– by Leah Jacobson
(…continued from Part 1)
Drinking Green smoothies is like arming yourself with the full power of mother Nature.
It puts me on the side of Life itself. To the side that says, “I care about myself no matter what is going on, no matter what demands I need to meet.
These green leaves are literally kissed by the highest source of energy in the universe: the sun. This makes green smoothies the most healing, nutritious, energizing, rejuvenating, balancing, nourishing food on planet Earth.
Now I love all food, don’t get me wrong.
I love the feeling of biting into things, using my mandibles to chew, different textures, tastes, spices. I love ethnic food too… the smell of Indian curry, Chinese tofu frying… but I know that beyond the allure of the novel and the subsequent risk of greasy, baked or fried in all these sexy ethnic foods is the peace of knowing I can balance those foods, should I choose to partake, with something solid, stable, real and safe: my blended green smoothie – my connection to the best this earth has to offer.
I used to bake, which any of you who are bakers know each ingredient has to be measured exactly. Again another benefit of the green smoothie: No measuring necessary!
And did I mention variety?
Incredibly, for ten years I’ve never had the some green smoothie twice.
“What do you put in them, give me a recipe,” people inquire all the time. The green smoothie is so forgiving, and can be perfectly tailored to my day, my mood, my location, the time I have to prepare it, what’s stashed away in the fridge… anything.
I vary between all I find: radish leaves, Daikon leaves, beet and carrot tops, sprouts, kale, watercress, collard, Swiss chard. I’ve also been known to eye Kale garnishes at functions… later taking them home for yep, you guessed it… the next morning’s smoothie!
My local grocer and I have cultivated a great friendship. When I see him on Fridays, I give him recipes and he hands me the carrot tops and greens that he would be throwing out anyway on Fridays when he sees me. Green smoothie drinking builds community!
This summer when I was overseas in the Middle East I knew I’d be eating lots of yummy but heavy foods. I found a farmer’s market and picked up a package of greens I didn’t know the name of, bought a cheap blender and together with some figs I balanced my other food choices and came out ahead.
I returned home a month later to find the Brussel sprouts, kale and Swiss chard in my garden had bolted. So I put them in the blender with a little extra fruit! More great meals!
For me, no matter when, and no matter where, it’s always the right time and place to make a Green Smoothie.
It gives me pause to nourish the body God gave me, it connects me to my higher self, and grounds me to what is healing on the planet we all share.
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ENTER TO WIN A FREE DETOX:
Let’s talk green! From now until the start of our spring 21-Day Green Smoothie Detox, you can win a chance to join our LIVE, Full-Support program featuring Victoria Boutenko, just by contributing your thoughts to one of our “Green Buzz” suggestions on the blog. (Be sure to include a valid name and e-mail address with your blog comment so that we can contact you). We’ll select a winner who shares a thoughtful comment on any new GSQ blog post between Feb. 28th and March 19th, 2011. All comments will be approved before appearing. (Attention Facebook/Twitter readers: Comments must be made on the GSQ blog site to be entered in the draw!)
TODAY’S “GREEN BUZZ” TOPICS
- What unique leafy greens do you use in your green smoothies?
- How could you use (or have you used) green smoothies to build and connect your community?
- Where have you travelled and what new greens (or vegetables) did you find?
- It’s always the right time and place. Did you just “press the button”? Tell us about it!