This is our morning staple…It’s become such a integral part of our lives that my husband has even started throwing it together on mornings when I didn’t have enough stash for him to grab and run. That has been 8 years in the making, and he has learned to love them as much I do, or at least his body does. There are a million different versions of this recipe out there to try but this is the variation that works for everyone in my house. My kids ask for it in the morning. I highly encourage you to give it a try and then modify it fit your tastebuds. This will load you with a gazillion different essential vitamins and minerals and keep you going until lunch, coffee is not required. This has been my go-to breakfast for all of my pregnancies and I truly think I has helped to keep my cravings in check through out the day.
I start all my smoothies with a water base. I am not a huge fan of using milks as a base. I would rather get the macronutrients found in the milks and milk substitutes from whole food sources. I add my greens to the water and blend really well. This ensures that you don’t get any chunks of lettuce in your drink. Once the greens are blended I add my fruit. I always try to do at least equal ratios of fruits to veggies, but more veggies then fruits ensures that you are keeping your sugar consumption on the low side. Those super sweet smoothies can sometimes be just as bad for you as a piece of candy.
Feel free to mix up the greens as you desire, try to use local or organic produce as much as possible. If you are going to eat the skin I recommend organic. I clean and prep all the veggies and fruit on the weekend so they are ready to use during the week, it makes it easier in the morning. I use to make the smoothies in advance but my children have become spoiled and like them fresh, so we throw them together daily. I always keep a couple in the freezer though as back up. As long as everything is prepped it doesn’t take any longer to make then it would a bowl of oatmeal. If you have some left over you can freeze it for up to a week or keep it in the fridge for about 48 hours before it start to lose it’s nutritional potency.
If you are new to green smoothies, then I would start out making it so it tastes good to you and then over time slowly reduce the amount of fruit you use until it’s at least the half fruits to half veggie ratio I mentioned earlier.
If you want to “PUMP IT UP”(sorry I couldn’t help it…) naturally, not Arnold style, try adding some chia seeds and/or hemps seeds. We do a little of both! Chia seeds and hemp seeds help to balance hormones and to stabilize blood sugar.
Chia seeds are those little teeny tiny black seeds that yes, grow the fur on your favorite Chia Pet but are also loaded with omega fats, fiber and protein and essential minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, iron and niacin. They form this amazing gel in your stomach when you eat them and that gel keeps you feeling full and acts as food for all those little gut bacteria, probiotics, that line your digestive system. Incorporating chia seeds into your diet keeps your colon healthy, your tummy flat and your immune system strong. Yes your immune system is directly link to your gut. It’s really magical stuff! And they can also keep you beautiful… a recent study found that they contain way more antioxidant, free-radical, fighting power then was originally thought. You can check out their free-radical fighting power here!
Hemp seeds are fluffy and lighter in color and they add this excellent creaminess to the smoothie, we miss them when we run out. They are a perfect plant based protein, meaning that are a complete protein. They contribute all 20 amino acids that we need, including the 9 essentials ones we don’t make on our own. I know what your thinking….hemp seeds will make you high. They won’t! They will make you no more high then eating poppy seeds, you literally have to smoke it to feel any effect. My mom makes this poppy seed bread that she gives out to everyone at Christmas time, I joke all the time that is basically crack cake between the amount of poppy seeds and sugar that goes into it. I technically can’t morally endorse it because it goes against everything I believe, but I’ll tell you…it is phenomenal!
Finally if you want to add a cleansing property to your smoothie, cilantro and parsley are amazing at cleansing the blood. They are great at helping to assist bioaccumulants out of your body, those nasty heavy metals that we get exposed to everyday. I know some people have an aversion to the taste of cilantro but I have had people taste the smoothie who normal don’t like it and they have told me that they didn’t even notice it was in there.
Give it a try for one week and let me know what you think! I know there are some people that are a tad bit nervous that if they start doing this there is a slight possibility that they may have a larger, looser bowel movement then usual. I can promise you that it will not be out of control crazy. If you are nervous, start out with a small amount, 8oz or so, every morning and increase it as it feels appropriate for your body. I promise you won’t regret it, your body will love you for it and like my husband you may actually start to crave it.
I am dying to know how it works out for you, comment below and share you creative version or experience!
Morning Glory Smoothie
Servings: 2-4
Time: 10 minutes
Difficulty: easy
A perfect start to your day!
This recipe will leave you energized, satisfied and balanced to face your day.
Ingredients
2 cups of Cold Filtered Water
3 cups of Organic Romaine
3 cups of Organic Spinach
1/2 cup of Organic Celery (about 2 stalks)
1 Organic Pear
1 Organic Green Apple
1 Banana
1 Lemon
3 Tbs Chia Seeds
3 Tbs Hemp Seeds
1/4 cup Organic Cilantro
1/4 cup Organic Parsley
Directions
Fill your blender with 2 cups of cold filtered water
Place all your greens and seeds in the blender and blend for about 1 minute, literally 1 minute to make sure everything is good and broken down.
Add your fruits and lemon juice and blend again for about 1 minute, at least 1 minute. The longer you blend it the creamier it will become.