Category Archives: Green Smoothies

Green Smoothies

Raw Diet – Day 1

Posted on August 23, 2015 | Comments Off on Raw Diet – Day 1

I’ve been having so much fun making green smoothies.  I have decided to try to eat nothing but raw foods for ten days.  I didn’t lose any weight on the 21 day green smoothie challenge. While it wasn’t my goal to lose weight, it would have been nice. There were a few pounds lost initially but they were regained quickly. I believe this is because I was eating most lunches and dinners made up of carbs and fats…paired with wine of course. Shifting to an all raw food diet will eliminate the bad foods. I feel motivated and energized after completing the 21 day challenge that this ten day personal challenge sounds difficult but not impossible. The hardest part will be eating different foods than my family.

Today’s menu is below. I also drank lots of water today, which resulted in may trips to the restroom.

I started the day with a regular green smoothie but without my normal 1-2 cups of coffee. I had a headache at ten a.m but I was not hungry.

My family was heading to a BBQ for lunch, so I whipped up a light and refreshing mint-limeade.  This was very refreshing and was a conversation piece at the BBQ.  I found some sliced cucumbers and watermelon to snack on during the BBQ and it didn’t feel weird that I was not enjoying the chicken and other BBQ side dishes. However, I was very hungry  by dinner time.

For dinner, the family wanted to go out for Sushi. To my kids, this means deep fried gyoza, chicken and miso soup.  My husband and I do like all the varieties from California Rolls, Dragon Rolls, to plain sashimi (slices of raw fish with nothing else). I don’t know if Sashimi is considered “raw diet” food, but until I research it further I am considering it raw.  I used lemon juice instead of soy sauce and it tasted great.  I felt that I was able to find enough food on the restaurant menu to to enjoy my meal right along with the family.

Breakfast Green Smoothie – 348 calories
  • 2 cups spinach
  • 1/2 cup blueberries
  • 1 medium banana
  • 1/4 cup cashews, raw
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds

Lunch – 176 calories

  • 1 small lime
  • 10 mint leaves
  • 1/4 honeydew melon
  • 2 cups kale

Afternoon Snack – 60 calories

  • 1 slice watermelon
  • 1/2 cup cucumber slices

Dinner – 214 calories

  • 6 pieces of mixed sashimi
  • 3 lemon wedges
  • 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
  • 1 cup mixed melon fruit salad

After Dinner Snack – 82 calories

  • 1 cup blueberries

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Posted in Green Smoothies, Healthy Lifestyle, Recipes

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21 Day Challenge – Day 21

Today is the last day of the challenge. I am sad that the new recipes and shopping lists are over. I am going have to find another or start me own. Overall, I am as happy as a clam with my new Vitamix blender.  It has earned its home on my counter top. (FYI-It is the only appliance on my counter top!)

Today I tried something with pomegranate seeds. I think I’ll call it the Pomegranate Punch.

1 cup milkimage

1/2 cup of pomegranate seeds

2 cups dandelion greens

1 cup blueberries

1 cup pineapple

1 cup frozen mango

It made two 16 ounce servings.

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Posted on August 12, 2015 in Green Smoothies, Healthy Lifestyle, Recipes

Watermelon Mint Mojito

Posted on August 11, 2015 | Comments Off on Watermelon Mint Mojito

imageI saw a recipe on Pinterest about a week ago and tried to find it again without success. I finally found something I thought I could modify at foodandwine.com and it turned out great.  I don’t have a muddler or a shaker, so I used the Vitamix.  I started with double the chilled watermelon the recipe called for and one cup of Barcardi Rum. After making watermelon rum slushi, I added the chopped mint leaves, fresh squeezed lime and two teaspoons of sugar to the Vitamix.  I blended it again for only a few seconds to keep the mint leaves from being pulverized. The drink was refreshing and had some elements of health…for a grown-up drink anyway!

 

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Posted in Green Smoothies, Healthy Lifestyle

21 Day Challenge – Day 18

Posted on August 9, 2015 | Comments Off on 21 Day Challenge – Day 18

imageCake Batter Green Protein Smoothie was very much like a milkshake.  I didn’t use vegan yogurt…so it was not vegan like the recipe.  Today we had the smoothie for lunch because we just returned from another scouting camping trip.  I am amazed at how easy it is to whip up a delicious smootie for a meal. Not only is it fast but there is a hardly any clean up.  Just a quick whirl of the Vitamix full of hot water with a couple drops of soap and all the dishes are clean!

It has been a while since a recipe called for chia seeds.  I think they really help keep me full.  After lunch,  I headed out for a shopping adventure to Trader Joe’s. Because of the camping trips, I am not on the weekly schedule anymore. My last day of this challenge will be mid-week. I am excited to continue the green smoothies after the 21 days and make up some of my own recipes.

Prior to the challenge, I had used a juicer and had tried kale, spinach, beet, carrot, apple, and pear juices.  The Vitamix gives me the opportunity to use a much larger variety of fruits and vegetables. I also am no longer wasting all the fiber. My chickens loved eating the pulp but it was very expensive to be considered chicken food!

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21 Day Challenge – Days 16 and 17

Posted on August 8, 2015 | Comments Off on 21 Day Challenge – Days 16 and 17

imageDay 16 and 17 were completely different. Day 16 was Dr. Oz’s berry green smoothie. This is the second Dr. Oz smoothie that I didn’t like. It was coconut milk, coconut oil and berries. It was thick and the oil taste overpowered the berries. I would try it again with some sweetener.image

Day 17 was light and fresh. The parsley, citrus and banana combo was refreshing. Unfortunately, the smoothie left me very hungry by 10:00.

 

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Posted in Green Smoothies, Healthy Lifestyle