Kat’s Hot Talk

A little over a year ago, I started drinking green smoothies. I was trying to eat cleaner and holistically heal a sports injury I’d sustained, when a friend of mine sent me a detox smoothie recipe from “The Beauty Detox Solution.” The book, which largely addresses when you should eat what foods for proper digestion, also gives some great detoxifying recipes. I started making the basic green smoothie, and, while the texture was a bit tough to take at first, the more I drank them the more and more I liked them and the more I started to experiment with different flavor combinations.

I instantly noticed a difference in my energy levels, needing much less coffee to feel awake and vibrant in the mornings. I also needed less grains in the morning to stay full, cutting out hot cereals almost completely. My skin, which has never been bad, looked even better and brighter.

People started commenting on the glow I had, saying I looked fantastic. I credit this 100 percent to the nutrient packed breakfast I’d recently started filling up on.
Another reason I got hooked on the green smoothies was because of how refreshing and hydrating they are.

While I’ve had fruit smoothies for breakfast for years, there was something instantly invigorating about the green variety. I found this especially to be true if I’d had a couple glasses of wine or a martini the night before. It’s like a hangover-curing, hydration-charge in a glass.

I’ve been tweeting about and talking up these smoothies to anyone who will listen for the past year.

Recently, my good friend and roommate started drinking them, too. The other night she said to me, “Gosh I haven’t had a green smoothie all weekend, and I can feel it.”

We had about a 10-minute discussion about what a noticeable difference these power concoctions make in your energy level. She told me, just as I felt last winter, that, as time went on, she needed to make them less and less sweet, that, instead of forcing herself to drink them like she had the first couple times, now she craved her morning green drink.

We both commented on the instant hydration we felt upon sipping them, and the fun we are having experimenting with different power greens and fruit combos.
Since Michelle and I have both felt a profound impact on our overall wellness, I thought I should share some of our favorite green smoothie recipes here. I encourage you to give them a shot. Once you get past the color, I know you will grow to love the green deliciousness.

Plus, it’s a fantastic way to get in veggies you might not like to cook, such as kale, chard and spinach.

Amazing avocado smoothie
1 cup Earthbound Organic Power Green Mix (or organic baby spinach leaves)
1 cup organic romaine lettuce
1 banana
½ ripe avocado
1 Braeburn apple
1 D’anjou pear
Juice of ½ lemon
Place ingredients in a blender and fill halfway with water.
Blend until creamy and smooth.
This is a great one to start with as the creamy texture is reminiscent of fruit smoothies and it’s a little sweeter than some.

Cilantro detox smoothie
1 red pear
1 banana
1 cup kale
3 stalks organic celery
1 cup organic romaine lettuce
1 orange
½ cup cilantro
Juice of 1 orange (or lemon)
Place ingredients in a blender, fill halfway with water and puree until smooth liquified.
Peaches and greens
1 cup spinach (or kale)
1 cup romaine lettuce
1 cup frozen or fresh peaches
1 cup green grapes
¼ cup fresh parsley
1 avocado
Juice of 2 oranges
Juice of ½ lemon
Place ingredients in a blender or Vitamix, fill halfway with water, puree until smooth and creamy.
General tips: Adding banana or avocado will give the drink a nice, smooth consistency. All fruit should be cut into about 1-inch pieces for ease in blending.
Greens should be torn, not cut. Be sure to place extras in an airtight container like a Mason jar or Nalgeen bottle for later consumption. Try to balance sweet, yet low-glycemic fruits with greens so your drink is still tasty and packed with nutrients