As someone who suffers from digestive problems, I work really hard to eat well and keep my system on track. For me, this includes getting as many veggies in my diet as possible, and eating real food instead of anything processed. What I’ve found is that the easiest way to add more greens to your diet is through smoothies. I happen to love vegetables, but smoothies are a great way to boost your greens if you’re not someone who will willingly eat them on your own.
The reason I think the easiest way to add more greens to your diet is through smoothies and not through juicing is because smoothies keep the fiber in your drink, are a lot less of a hassle to make than juice, and there’s no waste. This recipe is more of a guideline, and I use it more for proportions than anything else.
Often smoothies that are labeled “healthy” are loaded with sugar, so I do my best to keep my smoothies delicious while still keeping the sugar content down. I use whole fruit and water instead of fruit juice and ice because you get less sugar, more fiber, and all the same flavor.
- ½ cup of your favorite fruit (I used pear because I had it, but I usually use frozen mango)
- 1 packed cup of spinach (Make sure you actually pack it in there. Otherwise you’ll end up using just a few leaves which won’t do much for you)
- 2 cups of water
- Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Blend it all up! How easy is that? I’m kind of obsessed with my NutriBullet. I’ve had it for years and use it almost every day! It easily pulverizes any fruit or veggie, and makes a creamy and delicious smoothie.
One thing to note is that if you’re using a room temp fruit like pear, you’re going to want to pour your smoothie over ice to cool it down. If you’re using frozen mango or another frozen fruit, no ice is needed. As another side note, I find that frozen mango blends the best. When I used the pear, it tasted good, but it did separate a bit, so I had to continue to stir it up with my straw. The bottom line is that the easiest way to add more greens to your diet is to make a smoothie that you find delicious. I like my smoothies not very sweet because I find it refreshing. If you want to add some honey or a little more fruit, go for it. Just be mindful of adding too much sugar.
What’s the point of drinking a smoothie with 30 grams of sugar? You might as well eat that delicious doughnut at that point.
Happy smoothie making!