Healthy Home-Green Smoothies

My friend Kelli Jo wrote this Healthy Home post for me months ago about green smoothies (note:  she's already had her precious baby, even though she states here that she is pregnant).  Green smoothies always sound a little scary to me, but after looking at these recipes, I think I will have to try one.

What we put into our bodies is certainly an important key to our health.  Check out what Kelli has to say.

© [Paul Hill]/[photoXpress]

I am a mom.  Well, ok I am going to be a mom in a little less than five months!  I want to get prepared and be at my best for my sweet arrival.  One of the things often on my mind right now is health.  I want to be at my healthiest and have my baby at his/her healthiest from the very start, so I have been trying to eat especially well.  

I’m pretty busy right now being a school nurse and girls dean, so I am all about making healthy, convenient, and quick recipes.  That’s when I was reminded of green smoothies! 

Green smoothies are blended with all kinds of fruit and greens.  Most commonly, green smoothies are made with kale or spinach.  However you can try romaine, mint, or beet greens.  The nice thing about green smoothies is (if you make them right) you don’t even taste the greens! 

A popular way of eating greens is eating salads.  Unfortunately, I have always been bad about eating salads.  I am just not a big fan.  So I like the thought of blending up my greens and disguising them.  It’s a great way to get kids to eat their greens, as well, and I am already looking for ways that will help me do that. 

I found some great recipes here.  

Here are a few recipes I like:

Blueberry-Banana Smoothie
1 cup blueberries
1-2 whole bananas*
1 stalk celery
2 cups fresh baby spinach (or other leafy green)
1/2 – 1 cup water
Calories: 220 | Fat: 1g (gram) | Protein: 4.9g | Carbs: 56.3g | Calcium: 12% | Vitamin A: 88% | Vitamin C: 85% – * Nutrition information with one banana. A second medium banana will add 121 calories.

Straw-Berry Blast Smoothie
½ cup whole strawberries
½ cup blueberries
½ cup raspberries
1 whole banana
2 cups fresh baby spinach (or other leafy green)
1 whole carrot
1/2 – 1 cup water
Calories: 257 | Fat: 1.4g (grams) | Protein: 6g | Carbs: 64.4g | Calcium: 14% | Vitamin A: 257% | Vitamin C: 176%

Enjoy!