There are many health fads and crazes that come and go - however the ‘green smoothie’ seems to have some substance (and spinach!) to it. The green smoothie now seems to be a regular on every cafe menu and board, and we always see photos of health enthusiasts holding and slurping one of these brightly hued drinks. So, we know that they’re green, and they’re meant to be good for you, but not much other than that. Before we rush out and blend up everything green in sight, we ask - what egg-sactly are green smoothies, and why should we be drinking them?
It’s all down to the ingredients!
As you may have guessed, the smoothies don’t get their famous colour artificially. No, green smoothies their bright colour because they are chock full of blended leafy greens - spinach and kale are pretty much staples in this healthy drink.
If you aren’t a big fan of the leafy greens, don’t be turned off at first glance - there are lots of other ingredients that people add to make the smoothie go down, well, smoother (unless you REALLY like spinach), which balances the taste of the greens. Fruits, juices and coconut water are popular green smoothie ingredients. These add extra nutrients from the fresh produce, and our favourite flavours to the mix. After you put all the other ingredients into your green smoothie, you probably won’t even be able to taste the leafy greens an egg-ceptional amount - but you’ll still get the benefits that come from ingesting them!
So, why is it so good for me?
Well, leafy greens are pretty much the best thing you could possibly ever eat, nutrition wise. You can literally eat as much as you want to stay fighting fit - how many foods can you say that about!
It’s recommended that you get at least five servings of veggies, which for some people is a bit unrealistic - that’s vegetables for breakfast, morning tea, lunch, dinner and supper! Blending the leafy greens up into a smoothie is an easy, quick and best of all tasty way to get your vegetable fix and your recommended servings.
What can I put in my smoothie?
Well, like any smoothie enthusiast, you can still put all your favourite ingredients in to the smoothies - and feel free to mix and match!
Here are some ingredients that you can make an amazingly healthy and tasty green smoothie from - choose your favourites and blend away!
The greens
Spinach, Kale, Collards, Watercress
Other veggies
Carrot, Celery, Beetroot, Cucumber
Fresh fruit
Bananas, Mangoes, Oranges, Apples, Pears, Lemons, Berries - fresh or frozen
Herbs
Coriander, Parsley, Basil, Mint
Liquids
Coconut water, Almond milk, Coconut Milk, Water
Other tasty bits and pieces
Ginger, Garlic, Chia seeds, Ice cubes, Cinnamon, Cacao, Coconut oil
To get that creamy smoothie consistency, add
- Avocado (you can hardly taste it, but it'll thicken your smoothies and make them creamy!)
Grow your own green smoothie
If you’ve got a veggie patch or a few fruit plants growing here and there, your fresh produce is perfect to throw into a cool, re-invigorating green smoothie! If the idea of a smoothie made from all your backyard produce sparks your inner green thumb, find out more about the perfect Spring/Summer fruits and vegetables to grow this season, and also how your beautiful backyard chickens can help keep that garden growing great!
The green smoothie isn’t just another health fad that places unrealistic expectations on your diet - it’s actually a very quick, easy, nutritious and tasty way to get all your servings of vegetables without eating 5 bowls chock full of greens each day! It’s especially rewarding if you’ve used your own fresh produce from the garden - you really can’t get any healthier than that!
We love to hear about everyone’s favourite green smoothie recipes, so post yours on our Facebook wall so we can test them out!
