Adams Media - Green Smoothies: 50 Essential Recipes for Todays Busy Cook

Avon, Massachusetts With all of the research that shows how important it is to consume vegetables and fruit, how is it that the Standard American Diet (SAD) is so lacking in these two food groups? To some, daily meals consist of unhealthy takeout, fast food, fried foods, or just plain unbalanced nutrition. All of the reasons for eating these simple, fast, or inexpensive foods that dont provide the nourishment your body needs are well founded: Theres not enough time to prepare healthy meals, not enough money to purchase them consistently, or too many schedule conflicts to eat proper meals when your body needs them. How can you improve your diet? How can you improve your quality of life? The answer to all of these issues can be found right here. Green smoothies take just minutes to prepare, serve, and consume. Spending less than youd expect (and saving on doctors visits and medications), youll be pleasantly surprised to see how easily green smoothies can become part of your daily routine. In addition to the low cost, youll have peace of mind knowing exactly what youre consuming, where it came from, and how it was prepared.

Youll recognize the benefits of green smoothies in just a matter of days or weeks, and see for yourself the power of the green smoothie. Youll never go back to life without them! Weve assembled 50 recipes that will help you on your journey to better health. There is something here for everyone, so if youre more of a fruit fan, try a blueberry recipe. If you love leafy greens, go for the kale. And if you want more for your body, mind, and future, the results are clear: Green smoothies can (and will) change your life! If youd like to explore green smoothies in more detail, check out The Everything Green Smoothies Book , available in both both print (978-1-4405-2564-3) and eBook (978-1-4405-2595-7) formats. Carrot Top of the Morning to You Rich in beta-carotene, this smoothie blends romaine lettuce with tasty carrots and apples to give you a sweet start that can help you stay focused, provide lasting energy, and maintain the health of your eyes and metabolism.

Yields 1 quart

Ingredients 2 cups romaine lettuce 3 carrots, peeled and cut into sticks suitable for blenders ability 1 apple, peeled and cored 1 cup purified water

1. Combine first 3 ingredients in the order listed into a blender.
2. Add water slowly while blending until desired texture is achieved.

Per Serving Calories: 42 Fat: 0 g Protein: 1 g Sodium: 35 mg Fiber: 2 g Carbohydrates: 10 g Carrots Can Save the Day! With the ability to protect your body from cancer, heart attacks, premature aging, and poor vision, this vegetable is a must-have in your daily diet. Its rich orange color is the tell-tale sign that it is rich in beta-carotene (vitamin A), but its also packed with B-vitamins, biotin, Vitamin K, and potassium. Talk about a multi-tasker! Coconut Craziness Adding the flesh of the coconut and the coconut milk to this smoothie results in a sweet flavor that compliments the iceberg nicely. This smoothie will make you crave coconuts like crazy! Yields 3-4 cups Ingredients 1 cup iceberg lettuce Flesh of 2 coconuts 1 cup coconut milk

1. Combine iceberg, coconut flesh, and cup coconut milk in a blender, and blend.
2. Add remaining coconut milk while blending until desired texture is achieved.

Per 1 Cup Serving Calories: 172 Fat: 15 g Protein: 2 g Sodium: 9 mg Fiber: 1 g Carbohydrates: 10 g Coconut Power In addition to being a staple in the diets of many countries around the world, Western civilizations hold the coconut in a very high regard for its medicinal abilities. Thought to cure and relieve the symptoms associated with many illnesses, the coconut, its flesh, its milk, and the oil that it can produce are packed with intense antioxidants and important vitamins and minerals. Strawberry Start If you love strawberries, youll be happy to enjoy one of your favorite fruits while also fulfilling you daily requirement for an entire serving of greens.

Agave nectar comes into this smoothie to sweeten the flavor, but only if needed. Yields 3-4 cups

Ingredients cup dandelion greens 2 pints strawberries 1 cup vanilla soymilk 1 tablespoon agave nectar, to taste (optional)

1. Add dandelion greens, strawberries, and cup soymilk in a blender and blend until combined.
2. Slowly add remaining cup soymilk while blending until desired consistency is achieved.
3. Stop blending periodically to check for desired sweetness, and drizzle in agave nectar until desired sweetness is achieved.

Per 1 Cup Serving Calories: 85 Fat: 1 g Protein: 3 g Sodium: 31 mg Fiber: 4 g Carbohydrates: 17 g Strawberries for Sight Rich in the antioxidants that give them their vibrant red color, this sweet berry is also rich in vitamins A, C, D, and E, B vitamins, folate, and phytochemicals that join forces to help you maintain healthy eyes and strong vision. Strawberries may help delay the onset of macular degeneration. The Green Go-Getter Packed with green spinach and apples, this creamy green smoothie will kick your morning off with a boost of essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and an absolutely amazing taste. Yields 3-4 cups Ingredients 1 cup spinach 2 green apples, peeled and cored 1 banana, peeled 1 cup purified water

1. Combine spinach, apples, and banana with cup of water in a blender and blend until thoroughly combined.
2. Continue adding remaining water while blending until desired texture is achieved.

Per 1 Cup Serving Calories: 89 Fat: 0 g Protein: 1 g Sodium: 10 mg Fiber: 3 g Carbohydrates: 23 g A Smoothie for Even the Greenest Smoothie Maker! Some people who are new to creating green smoothies can have a hard time enjoying the powerful taste of the greens. The combination of bananas, apples, and spinach with more fruit than greens provides an appetizing taste that is more sweet and lessens the intensity of the spinach.

This smoothie is a great starter for anyone who is turned off by the overpowering taste of greens. Very Veggie Spinach acts as the green base to this smoothie with the plentiful colors and tastes coming from the addition of carrots, celery, tomato, green onion, and parsley. Yields 3-4 cups

Ingredients 1 cup spinach 2 celery stalks 2 carrots, peeled 1 tomato 1 green onion 1 small sprig parsley (optional) 1 cup purified water

1. Combine the spinach, celery, carrots, tomato, green onion, parsley, and cup water in a blender and blend until combined thoroughly.
2. If necessary, continue adding remaining water while blending until desired texture is achieved.

Per 1 Cup Serving Calories: 32 Fat: 0 g Protein: 1 g Sodium: 62 mg Fiber: 2 g Carbohydrates: 7 g The Power of Parsley That green garnish that arrives as a decoration on the side of your plate is not given the attention it deserves! This green leafy herb is rich in vitamins and minerals. In just 1 serving of this cleansing green, there are impressive amounts of vitamins K, C, and A as well as iron and folate. By including just 2 tablespoons of parsley in your daily diet, youll consume more than 153 percent of your needed vitamin K! Green Gazpacho This smoothie is modeled after gazpacho, a delightful cold soup prepared from a tomato base with onions, cucumber, bell pepper, and garlic. Yields 3-4 cups