In raw food circles, green smoothies are pretty well known. For the rest of the world, green + smoothie = Whaaat?!
Victoria Boutenko has a book called Green for Life that talks about nothing BUT green smoothies and their benefits. She certainly didn’t invent the green smoothie, but she has done so much to share the benefits through her travels and her book (translated into many different languages — I even gave it to my aunt in Hungarian).
The book is worth getting and shares many details, but I’ll do a quickie of summarizing it now. Green smoothies are GREAT to add into your diet, no matter what the rest of your diet is like. Tossing your greens into a blender does all the chewing we do not have time to do (and more) so that the cells walls are broken down and the body is ready to use it. And mixing it with fruit tricks our taste buds into not minding all the greens.
This isn’t just about getting big muscles like Popeye, either. The minerals in green smoothies can help rebuild our whole bodies so that we are strong from the inside out. And also — well — erm — our bowels become much healthier to boot (it’s like a healthy Drain-o for the body).
So here is the basic recipe:
–1-3 frozen bananas
–Some green leaves (like spinach)
–Enough water for the drink to blend
–As much ice as you need, depending on your preference
Other options:
For a fresh taste: basil, mint, parsley
The greens: spinach, kale, ANY green leaf… Use less in the beginning, more as you get used to it. Heck, you can even start with ONE LEAF if you hate greens and want to get into it slooooowwwwwwly.
Other great fruits to add: All of ’em
To make it like a mylkshake: Use almond (or another nut/seed) mylk, some soaked dates
To make it “savory”: Instead of sweet fruit, use tomatoes, a couple soaked dates and some herbs.
Recipe for the smoothie in my picture:
-1.5 frozen bananas
-5-6 strawberries
-a few sprigs of mint
-6 oz. (about 2-3 c) spinach
-.5 c water
And BLEND!
Happy Blending!
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PLEASE TAKE NOTE! Would you like to use this recipe in your e-zine or on your website? This recipe is my own, and I would be so THRILLED if you shared it! You can share it in emails, websites, forums, blogs, etc. as long as you include the below blurb and link to the newsletter along with it.
This recipe was originally created for Raw News Bites, Eva Rawposa’s free weekly e-zine for raw food lovers and anyone looking to feel great. You can get your FREE recipes and tips, and your free subscription to Raw News Bites, at www.uncooking101.com. PLUS you will receive a link to download Eva’s book “Around the World in 8 Easy Recipes” when you sign up, as your WELCOME GIFT!
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ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? Just type whatever you have to say below. We’d love to hear from you, no matter what it is. Well, as long as it is related to smoothies, greens, becoming a superhero, etc. in some way!





[...] and toxins. The primary method is through the feces. (Hint, hint: Green smoothies! Info here: Basic Green Smoothie) The liver and then kidneys turn additional toxins into the “harmless byproducts” which [...]
[...] needs magnesium to work with it, this is a wonderful food made by nature to give us strong bones. Green smoothies are a great way to get your greens in easily and [...]
My favorite green smoothie: one banana, a cup or two of spinach, a pear and a cup of blueberries. It’s so smooth and sweet!
Thanks for sharing that Venita!! My favorite right now is a handful of dandelion greens with fresh, coconut milk, mango and banana. Mmmmm!
[...] Here is THE RECIPE I recommended for 30 days. [...]
[...] will never be the same. I am HAPPY, HEALTHY, VIBRANT, and I just can’t get enough! Raw food ~ green smoothies ~ help me to be high on life! [...]
[...] Basic Green Smoothie [...]
[...] NOTES: This recipe was inspired by my desire to make the usual green smoothie more appealing on the eyes, but in a way that is not particularly complicated for the average [...]
You should post some lower carb smoothie recipes for those of us who are diabetic. Thanks!
Duly noted Georgiana! HEY — have you heard about “Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days”? GREAT DOCUMENTARY. I also have a VERY good friend who used to be diabetic then went all raw and now can have ANY foods, even lots of bananas, as long as they are raw, and her blood sugar is PERFECTLY normal!!
Just a little shout out on the potential healing powers!
BUT I’m listening and will try to post some lower carb ones soon!
<3 xxo Eva
[...] has a great overview of green smoothies, along with a basic recipe and notes about how to create the flavors you might enjoy the most. [...]
Do you have any recommendations to substitute for bananas? That is the one and only fruit I just have never been able to stomach and I would love to be able to make this smoothie for myself in my transition to veganism! Thanks!
I should be fired for accidentally letting this get lost in the shuffle. Don’t know how I missed your question!! BUT you could see how you like mango, peach, or avocado in place of banana (the texture is good). OR go savory and make it more like a tomato soup. I actually LOVE savory green smoothies during the colder months!!
Hope that helps!! Belatedly… and hopefully you have not had this hold you up b/c green smoothies are SO AWESOME!!!
xxo Eva
sounds good!!!
[...] Now wasn’t that easy? All the yumminess of greens in a your very own glass. Enjoy. [...]
I have just started drinking green smoothies and love them. I had never thought to make savory smoothies. Besides like tomato and basil what would you put in a smoothie to make it more like soup?
I just bought Victoria’s book but was a little stumped by some of the ingredients. Any recommendations on where to get the more “exotic” items?
HEY Rachel!
Avocado, broccoli, any kind of greens, zucchini, olive oil, trying to think what else… carrots but not too many b/c they’re fibrous.
Which ingredients? You mean stuff like dandelion greens and the other greens in there? I can get many of the greens at my local grocer! I think it just depends where you are shopping. But for her recipes, generally whatever green leaves you find can easily be substituted if you can’t find what’s in the recipe. She likes to use wild edibles, so that’s sometimes an issue!
I hope that helps!! Glad you’re loving them. I always say they’re a lovable drink that also loves ya back! That’s my favorite part about it!!
xxo Eva
[...] why not just throw some green leaves of your choosing in? If you’re new to them, here is a {basic green smoothie recipe info page} for you. But literally, all you’d have to do is add as many green leaves as you like to the [...]
Hi, can I put spinach in my smoothies every day? Is that too often? Thanx X
GREAT question! It’s a good idea to rotate your greens every so often, so not every single day, no, BUT it’s not something to lose much sleep over if you have them even every day for a whole week!
xxo Eva
Eva, thank you for your answer though I’m not very happy with it
Thanx again and keep up the good work X
I’m kinda addicted to my nutmilk-spinach-frozen banana-scoop almond meal-shake I have EVERY morning, but you are right: I WILL rotate my greens! Who knows maybe I’ll find another keeper
lol Oh dear! Too funny! WELL, it sounds delish, I do confess I might not want to switch it up either.
BUT, why not try something like MINT to replace it!!!! Or maybe some chard? (Also mild…)
But my vote is for mint. It’s a green leaf, right?!
Thanks for the love and the chat. I’m going to go make a milkshake with some spinach now. hahahahaha.
I use 300-500ml water, quarter avocado, 1pear, 1 kiwi fruit, 2 handfuls baby spinach, 2 handfuls mixed lettuce. Yum
That sounds woooonderful!!! I love the combo of pear and kiwi, one of my faves! Thanks for sharing Julie-Anne!!
xxo Eva
Hope you are having a great day! I find that I am eating 4-6 bananas per day (in smoothies) and thought I’d ask if you knew of any drawbacks to eating so many? Also, about how many hours will a smoothie made with bananas be good for?
Thanks Eva!
Unless you have an issue with bananas or higher glycemic foods in general, I personally wouldn’t be worried about it at all. That’s actually about the same amount I average, and I find NO sensitivity whatsoever.
The biggest thing to ask is how YOU are feeling. If you’re good, probably it’s perfect what you are doing for now!
Great question!
xxo Eva
[...] has a great overview of green smoothies, along with a basic recipe and notes about how to create the flavors you might enjoy the most. [...]
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