What goes in your green smoothies? - Page 2

[Thing1Thing2]

I use a omega juicer. Got it for my birthday about 6 years ago. We have allergies and candida so I do the same smoothie every time we make it.

- 1 stalk kale (stems and all)

- 2 red pears (they are less allergenic of the pears)

- 2 red delicious apples (best of all the apples for candida)

I just cut everything up, seeds and all and throw it in. The juicer removes the seeds and chunks.

I find it delicious and if you use the red kale as opposed to the green, you have a little bit of a better taste.

I've heard that the blender is better because the juicer removes the fiber, but I get plenty of fiber in my diet and I don't think I would be able to stomach the smoothies with all the chunks as pp mentioned as well.

[Storm Bride]

I missed the whole thing about the vitamix. I don't make true green smoothies (I only use spinach, and occasionally a small amount of kale, if I have a leaf or so left over), but I use a Hamilton-Beach blender that I got for Christmas in 2001. I don't make smoothies every day, but I do use it quite a lot. It works well. It's completely smooshed up ice cubes (small ones), frozen berries - including a few that got frozen into a big lump - and all kinds of other stuff. I'm sure a Vitamix or a Kitchen Aid or whatever would be really nice...but my regular old blender, bought at Canadian Tire (I think) has done a beautiful job of making up all kinds of smoothies...and smashing whole spices in butter chicken sauce, etc.

Top of the line is nice, but it's not really necessary, yk?

We really like the creaminess of using yogurt and/or milk, but water works well, too, of course! I'm actually planning to try some warm green smoothies this winter, using cold veggies/fruit and hot herbal teas for the liquid. I haven't had them yet, but i've heard good things about the flavour.

[forestmushroom]

I love this thread!

We use whatever green stuff we have around, from the store or the garden.  If I have lettuce/kale I notice that blends more easily if I wash it and put it in the freezer for a bit--5 to 10 minutes?

We do almond or coconut milk, the greens, and then we love frozen blueberries, banana and whatever else is around. Apples, oranges, OJ, etc. Just toss it all in there...

If I have some Spirulina if we have it around. 

I don't like to ad sweeteners like honey, and like the fruit to be the sweetener... but I could see this being yummy for kids.

[zebaby]

I'm still a little fuzzy about what's considered a green smoothie ingredient. I've heard a lot about spinach, kale, and other leafy greens. Sorry if this is a mundane question, I'm totally new to the green smoothie process, is it limited to leafy greens or are we talkin' any green produce?

[mommy212]

I know people who put all kinds of different green in theirs, as well as brocolli, or the powdered, concentrated greens

[TamaraMama]

I like to add a little fresh ginger and a half lemon...

[Beco Expert]

Originally Posted by *MamaJen* 

Not to get off topic, but do you guys have a fancy blender like a Vitamix, or does it work with a less pricey blender? I have a ninja, which is pretty decent, but it's no Blendtec. 

Exactly what I was going to ask. Am I the only super lazy person that hates using an appliance one time, then having to take the whole thing apart, put in the dishwasher, wait for it to be clean just to do it all over again? Maybe I need a blender with fewer parts? LOL!

Anyway, these are sounding AMAZING! I haven't made a green smoothie since I was expecting, and ya'll have sparked me to want one!

On a side note, I really want a Magic Bullet. Is that a horrible idea or do they really work? 

[marzb]

Originally Posted by Beco Expert 

Exactly what I was going to ask. Am I the only super lazy person that hates using an appliance one time, then having to take the whole thing apart, put in the dishwasher, wait for it to be clean just to do it all over again? Maybe I need a blender with fewer parts? LOL!

Anyway, these are sounding AMAZING! I haven't made a green smoothie since I was expecting, and ya'll have sparked me to want one!

On a side note, I really want a Magic Bullet. Is that a horrible idea or do they really work? 

I LOVED using the magic bullet for these smoothies, and used that for a long time...

UNTIL I got an immersion blender (or a stick blender) -- it does a great job and is even easier to clean up.

The only thing w/ this kind of blender is that you have to cut up your fruit before you blend it.

So if you dont' want to do that, then get a mgic bullet.

You just have to shake the cup between blending it to get everything to the bottom sometimes.

[marzb]

OH and I just want to add - when I say cut  up your fruit, I just mean you have to cut the banana in to smaller pieces

rather than just sticking two halves of it in your cup.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by mommy212 

I know people who put all kinds of different green in theirs, as well as brocolli, or the powdered, concentrated greens

Yes - I have a friend who starts every day with a green smoothie, and she uses leafy greens, broccoli, avocado, cucumber, celery (not often, as she doens't like "strings" of fiber), etc. It think the only green veggies I've never heard her mention as ingredients are green peppers, brussel sprouts and cabbage. I like sweeter, fruit-based smoothies, so my "green" smoothies are only tinted with green. :)

[Mom2SammyJoe]

I am new to this green smoothie thing, but it is working okay for me. Right now I am drinking baby spinach, frozen peaches, frozen strawberries, a squeezed orange, and some water to make it go round. Yummy!

Yesterday I used baby romaine with orange juice, banana, and strawberries. I drank it, but I think the romaine I used made it bitter.

I am not a green-eater, except for broccoli and some salad. My midwife really wants me to get more greens, and this seems to be the best way to do it for now.

[*bejeweled*]

[pookahjade]

So this whole green smoothie thing sounds like a good way for my dh and I to get more greens in the diet.

I'm seeing a lot of comments about bananas being a "must" to cover the taste of some of the stronger green flavors and that will work for dh, he loves bananas, but I can't stand the taste or smell of them.

Anyone know anything else that will cut the green taste? Also any more recipes out there that don't contain citrus??

[jess in hawaii]

Originally Posted by pookahjade 

So this whole green smoothie thing sounds like a good way for my dh and I to get more greens in the diet.

I'm seeing a lot of comments about bananas being a "must" to cover the taste of some of the stronger green flavors and that will work for dh, he loves bananas, but I can't stand the taste or smell of them.

Anyone know anything else that will cut the green taste? Also any more recipes out there that don't contain citrus??

Pineapple is EXCELLENT for balancing and masking the green flavor. If you can get lilikoi (passion fruit) it is also very good. Basically anything sweet/tart will work. I don't use much citrus either (definitely no oranges), but if you can do a little squeeze of lemon or lime, that helps too.

[swd12422]

Pineapple, or softened dates sweeten things up and are strong enough to cover the greens taste. (Also raw honey adds some good sweetness.)