What’s your guess? Wine? Margaritas? Milk? Orange juice? Energy drinks?
Nope.
Green smoothies.
Now, before you turn up your nose, let me assure you that I resisted the whole green smoothie thing for years. I bought a VitaMix 16 years ago when I first learned about the amazing health benefits of ‘liquid greens’ but the only thing it got used for was protein shakes and the best margaritas in the neighborhood. But for some reason, a few weeks ago I decided to experiment with making a green smoothie. I went to YouTube and watched a few demonstrations, then I went to see what I had in my fridge that might work. I had kale, a lemon and some apples. So I decided to give it a whirl. I put ice and water to the 3 cup line then added 2 huge handfuls of kale that I had torn into tiny pieces, the juice of ½ a lemon and the apple (without seeds). At the last minute I put half a dropper full of Valencia Orange-flavored Stevia.
The result was a foamy, bright green smoothie that smelled delicious. But how would it taste? With some trepidation I poured myself a glass and took a teeny, tiny sip, expecting to gag. But to my surprise, it was absolutely delicious! Fresh, slightly sweet, refreshing, clean-tasting. In a word: yummy!
If that wasn’t surprising enough, my husband walked by and asked if he could taste it. That may not sound like a big deal to you, but you have to understand my family. I’m forever experimenting with some new health food and trying to get my family to try it, so they are usually a bit wary of my concoctions. But the vivid green color of this smoothie was just too appealing (or perhaps intriguing) to pass up. So he tried it. And LOVED it!
As great as that was, the real excitement for me was when my 13 year-old son came home from school and drank some of my green smoothie for his afternoon snack – and loved it, too!
So we all three began drinking green smoothies. Here are our favorite combos so far:
1. 3 cups water/ice
2. 2-3 cups spinach, kale, chard or romaine lettuce torn into small pieces
3. 1 apple or 1-2 cups of any kind of berry
4. Liquid Stevia to taste (our favorite is the Valencia Orange flavored)
5. Juice from ½ a lemon
6. (I add a thumb-sized chunk of ginger to mine, but the boys aren’t fond of that)
Everyone knows that eating leafy greens is good for you. But why the title: “Happiness in a Glass?” Well, I noticed that all three of us seemed happier after drinking our smoothies. My husband would literally start whistling while he worked. My son invariably had more jokes or funny vignettes from the day to share with me. And I felt lighter, happier and brighter.
So, as any good scientist would do, I began reading and researching this phenomenon. In the process, I came across the work of Dr. Mao Shing Ni, known as Dr. Mao. Dr. Mao is a 38th-generation doctor of Chinese medicine, an authority on Taoist anti-aging medicine, and author of the best-selling book Secrets of Longevity, Second Spring: Hundreds of Natural Secrets for Women to Revitalize and Regenerate at Any Age, Secrets of Self-Healing, and most recently, Secrets of Longevity 8-Week Program: Simple Steps that Add Years to Your Life.
In his book, Dr. Mao explains that leafy greens like the ones I was using in my green smoothies are rich in folate. Folate, also known as folic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is necessary for cell division, DNA synthesis, and healthy blood cell production. And here’s the happiness connection: research at the University of York and Hull Medical School has found a link between depression and low levels of folate. So, to keep you smiling, increase your intake of folate-rich foods. Drink green smoothies!!!
Share your favorite green smoothie concoction below in the comments.
Will the Daring Diva Dance ever come to Minneapolis, MN????
I too have a green smoothie everyday, but I mix in 1/2 c blueberries, 1/2 cup yogurt and a dash of almond milk with the ice and kale. It is sooooo good, super addicting and you’re right it does make me happy.
Diva Deb! You ARE a girl after my own heart!! True confession: I am not a huge veggie lover. I dig most greens, lettuces, spinach, etc…but I too have discovered how drinking greens is so much more tasty, and FUN!!! We have a juicer, and I will juice a boatload of kale, then pour that into the blender with spinach and some frozen pineapple. Add a tad of freshly juiced orange juice and blend! Wah Lah! Fresh, healthy, and delightfully colored! I am going to try your recipe too. Thanks for bringing awareness to the joys of drinking your greens!!!
Thanks, Deb, for this recipe. When I visit my brother & his wife in Maui (as I did 2 weeks ago…..), variations on this theme are regular meals, as we talked about during the “Humanity” workshop. My nephew and god-child Brandon has been raised on kale and orange smoothies (the oranges coming from their orange orchard on a hilltop view of the ocean….). They are wonderful and so healthful.
thanks again,
Pamela
I just recently made a Kale/spinach stir fry with onions, garlic, red bell peppers and ginger. Olive oil and a low fat sesame ginger dressing added just the right liquid to coat it and make it taste yummy!
I don’t have a concoction to share but that sounds yummy!!!!!
Okay, Deb. I am only going to try this because I trust you. If I can get Denise to try kale this way, it will be a win-win!
You went straight for my favorite juice mix! I always used spinach in place of kale, and I usually use a little more apple instead of stevia. Another refreshing add-in to this combo is parsley. I’m not sure what the nutritional benefit is, but it tastes delicious:)
My daughter and I have a daily ‘Green Monster’ so named for the power punch of energy… I swear my tummy starts trembling with giddy excitment the moment this hits my lips.
Into a vitamix or blend tech:
1 whole head of kale
2 handfuls of baby spinach
1/2 bunch of celery including the tops
1/2 avocado * Optional
1 seeded apple
1 very ripe banana
1 good long squeeze of cold flax seed oil
2 cups coconut milk
Berries* optional
a good scoop of green foods (blue green algae, barley greens, chlorella/spirulina, you pick!)
It blends to a milkshake consistency, I sometimes have to add a little water to get it up a straw.
Filling, satisfying and sooooo very good for you! Have on empty stomach for breakfast or I have as a super dinner late evening after bikram. <3
OOOOOHHHHHHHHH …..this looks so yummy!!! Thank you for sharing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!