So, this is my latest obsession since giving up sodas--the green smoothie. Y'all, this drink is so. freaking. delicious, I can't even begin to describe for you. I originally heard of these from B who said she and her kids loved them, but at that time, I had this image in my head of midwives picking random weeds, berries and fungi out of the ground and eating them raw, so I was not too interested in getting her recipe. Then I heard that a lot of people make them with spinach leaves, and without being too graphic, let me just say that my body treats spinach leaves like castor oil. Yeah. Out both ends. It ain't pretty. So, I was super not interested.
Then, I met the love of my vegetable life--kale. On the day that kale was born, the angels got together and decided to create a dream come true. So they sprinkled moondust in its leaves and starlight in its stalks of green (Anyone?). Seriously, I. Love. Kale. And you can substitute kale, the power vegetable of the universe, for spinach in your green smoothie! The first recipe I tried called for just a banana, soymilk, kale and some maple syrup. Hello, maple syrup, reducing sugar intake much?!?! Plus, I didn't use frozen fruit, despite my to-be-virtual-doula Sarah's urging. Let's just say that first round wasn't the best thing I've ever tasted and I thought it was going to be a long week (or more) without my friend, Diet Coke.
Take 2--now I use kale, frozen bananas, blueberries and strawberries, plus about a cup of coconut milk (though I may reduce this to 1/2 a cup, since that yields a pretty big serving) and I have the tastiest, most energizing drink ever!! Every time I take a sip, I picture my cells doing a happy dance, my body getting stronger and my weight dropping (once I kick the aforementioned cupcake addiction...although I haven't had one in almost a week, unintentionally!), which is only getting me closer to my HBA2C. In a future post, I am going to address my weight loss goals, since my weight is directly tied to my blood pressure and I have to maintain healthy pressures to remain low risk. These green smoothies are really going to help me lose these last 15-20 pounds which my body seems intent on hanging on to for awhile....although I will say that I am not entirely convinced it is not all in my chesticles. Milk is heavy!!!
Do you use canned coconut milk or the kind that comes in the milk section at the grocery store?
ReplyDeleteThis is literally the first time I have ever bought coconut milk in my life. I got the Silk brand because I am familiar with them :) and it came out of the dairy section.
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