Go Green for 2014!

Have you decided to maintain a better diet this year? New Year's Resolutions come and go, but the goal of improving your diet never goes out of style. This year I'm intrigued by the green smoothie movement, and I'm definitely always up for adding more green vegetables to my plate. 

Green smoothies are no longer just for vegetarians, hipsters, or gym rats. More and more people are finding that smoothies are an easy, economical, and quick way to add vitamins and minerals, enzymes and antioxidants, and more fiber to the diet. A basic green smoothie for starters consists of about 60% fruit and 40% greens with enough water to blend it all together. Bananas, strawberries, kiwi, or pineapple all work well. For the greens, beginners should probably start with spinach or Romaine lettuce. Kale, of course, is full of nutrients and very popular, but if you're just getting into smoothies, you might find the kale adds too much bitterness. You can use a regular blender or get fancier with something like the Vita-Mix, but the goal is just to blend the ingredients together into a nice smooth drink that is delicious and nutritious. Many people make smoothies in the morning and use as a quick breakfast drink when they're on the go. Others opt for a smoothie at lunch or as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. Once smoothies become a habit, you might include ingredients like Greek yogurt, coconut or soy milk, whey powder, honey, or other supplements. 

If you're ready to take the green smoothie plunge, try this First Green Smoothie recipe from Incredible Smoothies. 

6-8 oz. water

1 banana, peeled

4-5 fresh strawberries

2 c. fresh spinach 

Blend together for 30-60 seconds or until smooth. 

Cheers to you for going green in 2014!