By SunShine of SunShine’s Natural & Loving It!

Benefits of Juicing and Making Smoothies

Juicing or making smoothie’s allows the benefit of getting all the nutrients from your fruits and vegetables. The charts below shows the daily recommended amounts needed for you family. I have found it so easy to get in my daily intake thanks to my vitamix machine. I have more energy, I can eat on the go, and my boys get what their bodies need too.

Charts via http://www.choosemyplate.gov

Difference Between a Green Smoothie and a Regular Smoothie

Smoothies become green when a green leaf vegetable is added to them. Smoothies that contain, broccoli, kale, spinach, and or other green leafed vegetables turn the smoothie from a fruit smoothie to a green smoothie.

How to Make a Green Smoothie

Making a smoothie can be quite simple. Decide on what types of fruits and vegetables you enjoy and start with those. Jenell decided to use spinach as the green ingredient of her smoothie. She doesn’t follow a recipe. Now that she has gotten the hang of it, she knows what she likes. Her husband does not like the smoothies thick, so Jenell thins then out with water. Spinach, VEGA, Ground Flax Seed, water, and milk are always her base. She alternates the fruits to her liking. I love trying out recipes in my Vitamix recipe book. I use Silk Almond Milk as a substitute to Soy milk and alternate between, Kale, Spinach, and other green leafy vegetables. I too have VEGA as my base. However, I am on the hunt for the Ground Flax Seed because I do not like the grittiness of the Organic Coarsely Ground Flax seed I have from Whole Foods. Note: Adding milk to your fruits and vegetables turns it into a smoothie. If you leave the milk component out, it will remain a juice! It is your preference.

Cleaning & Preparing

Be sure to wash all produce well to remove any dirt and or pesticides. Did you know that a drop of mild dish washing detergent in a sink will remove more pesticides than water alone? There are many eco~friendly products out there you can try. You may want to also  invest in a vegetable brush if you plan to eat the peel. It is much easier to prep your ingredients and store in freezer bags or containers over night.

Example of a Green Smoothie

Peachy Green Smoothie via vitamix recipe book:

1 cup (240 ml) soy milk-use Almond Milk or Coconut Milk as an alternative.

2 cups (60 g) fresh spinach, washed (The smoothie is now green)

1 medium apple, quartered

2 cups (375 g) fresh pitted or frozen unsweetened peaches

1 cup (240 ml) ice cubes (If your fruits are frozen you can skip this step)

1. Place all ingredients into the Vitamix or machine you’re using

2. Start on low and increase to high

3. Blend for 45 seconds or until desired consistency

YIELD: 4 Cups (960 ML)

Note: Be sure that your machine can handle crushing ice.

Results

Your machine’s motor, torque, speed, container, and blade design will determine the outcome of your juice or smoothie. To create juice you would blend for approximately 1 minute and for smoothies you would blend for approximately 45 seconds.

Clean Up

Depending on what machine you have, clean up can be very easy. Do not allow the ingredients to sit for a long period of time. It will become harder to clean that way.

To see other smoothies I have made visit here.

To see other smoothies Jenell has made visit here.