Earth Mama's Favorite Smoothie

I thouroughly enjoyed jumping on this bandwagon of green smoothie drinking! After two weeks of 32oz a day, I took a day off. By the next day, my body was craving one so badly. With the addition og a 32oz green smoothie a day, I have pretty much seen all of my snacking desires fly out the window. If I imagine my smoothie as a snack or a meal and envision all of the fresh food piled up in front of me that goes into one of these smoothies, it's no wonder I've lost the snacking bug. If I do snack I try to eat a raw foods bar or some other more "pure" and less processed food. One thing I forgot during the smoothie challenge, was to think of my smoothie as a food, not a drink. I found I was craving water so much because at first I was thinking of my smoothie as a liquid, and not drinking enough fluids. Another change I have found is a craving and deep pull toward a more raw lifestyle. I'm sure, as with anything, and a house full of four kids, this will ebb and flow, and sometimes I will find myself not drinking a smoothie and eating something in a bag, but overall this Green Smoothie Challenge has changed my life and is here to stay. Thank you so much Suzanne!!

I found a lot of fun experimenting with the 40/60% rule and seeing the different concoctions I could come up with. I thought today I would share my absolute favorite smoothie.

Pineapple Mango Tango

3 cups chard removed from ribs
2 cups water
3/4 pineapple
2 bananas
1 cup frozen mango pieces

I made enough smoothie for me and my husband to have 32oz a day, as well as a little left over for my kids. What I did was blend the first three ingredients up and pour about 12 oz into two mason jars. I added and blended the rest of the ingredients, and then poured equal amounts of the remaining liquid into the two mason jars. I put tops on the jars and shook them to mix.

Enjoy!

Weeds in my Smoothies

I'm so excited.  This morning I actually went out into the yard and looked to see what I could find to put in my smoothie.  I've been playing it safe all week, easing into this endeavor gradually.  At first I used lettuce as the greens, and fruit.  MMmm  - refreshing and delicious.  Then spinach - a little stronger, but still enjoyable.  I started out with one 12 oz. glass the first day, about 2 cups the next three days.  Today I drank the whole quart!
And here is what I drank - dandelions, red clover, and mint mixed in with some leaf lettuce.  And then I added papaya and pineapple.  It was really lovely.

I do find that I'm really hungry by midmorning.  I eat an early lunch of what would ordinarily be my breakfast - cereal and yogurt.  And I need an afternoon snack (nothing new, except it's more from hunger than boredom or feeling tired)  - but I'm hoping my body will adjust to this soon.  I have a slight headache at times which I think is because I've dropped my morning coffee.  I'm waiting to see how my grandson will react to the smoothies - he might enjoy it if I make one without as much fibre as there was in today's batch.  Tomorrow I'll play with some other combination.