Green Smoothie

GREENS GREENS GREENS

Can we talk about green smoothies?

If you don't know already, green smoothies are a fantastic way to get a good serving of fruits and most importantly greens into your diet and your child's diet. Greens are high in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin K. If you would like to know more about green smoothies please read Victoria Boutenko's book Green for Life. She also wrote an important article talking about the benefits of green smoothies that can be found on her website at:

http://www.greenforlife.com/ode.htm

Here are a few of my favorite facts from her article:

1. Green smoothies are very nutritious and easy to digest. When blended well, all the valuable nutrients in these fruits and veggies become homogenized, or divided into such small particles that it becomes easy for the body to assimilate these nutrients, the green smoothie literally starts to get absorbed in your mouth.

2. Green smoothies are a complete food because they still have the fiber.

3. By consuming two to three cups of green smoothie daily you will consume enough greens for the day to nourish your body, and they will be well assimilated. Many people do not consume enough green leafy vegetables.

4. Green smoothies are easy to make, and quick to clean up after.

5. Green smoothies are perfect food for children of all ages including babies of six or more months and great for introducing after mother's milk.

This article pretty much says it all. If you are worried about your child meeting their nutrient needs, especially during times of sickness or food protest, please try the green smoothie. There are numerous recipes for a good smoothie. Here is my favorite:

2 mangoes

1 cup parsley

3-4 kale leaves

1-2 cups water or coconut juice

1 frozen banana

3-5 ice cubes

1/2 lime juiced

pinch of sea salt

Place chopped mango, kale and parsley in a blender. Add coconut juice or water along with ice cubes, lime and banana. Blend until the mixture is smooth. A normal blender will require longer blending times. Also, make sure the thicker stem/rib parts of the kale are removed before blending if you do not own a Vitamix or Blendtec blender (recommended if you are going to do this everyday).