A green smoothie that didn't make me gag

leggo

I know we have a lot of green juicers out there, but if you're like me, you drink them because of the benefits, not the taste. I gag every day. My son gave me this recipe and it went down easy! Thought I'd share.

1/2 peeled cucumber

1 cored apple (peel if you want)

1 tbsp. grated ginger

2 large handfuls of baby spinach

1 tbsp. pure maple syrup

Juice of one lime

Blend until smooth. If your blender isn't powerful enough, the recipe says to add some coconut water to help it along.

Fallleaves

Thanks, I'll give it a whirl! The last time I tried a green power smoothie it made me gag, too. That one had similar ingredients but used kale. Maybe spinach will go down the gullet a little easier! 

leggo

Did your recipe have the lime juice? I think that made the difference for me. On a sad note, my Vitamix died today. One year after it's warranty.

Fallleaves

No, I don't think I added lime juice to the other recipe, Leggo, I will be sure and put that in. My condolences on your vitamix! (May it rest in peace....) But of course it would have to be after the warranty expired! 

cp418

I suppose I am cheating because by the time I get done adding items to my green drink - well it's a bit over the top.  I've been trying to shed a few pounds and decided to try a green smoothie for breakfast each morning.  What was critical for me was to add protein so I would not feel hungry a short while later prowling for snacks.  So I add a good dallop of zero fat FAGE Greek yogurt along with a scoop of protein powder.  I recently tried Plant Fusion available in all the stores around here - comes in variety of flavors which I avoid for the added sweetener.  Instead I use the unflavored brand and add organic dark chocolate drink.  http://www.nibmor.com/

By the time I add some greens (spinach or kale), banana, berries, yogurt, sliced almonds, protein powder and dark chocolate, liquid as almond or oat milk ---- I love this thick smoothie.  I don't know the calorie content but it makes me feel good and lasts to lunch time.  Any left over I place in the frig for my mid-meal snack before supper.  Come summer time when more organic fresh fruits available I will try some other creations.

sandilee

I've been putting fresh pineapple in my smoothies lately, and it really packs a punch with flavor. (Vitamins, too!)  I use a lot of kale or mixed greens. I buy the pineapple at Trader Joe's, and the greens, too, as they have it year-round.   A quarter cup of plain yogurt, the pineapple, greens and maybe some celery or cucumber, ice and water for consistency, and yum!

abigail48

not sure if I mentioned that I've been adding a small piece of fresh horse radish to my usual fruits & vegetables to juice 

laurie2025

My weekend smoothie - frozen raspberries, fresh or frozen pineapple or 1 apple, cored if no pineapple available, 1/2 cup fat free yogurt, 4-5 large kale leaves minus the stem, 2 tablespoons freshly ground flax seed, 1/3 cup almond milk.  Can't even taste the kale.

leggo

What kind of blenders do you all use? I'm not stoked about replacing the vitamix.$$$$$

peacestrength

I gag nearly everyday from green smoothies and juices  

I have the Ninja blender - not as awesome as a vitamix but works for our needs.  I juice more often using a Norwalk.

abigail48

& a norwalk's better

bingbing

I make a smoothie for breakfast 5 to 7 days a week. I start with about 2 cups almond milk, handful of organic baby spinach, handful of organic baby kale, about 4 big tablespoons non fat vanilla flavored greek yogurt,frozen pineapple, either frozen blueberries, frozen dark sweet cherries, frozen peaches, or frozen strawberries, and a banana, blend that all in my ninja blender. It makes about 4 1/2 cups. My husband and I share this concoction. You can't taste the greens, but it sure does have a wierd color, but a wonderful taste.

MaryJC

hi ladies, newly Dx'd n searching threads for alternatives. I'm an avid juicer, but take breaks bec of the grind of it all. Hopped right back once Dx came, I find adding ginger masks a lot of the grassy taste. I used to do carrot Apple ginger lime or lemon celery and and cucumber. Now with all the info on gluclose levels feeding cancer, I'm strictly green with kale, green apple, ginger, celery. That's a modified version of the 'mean green' from fat sick n nearly dead. 

Question- with your juicing routine have any of you any documented changes in tumor shrinkage?

Tomboy

they all taste horrible to me! arent you guys getting a massive sugar spike on them?

leggo

About 20 - 30 grams of sugar in my smoothie. Less than two servings of fruit....so no, no sugar spike.

leggo

Mary, can't say, but I certainly feel better than most in my situation.

labelle

I start most days with a smoothie, almond milk based w banana and frozen berries-if you use frozen ingredients you don't need to add ice and I hate warm or watered down smoothies, so I like to add something frozen. I also put two TBSP of chia seeds in mine, makes them thick and adds calcium (since I don't eat dairy, I'm always trying to add calcium). Chia seeds do have quite a few calories though and if you use them be sure to wash out the blender/smoothie makes/glass right away. They are sticky buggers. Almond milk, unsweetened baking cocoa, frozen cherries, a banana and a little coconut sugar or raw honey w or without chia seeds is one of my favorite smoothies.

I know I should eat more green ones, so I'll try yours leggo since it sounds pretty good and I love spinach anyway, but w frozen apple or pear slices-have both in the freezer from this year's harvest-so it is good and cold.

leggo

It's still gross labelle....just not AS gross. Can get it down at least. 

labelle

Thanks for the warning.

Blessings2011

I have two juicers out in the garage and they both sound like leaf blowers when they're on, and take half a day to clean. Haven't used them in years. Time for them to go to Goodwill, I think.

Got our Vitamix several years ago, and we use it ALL DAY LONG.

I generally start with a protein shake for breakfast - medically prescribed protein powder, two cups water, half a cup of ice cubes, half a frozen banana, half a cup of frozen blueberries, either fresh or dried ginger, two fiber tablets, 1/4 cup fat free cottage cheese, and blend well. Nothing comes even close to making it as smooth as a Vitamix does.

I have been wanting to add more "green" to my mix, but don't want to lose any sweetness. I like the idea of pure maple syrup, though! I've also seen some "powdered greens" that might work in smoothies.

This makes a huge amount of smoothie with a ton of fiber, and not too many calories. I'm usually not hungry til dinner, but I do nibble throughout the day.

Has anyone tried "Manuka Honey?"