Green Smoothies

I attended a class with my Aunt LeeAnn this past week on using essential oils and everything green smoothies and salads. They talked about the importance of getting enough vegetables in your diet on a daily basis and all of the many health benefits this provides. They talked about how to make a good, real, healthy salad and dressing you can make to go on top of it. They talked about how putting essential oils (only certain ones, not all are safe to ingest) in your smoothies will help flush out the toxins in your system and boost your immune system. It was very informative and helpful and coming off of a vacation, was the perfect thing I needed to kick my butt back into gear and get healthy and fit. I'll try and share a few of the things I learned, but today, it's all about a basic green smoothie.

The benefits of a green smoothie include:

-you'll eat veggies you normally wouldn't
-they're low in calories and high in nutrition
-it is pre-digested nutrition
-you'll have improved energy
-improved sleep
-and less of a desire for sweets

The recipe for a basic green smoothie:

-2 cups of water
-about 4 handfuls of greens (when you mix this with the water, you'll want about 4 cups of "green juice")
-a whole apple (cored and quartered)
-about 3 cups of fruit
-optional, chia seeds, protein powder, flaxseed, bee pollen, maca powder, sprouted flax, etc.
-optional, do terra essential oils such as Slim & Sassy, Wild Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon, etc.

Tips:

-mix between each addition to the blender.
-if you add essential oils, you CANNOT put it in anything that has plastic in it (you can't use a plastic straw either) The essential oils will melt through the plastic (which is great news for you, if you've got all that gunk in your body)! I got a 6-pack of quart mason jars and a set of lids and then I'm gonna order some metal straws from Amazon.
-if you have trouble finding time to make them in the morning, you can totally make one up the night before and just stick your lid and straw in the next morning and go.
-it's best to follow the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 list when deciding which fruits and veggies to buy organic. But always buy organic if you can, especially if you plan on eating the skin.
-if you buy fresh produce, chop it up and store it in freezer baggies. That way it won't go bad.
-For greens, you can really use anything...just not iceberg. Spinach, kale, mixed greens, mustard greens, swiss chard, etc. It's also great to use a variety of greens (and fruits) for a diverse flavor.
-For fruit...pineapple, berries, mangoes, oranges, lemon, pears, etc.

Let me know how yours turn out! I plan on making one for breakfast or lunch every day and am excited to see how it helps!

Alyssa