Give me the Green Goods!!

Ingredients: baby spinach, 1/4 banana, pineapple and ground linseeds

Ok, let's talk about Green Smoothies.  I am a big fan, but there are some do's and don'ts to getting the most out of your smoothie and harnessing your healthy eating intentions to their full potential.

The following is a list do's and don'ts of green smoothie making to help you avoid DSAS- Disappointed Smoothie Aversion Syndrome

Do:

• Add a good amount of greens to your smoothie (about 2 cups)
• Put your greens at the bottom of your blender to get a good smooth consistency.  Some people blend the greens with the fluid base before adding the fruit to make sure the greens get chopped up well
• Blend your smoothie until it reaches a nice smooth texture (hence the name- we're not making lumpies here people!)
• Chop up fruit and keep it in a container ready to go for convenience
• Freeze fruit to add a nice chill to your smoothie
• Add a smidge of banana or avocado for a creamy texture
• Add a good protein source such as nuts, seeds, or protein powder
• Add a good source of fibre, such as ground linseeds, chia, or psyllium husk
• Play with flavours that your love
• Have an idea of your smoothie combo and what will work before you start to avoid disappointment
• Try to use organically grown food as much as possible and wash all fruit before blending

Don't

• Use too much raw kale or raw brassica's.  Raw kale dampens thyroid function, so unless that is your desired effect, go easy on the kale and use other green leafy's
• Use too much fruit.  If your smoothie is too fruity it will spike your blood sugars and you will end up feeling hungry 1/2 and hour after your smoothie

Still not convinced about the Green Revolution?
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Here are 5 reasons why you should be adding a Green Smoothie to your day

1. Alkalizing: Green Leafy's are alkalizing. Alkaline foods assist in down regulating inflammation and pain and assist in preventing chronic disease.
2. Nutritious: Green Leafy's are full of amino acids (protein), vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
3. Gut Healing: Spinach is very high in the gut healing amino acid, Glutamine.  Green smoothies are an excellent source of daily fibre for bowel health
4. Convenient: Green smoothies are a fantastic breakfast for busy people.  You can sip your green smoothie while you are putting pig tails in your kids hair or while on route to the office
5. Tasty: I concede that it's hard to make a green smoothie look good on Instagram, but it's not hard to make them taste delicious.

Getting the picture??

Ok, so are you ready to give yourself the goodness of GREEN?

Here are some basics for your blend
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2 Cups- Baby spinach (good for beginners), parsley, dandelion greens or lettuce​
1 Cup- Flavoursome fruit: berries, mango, melon...ect
1/4- Banana or avocado for creaminess
1 tbs- of ground linseeds or chia seeds
1 tbs- protein powder or nut butter or coconut paste
2 Cups- Filtered water or nutmilk 
1-2 tsp- Superfood powder of your choice; matcha, macca, acia, camu camu...ect

Happy Blending Beautiful Buds 
​X Melanie

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