Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Green Smoothie!

I thought all my clothes had shrunk! Could it be that the laundry was done with hot water inadvertently? But really - all of them? The realization dawned and that it was not the clothes which had shrunk but my size had expanded :D! - and well it might - with all the cooking, tasting, and.... most importantly EATING.

My physician told me that the easiest way to reduce the weight would be to take a medication; the meds suppress appetite and soon the the weight would come down. So how long did I have to take them, I asked. He told me that once I stopped them, the weight would come back - albeit slowly. He then recommended that I could follow a meal replacement plan since I did not want to take any medications - there were different types of shakes available just for this purpose!  Wow, it sounded so easy to replace just one meal with a shake. But when I checked out the shake (I read labels of everything), I was appalled at what I saw on the label. I could not bring myself to purchase even one to try - it was full of so many ingredients that I could not even pronounce!  I was not up to drinking chemical cocktails even for the pursuit of better health. So, back to the drawing board - what was I going to do?

A friend to the rescue - Pat gave me a copy of Green For Life by Victoria Boutenko - a very timely gift indeed! When I read this book, I realized that the green smoothie was exactly what I needed. When I explained about the green smoothie to my physician, he gave me the green :) light to go ahead with the smoothie - "it can't hurt", he said.

I joined the green smoothie revolution! :D I diligently made my smoothie every morning with healthful fruits and greens; it kept me feeling full and quite content. The green color of the smoothie was not a detriment to me - I actually enjoyed it. It is truly delicious - even the little ones tried my smoothie, loved it, and wanted more.

Oh, and one more thing: my physician also recommended 30 minutes of walking everyday; she said to think of it as a prescription! I started slowly; 10-15 minutes at first and gradually increased to 30 - 40 minutes. It did wonders not only for weight reduction, but also for overall stamina and well-being. It feels marvelous to be in control of one's health! Need I say more :-}?

For smoothies I use really ripe bananas past their prime for eating fresh. I freeze what cannot be used quickly; they are handy for making smoothies and shakes - not just green ones :}. Other favorite fruits may be used also - if using other fruits, I still like to include a banana for the sweetness and smooth mouth feel. For the greens I used spinach at first and then all other kinds: like various dark green lettuces, Swiss chard, kale, radish greens, collards, parsley, basil, mint, etc. Use herbs like mint, basil, and cilantro in small quantities or sparingly at first - you can always add more if you like them. I use organic produce for the smoothies. When I cannot get organic produce, I wash them thoroughly with a little vinegar (check this post on cleaning produce) to remove as much of the residues as possible.

Here is a guideline for my basic smoothie: Makes about 1 quart/liter

Ingredients:

2 - 3 medium Ripe Bananas, fresh/frozen (the ones with brown spots on the skin are perfect for this)
2 - 4 large handfuls Greens (start with 2 initially)
1 knob fresh Ginger (optional)
1-2 cups Water (or fresh juice/nondairy milk)

Method:

Combine bananas, ginger if using, and the fluid of your choice in the container of a good high speed blender or liquidizer (I use Vita Mix) and process until liquefied.

Add the greens and process until smooth.  Taste and adjust fruit and fluids to get it just right.

Pour into glasses and serve.  (Or, save the extra in a covered container and refrigerate; the smoothie stays fresh for up to 2 days.)

Bottoms up!  Enjoy!!

2 comments:

doeyama said...

Yay, Geetha! I love that you shared this adventure. I am a big green smoothie fan, and find that it reduces my cravings for sugary and salty snacks! Haven't had one in a while, might be time to get out the blender!! Thank you, thank you.

Geetha said...

Hi Doe, I am glad you liked the post. I love my green smoothies - a wonderful way to get fresh greens especially if you are not a salad fan. Cheers!