It’s not too disgusting – Actually it is palatable.
The recent addition to my morning routine is a simple green smoothie. I’ve been making this for the last two weeks – first thing every morning – I call it Easy Peasy, Green Smoothie. – It really is simple to make and simple to clean up.
I had tried having a healthy breakfast every morning – eggs, oatmeal….side of fruit or yogurt but to be honest – I’m lazy and cooking and cleaning for myself – Wait, lazy is harsh, I prefer “reluctant to do what I feel is unnecessary” — I like tasks to be efficient and if I have to put my time into it as well, then it needs to be good and when it comes to cooking – clean-up is a paramount consideration – especial if it is just for me. Let’s face it, occasionally cooking breakfast for one is great and special – but for me and my reluctant ways, day in and day out (Jack is on his way out when I get up and weekends he likes it light), is not fun, especially when you have to clean up after yourself – this just wasn’t in the cards, long term – I need Easy Peasy –
Not only am I reluctant to do what I feel is unnecessary, I really don’t like veggies. We eat at least one vegetarian dinner a week, (two if you count pizza), and our other dinners have sides of vegetables but honestly – most of the time I give Jack more than half, and I take the rest. Recently I’ve learned two of my three dogs — really, really like broccoli, so that cuts a few stalks off my plate, but I doubt, I get my recommended daily allowance. So, the idea of an easy green drink sounds like a good idea – but most of the recipes out there are, well,… “out there” not simple –, too much chopping and then you have to worry about food storage for half the apple, or half the avocado, too many ingredients – and since I am trying to also promote weight loss in my body, I am sticking with green and no fruit to eliminate the sugars.
Which brings us to – my Easy Peasy, Green Smoothie – (it’s really a drink more than a smoothie- I think a smoothie should be thicker, made with ice cream…yum(I know not healthy) or yogurt…eeeh?
When looking for something – there is so much talk of green smoothies and I was hoping, I could find something I could just keep down, ya know.
I pulled from Rachel Hollis > who pulled it from Kelly Leveque (nutritionist to the stars and writer of the book Body Love) I think they each do it a little bit different but the main ingredients involve are proteins, fat, fiber, and greens.
Spinach is my green of choice and what makes it a “Green” drink. If we could do something about the color, I would be much more excited about all this. I just tell myself – I am being healthy and jug!
Almond Milk, Unsweetened, Vanilla flavored gives it the drink part.
Almond Butter provides the fats
Chia Seeds, now chia seeds, are a great additive (for their full range of benefits, you can search online). Everyone seems to act like chia seeds have only been around for a few years – 
Hello People — Nope — cha cha cha, Chia Pet. Yes it’s the same thing – the novelty gift craze of the early 80s and still popular today.
The chia seeds actually thicken when added to moisture. You have to be careful with chia seeds, giving it time to absorb some of the liquid so they plump up. Chia Seeds are not something that you can just pop in your mouth, like sunflower seeds.
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder, unflavored. This is the protein powder that Rachel Hollis recommends. I picked it up at The Vitamin Shoppe. It supposed to be good for nails, hair, skin, and joints.
Truthfully, I’ve noticed my nails in the last week really have been growing without chipping, quite as easily. Considering, we’ve been home more and doing more dishes and washing my hands, probably 5-10 times more than usual – I think my nails are in pretty good shape and being I’m lazy “reluctant” about putting that strengthening, clear coat, I’ll hand the credit off to the protein powder.
I had to have something for balance. So far this was easy but tasted disgusting on its own – so I added Vanilla, ½ teaspoon – a full teaspoon. This was the game-changer- I could do this.
To make it really easy I went out and I got a Magic Bullet. In our house, this will be devoted only to making my smoothies and it was much easier than cleaning out the blender each day.
The Magic Bullet comes with its own cups, you put the blade attachment on, flip it over, and VROOM…take it off, give it a SHAKE and VROOM again, then you take it off and you just drink directly from the blending cup. Cleaning is easy, you just kind of rinse off quickly and let dry.
What’s important now – after I mix all this up – I don’t just sit down and enjoy it, because let’s face it- it’s green and – well – it’s just not enjoyable but now – it’s not disgusting either – thanks to the vanilla.
I stand in front of the window in my kitchen, I drink about 1/4 of it reminding myself, it’s good for me. I walk around the island and I put away the Blender, the vanilla. Take another big gulp, put the almond milk and almond butter back in the fridge, take another quarter down, put the chia seeds and protein powder back in the pantry. By now I have only about 1/4 left. I stand in front of the sink, look out the window at the day upon me and guzzle the last of it down. Looking at that very last drop I realize…this is not a Maxwell House commercial, and take a deep breath (refer back to last week’s Blog – Breathe, 2 3 4 5) DRINK – rinse it out and say “That wasn’t so bad.”
I need to change it up to “That Was EXTRAORDINARY!”
It is healthier than nothing – keeps me feeling full throughout the morning, probably fulfills my Recommended Daily Allowance and I’m a little pleased with myself.
Dear Diary, I am a healthy green drink- drinker, EASY PEASY!
I am Extraordinary!
Click EASY PEASY, GREEN SMOOTHIE – here to receive email access of full pdf. printable recipe/directions and recommendations.
