Nutrition Challenge Day #2: Drink a Green Smoothie
Nutrition Challenge Day #2: Drink a Green SmoothieWelcome to day 2 of the 5-Day #fitbody Challenge! Today we’re going to add a green smoothie. How’s it going with no added sugar? I got a lot of great questions and comments about that – I know it’s tricky but you can do it!
Today we’re diving into GREENS! One of the easiest ways to get them in is by throwing them in the blender with other foods that I’ll be going over in this video for a convenient, on the go boost of energy!
(for your workout challenge video, scroll to the bottom)
Why do I love green smoothies and why are they so good for you?
Well, #1 most of us just don’t get enough greens in our body on a daily basis. If you haven’ t done your weekly food prep and you’re too busy to cook it’s easy to order take out or eat whatever is in the pantry.
I’m guessing that your pantry isn’t stocked with baby kale or spinach, micro greens and cucumbers – and if it is, cooking them can sometimes feel like a job at the end of a long day. But tossing them in the blender with some fruits and spices – that’s another story!
#2, green smoothies deliver a powerful dose of nutrients right into your body.
They contain all the healthy, natural fiber from the fruits and vegetables you blend, so you’ll digest slowly – keeping your blood sugar stable.
Juicing is also a great way to get the nutrients into your body, but it will eliminate the fiber. I consider both juicing and blending wonderful additions to a well-balanced eating plan but I prefer blending.
What kind of greens do you put in a green smoothie?
The greens you want in a smoothie are any of the dark, leafy greens like mixed greens, kale, spinach, swiss chard, collard greens, dandelion greens plus some fresh herbs like parsley or mint. You can also add vegetables like cucumber, celery or carrots. Rotate your greens on a regular basis, and for easier beginner smoothies, use baby greens (baby kale, baby spinach, etc).
Whole Betty Berry Green Protein contains 18 grams of plant based organic protein + 15 superfood greens, veggies and fruits for an all in one serving to support your body!
If you’re looking for more of a vanilla protein, check out I ❤️ Vanilla Protein, it’s organic, plant-based and contains 20g of protein per serving!
How much fruit should you use?
I recommend no more than 2 fruits. I usually stick to fruits that are lower in sugar, so apples and berries usually end up in my green smoothies over mangoes and pineapple (tropical fruit is very sweet). There’s nothing wrong with the sweeter fruits though, just be mindful of your overall sugar intake for the day and you’ll be fine. For beginner smoothies, I recommend banana and berries, as they really taste good together, and as a general rule, use 1 tropical fruit (tropical fruits are higher in sugar) with a berry or lower sugar fruit.
What kind of blender do you use?
I use a Blendtec blender. It’s a lot like a Vitamix, just shorter. Those high-speed blenders are able to pulverize whatever you put in them down to the tiniest particle, creating smooth, creamy blends out of anything you put in them. Regular blenders may not create the best-textured green smoothies, but they will still get the job done.
TIPS for regular blenders:
- chunk up your fruits and vegetables to even sized pieces before you add them
- remove tough stems from greens like kale
- blend your greens with liquid first, then add fruit, protein powder or other additions
Read GREENS 101 for some insight into the power of greens as they relate to your GOALS!
Be sure to always wash your fruits and veggies before you start – even the organic ones have been handled and transported, and it’s always best to be as mindful as possible.
What if I don’t like smoothies, or am traveling, or am unable to make one?
When I’m traveling or run out of fresh greens, I go to my fallback superfood green juice powder, Organifi. It’s a wonderful tasting green juice (like a cold green minty tea). So good! No sweeteners, no weird stuff, just 11 superfoods blended up into a convenient green juice that you can take on the go. Sometimes I’ll even add a scoop to my green smoothie at home.
If you’re looking for a budget friendly combo of greens PLUS protein, use Whole Betty organic Berry Green Protein. With 15 superfoods and 18 grams of protein per serving, this strawberry-vanilla flavored plant-based protein is exceptional!
What are some good green smoothie recipes?
What are some good green smoothie recipes?Speaking of tasty blends, here are some of my favorite recipes. You can browse the entire section here, or jump straight to one of these awesome recipes:
Pineapple Raspberry Cleansing Green Smoothie
Peppermint Chip Green Smoothie
What should I use if I want to make my own blend?
Below are some helpful guidelines you can use to build your own green smoothies. In the Body Fuel System and ALL of my meal plans, I have custom green smoothie recipes for you each week to go with your healthy recipe guides, and I show you how to incorporate them easily.
How to create a rockin’ Green Smoothie:
1: greens – choose 1-2 of: kale, chard, spinach, watercress, collards, bok choy PLUS consider adding herbs like mint, parsley
2: liquid – some smoothies I just add water, others I add almond milk – also good are hemp milk, coconut milk and other non-dairy milks – check labels for plain with no added sweetener.
(For a regular blender, I recommend blending at this stage to really get a nice even blend of your greens with the liquid before adding any more ingredients.)
3: proteins – smoothies are a great opportunity to get a boost in your daily protein intake – I use I ❤️ Vanilla Protein or Berry Green Protein (this one has 15 superfoods so can expand your variety of greens)
4: healthy fats – optional – a small amount goes so far to helping your cells perform their vital functions of using all of these nutrients in the greens – avocados, nuts and seeds, coconut oil, olive oil, nut oils and nut butters, MCT oil
5: specific superfoods – antioxidants, free-radical destroyers, immune boosters, alkiline/acidity balancers – citrus like lemon or lime, cinnamon, turmeric, ashwaghanda spices: fresh ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardomom, cacao powder
6: sweetness/flavor – fruit – antioxidants, fiber and keep blood sugar stable while still providing sweetness. I use berries (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries), apples, figs and sometimes bananas – avoiding the sweeter, tropical fruits for their higher glycemic index when I’m working towards a fitness goal
Blend: Use a high powered blender like my Blendtec to make the best tasting, smoothest smoothies – or use a food processor or regular blender (see tips in step 2 above). Be sure to chunk up your fruit and veggies for best results.
Is a smoothie a meal or a snack?
A smoothie can be a light meal or a meal “replacement” but it’s really best to just think about the ingredients all on a plate like a big salad. Would that salad be filling enough for a full meal? If not, treat it like an essential “light meal” that’s enabling you to get some important nutrients into your body.
I have a smoothie just about every day.
For smoothie recipes as a part of a complete healthy eating program, get a MEAL PLAN! All of my plans include 2 smoothie recipes per week that work well together so you have variety and don’t break the bank buying too many special ingredients.
Hey Challenger, you are DOING GREAT! Remember it’s ALL OR SOMETHING not ALL OR NOTHING – do YOUR best each day, and just focus on adding in what you can! xoxo
Workout Challenge Day #2: 15-minute Booty + Legs
3 rounds
- Bridge Lifts (0:30)
- Skater Lunges (0:30)
- Single Leg Squats to Box (0:30)
- Mountain Climbers (0:30)
- Reverse Curtsy to Knee (0:30)
Love these workouts? Well I do too! I put workouts like these into my workout programs.
If you’re looking for one to follow, CLICK HERE!
Great job Rockstar! See you tomorrow for Day 3!
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