the day when she added it in to her breakfast regime. So I gave it a go, and for someone who could not have been more sceptical I was totally surprised that something THAT green could taste THAT good. I felt so virtuous, getting a large dose of my 5+ A Day before the day had even begun.
When a friend of mine told me a couple of years ago that she'd started putting spinach in her smoothies, I was beyond repulsed (and yet kind of intrigued...). She swore to me this concoction she'd come up with was delicious and that she felt more awake and energised throughout the day when she added it in to her breakfast regime. So I gave it a go, and for someone who could not have been more sceptical I was totally surprised that something THAT green could taste THAT good. I felt so virtuous, getting a large dose of my 5+ A Day before the day had even begun.
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After being pretty consistent with my smoothies for a good couple of months I began to notice that my skin was clearer and my eyes were whiter. In fact, up until I was a regular smoothie drinker, by the end of a day staring at my computer screen my eyes were red and tired and I always had Clear Eyes on hand. Since getting my solid dose of daily greens I can honestly say that Clear Eyes is no longer on my shopping list and that was a massive result for me.
The great thing about these smoothies is you can add whatever you like! Seriously, anything goes.
Let me talk you through what I call - 'The Green Smoothie for Beginners' (all you need is a blender and you're ready to begin).
Into the blender add:
1 x banana
1/2 a pear (any kind of pear, green, brown, nashie etc)
2 handfuls of baby spinach
100ml water or coconut water
2 Tbps natural yogurt (optional, but amazing for the taste)
Now all you need to do is whizz it! Add more water depending on whether you like your smoothies thick or more juice-like.
If you're feeling like you could do with a few more goodies added to the mix, here are some other ingredients that work a treat:
Pineapple (adds some tartness)
Cucumber (adds a delicious freshness)
Broccoli (just a couple of heads - you can't even taste it so why not?)
Rock melon (adds sweetness)
Vital Greens (a supplement that adds an extra vitamin and mineral boost)
Kale (as a substitute for spinach)
Frozen berries (great for the taste but your smoothie will turn a bit brown and won't look quite as appetising...)
So depending on what's available seasonally, it's fun to experiment with different fruits and veges to find a combo that tastes best for you. And if you're a sceptic like I was, I urge you to give it a go. Kick-starting your day with all this goodness is sure to keep you on track with your healthy eating and those hands away from the lolly jar (well, almost...).
Happy slurping, Lucy x
Thanks Lucy, I'm always keen to hear what other juice combos have worked. Green juicing is harder to get right than normal smoothie making! xxx