Green smoothie has become quite popular in the last few years…..but is it really as healthy, as it is  promoted to be? I used to be a big believer in breakfast, which consisted of oats, nuts, banana, apple, a bit of honey and plain yoghurt…..until I decided to give the green smoothie a try. This was a little over six years ago, and fairly quickly it replaced my usual breakfast. Ever since, it has became such a big part of my morning routine, that I literally miss it when we are traveling!

May be you are wondering what’s the big deal! I personally have experiences many positive changes since replacing my breakfast with a smoothie. To mention a few – my energy levels have gone up, bloating feeling has gone down, my skin is much softer and clearer, and my hair is much stronger! Overall I feel great, and the best part is that I get tones of fiber, minerals, vitamins, healthy carbs each day through my smoothie. I also think that I am setting a great example for my kids, and it is a great opportunity to teach them about the importance of the food quality that we fuel our body with. I don’t force my kids to drink green smoothie, but meanwhile my son has become a big fan and he usually also has a glass 🙂

So, what is in my green smoothie!? There are many ready green smoothies in the grocery stores, however I stay away from the ready ones and I make it fresh each day. I want to make it as clean as possible, without the added sugar, and I always vary the vegetables and fruits according to the season. Here is what my smoothie consists of these days:

• 250 – 300ml 100% coconut water (no added sugar!)
• hand full of kale – I take the bigger steams out
• hand full of spinach, lamb’s lettuce, or any type of green vegetable
• 1 pak choy
• some fresh ginger
• 1 small banana (in the summer I add a frozen banana)
• 1 small pear, or apple (cored, seeded, quartered)
• 1 persimmon, or some pine apple, or kiwi (in the summer time, it is always frozen blueberries)
• 1 scoop plant based protein (I personally use the Sunwarrior one), or 1 spoon macca powder (I use Novitas) – depending on my workouts, but I usually alternate each day
• 1 spoon flex seeds
• a few walnuts
• juice of one lemon

First I blend the green veggies, ginger and coconut water, and then add the rest of the ingredients. I use a high performance blender, which makes the smoothie extra creamy.

Give it a try, and adjust to your taste as you go……it might take a few tries until you find what works best for you! There is no right or wrong way of preparing a green smoothie, but two things to keep in mind:

• keep a 70/30 ration – 70% green vegetables and 30% fruits
• always alternate the veggies and fruits (based is if you go for seasonal and local products)

If you are already starting your day with some kind of a smoothie, share what is your favorite type, and how it affects your wellbeing.

Stay healthy,

Anna