Ok, I know it doesn't look green in the photo, but it's packed full of greens, and that's what matters!
I've been learning a lot lately from my friend, Ami, about raw food. She's a mostly-raw vegan, and a wealth of information. After a lifetime of smoothie-drinking, someone finally told me I could throw greens in there! With the weather finally being so summer-like, I'm loving drinking green smoothies pretty much daily. I'm fairly certain that going raw isn't for me, but I do think a diet of whole food, with as many fresh fruits and veggies is the way to go.
Here's what I start with for a large (24oz ) smoothie:
- 2 bananas (I prefer frozen, but fresh work fine. To freeze, simply peel and break into chunks. Store in a freezer bag).
- Assorted fresh or frozen fruits (I usually combine at least two of the following: mango, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, açai, raspberries)
- Handful of spinach, chard, or beet greens
- Generous dollop of nonfat, plain yogurt (I prefer Nancy's)
Other extras I may add in any combination:
- Spirulina
- Whey protein powder (I'm interested in trying hemp next)
- Ground flax seeds
- Goji berries (added on top after blending)
This week I'm doing some experimenting to see how I feel if I shift my diet to about half raw. I'll post results, as well as the best recipes, soon.
If you're raw-curious (I think I just made that up!), definitely check out Ami's website, as well as that of raw-food guru Ani Phyo. And let me know if you've dabbled and/or have any recipes or tips to share.
