Prep like a rawkstar

1. Slice and measure green smoothie ingredients according to recipe (just leave out the liquids). If using a mason jar, start with fruits and then add leafy greens last so they are towards the top. This helps get them out easier when frozen.

2. Place all ingredients in a freezer safe Ziploc bag (quart size OR gallon size) or container (do not add liquid-base)

3. Label with name of recipe and date made.

4. Place and store in freezer for up to 6 months.

5. Remove from freezer and pour ingredients into blender along with the liquid base. Blend until smooth!

If you blender isn’t doing so hot with frozen fruits, you can take your bag (or mason jar) out of the freezer the night before and let it defrost slightly. This also brings out more of the flavors in the fruit, which is awesome. If you are going this route, we also recommend freezing your greens separate from your fruits so they don’t defrost and get soggy. Jen keeps her frozen leafy greens in a gallon size Ziploc and then her fruit measurements in a mason jar.






Can I make my green smoothie the night before?
Yes! You can blend your smoothies ahead of time and store your green smoothies in a sealed container for 1 to 3 days in the fridge. We like to use these quart-size mason jars with the metal bands or these storage caps (click the links to be directed to the products on Amazon). Another perk to blending at night: your neighbors will love you for blending the night before too!

Fresh is always best, but a 2-day old green smoothie is still way better than a bag of the Cheetos (aka: orange dust) or a drive-thru breakfast sandwich. Your goal is to add more fruits and vegetables into your regular diet— and green smoothies will help you get there.

The post The ultimate green smoothie prep tip busy people use appeared first on Simple Green Smoothies.

Now there is only room for one Vitamix 5200 winner, but we have decided to share some love with a few more rawkstars as well. We just couldn’t help ourselves!

So read on to see if it’s your lucky day, rawkstar…

Winner of the Vitamix 5200 Blender

Congratulations Casey Marie!!! You won the Vitamix 5200 blender! Have fun blending in your new high-speed Vitamix blender with your rawkstar son by your side.

**If you didn’t win, you can still get your hands on a Vitamix, so start saving your money and make this investment for your health! We have a sweet deal with Vitamix: get a refurbished Vitamix for as little as $329! For FREE shipping, use this code at checkout: 06-007771

Rawkstar Runners-Up in the Giveaway

Rawkstar runners-up will receive our sweet Green Smoothie Recipe Cards and the 30-Day Challenge eGuide. If you already purchased one of these, you can choose one person to gift it to and spread some green smoothie lovin’. And the winners are….

1. Kelly Scott

2. Michelle

“I had 2 babies back to back at ages 39 and 40– and have been too exhausted and overwhelmed by work and newfound parenthood to exercise – although I have always been a pretty healthy eater and actually used to drink a lot of smoothies back in the day. The 30 day challenge was exactly what I needed to START back into a new routine of eating healthy … which then leads to the energy I’ve been needing to finally be motivated to exercise and put it all together. In the last 30 days I FINALLY got my butt moving again — I did the smoothies all month with my husband … we both love them and share with the kids … and I joined a bootcamp 3 days a week! Am on my way back to feeling more energized and being able to really enjoy and play with my kids. Thank you!!”

3. Ann Nordquist

“Over the past 15 years, I’ve gained 85 lbs. My oldest daughter & I started juicing a few months ago, doing green smoothies, and cutting out all processed foods, breads, grains & more. I’ve lost 20 lbs. so far just by making healthy changes. My health is what I’m trying to regain with healthy lifestyle changes/choices. On top of being overweight, I was also diagnosed with MS this past year. Green smoothies are energizing & filled with super delicious nutrients that I feel are helping my body, energy level, & immune system. I’m excited about veggies/fruits and all the goodness & changes happening towards a healthier me!!”

4. Keyona Cooper

5. Ana H.

“Being 22 and a college student makes it difficult to keep up with healthy eating habits. All of that had to change when I was diagnosed with cancer and had to deal with chemotherapy. With green smoothies I maintained amazing blood levels throughout my treatment and am now recovering better than I could have expected! I’m loving the new healthier me!”

6. Mario

“Green smoothies have helped not only get me back to eating healthy but my family as well! With being a parent, you want to make sure that what you are putting into your body is good enough for your kids as well! Pulling out all the ingredients for my son and I to drink a green smoothie is awesome. He comes running around into the kitchen to help make them and he is only 1 years old. He loves drinking them as much as my wife and I! He will even do cheers before we drink them together! Never thought that my kid would be that excited about them but he really likes them as much as I do!”

7. Jennifer Bass

8. Brian Brown

“I’ll just keep this simple. I’m over 350 lbs. and with 3 kids and a job, I don’t have time to work out so for a week now I have been taking 1 green smoothie a day and can already feel a difference. My body isn’t as fond of fast food as it used to be which to me is a good thing. I hate vegetables. I can’t even swallow them but with the smoothies I never taste them and I get the energy and nutrients my body so desperately needs. Getting this blender could actually mean the difference between life and death for me as I need to loose weight and eat healthier for the health of my heart. I simply want to grow old with my wife and watch my kids grow up and have kids. Even if I do not win, I simply wish to say thank you for the life changing smoothies you have given me. Ok I guess that wasn’t so simple. lol “

9. Mary

“Being over 60, green smoothies have given me increased energy, weight loss, clearer eyes, softer skin to name a few. However, most important it is a way to get greens into my husband who is 67 and lost a kidney last year to cancer. I feel so good about this! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

10. Sandra Young

11. Brandy

“So I have just jumped on the green smoothie bandwagon a few weeks ago and have to say I LOVE them!! If I miss a day I am kind of lost and really hungry that day. So my 3 year old helps me every night make up our batch (he likes to chop and blend everything for me) he will the follow up with a taste of it. My 14 year old used to look at me like I was a crazy person for drinking this stuff well I had her try one and then BAM she LOVES them too. She drinks hers every morning as she gets ready for school and loves to come up with different concoctions for us to try. She starts her softball tournaments soon and has asked if I can make some up for her to bring and keep in the cooler for her. I have to say it gives me energy and I feel so much better drinking them. Thanks for the introduction to this wonderful drink.”

12. Susan Bears

“I’ve just recently started the Green Smoothies. Myself and two other co-workers have started the 30 day challenge and we are on week 3. So far, it’s been great. I have more energy during the day and I can already notice that I am loosing weight. But it’s not just all about the weight, it’s turning my life into a more healthier life style. The recipes have been great and I love the emails I receive every week with the grocery list. It sure does help out so thank you so much to Jadah & Jen! I also have a smoothie for lunch, so I am able to get more work done through the day, and get healthier at the same time. I’m excited everytime I make a new smoothie just to see what it is going to taste like and then sometimes I just throw stuff together and make my own smoothie for a snack when I am craving cookies or junk food. It tastes great and I have cut out on the junk food! Thanks again!”

13. Dani Yardley

14. Mia

“As a 33 year old single mother of 2, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and it changed my life. After 2 surgeries, the cancer was gone but the emotional baggage remained. Over the last year, I found myself crying and becoming overwhelmed almost daily. My Oncologist said it was hormonal and can be resolved with meds. I refused. When looking for ways to deal with it, I ran across your green smoothie site. I entered and have been having one every morning. I haven’t had one if those episodes since the end of March and this is the only change I’ve made. Having a Vitamix Blender would be great-especially if it cut my 10 minute blending session each morning. I would love to win but if I am not selected I am already a winner because green smoothies have truly changed my life. My kids have even noticed the difference. Thanks a million!”

15. Beth Sherwood

“I started drinking green smoothies 3 weeks ago when I saw the challenge on Facebook. I had my 4th baby on February 15th and am nursing, and so I wanted to make sure I was getting the most ‘bang for my buck” when it comes to calories. Immediately I noticed that I didn’t need a 2:00pm cat nap anymore. I had more energy that lasted all day. I was also sleeping better. In just a few weeks I notice my skin has a glow to it. I can also focus better. I have been self diagnosed ADHD since I was in college, but I find I am able to focus better and pay attention longer. I love green smoothies! Definitely a life changer!”

Bonus: This not an entry, but just so much fun to watch!

If you are a winner…

Please email simplegreensmoothies(at)gmail(dot)com with the subject: WINNER. Please include your first and last name and best email address in the email. And if you’re the Vitamix winner, please include your mailing address and phone number, too. Congratulations rawkstars!!!

We truly thank you all!!!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone in our Simple Green Smoothies community! We wish we could give each and every one of you a brand new Vitamix— really. Your comments and rawkstar testimonials inspire us every single day to keep on working on our projects— you can see all of the entries by clicking here.

You warm our hearts, and we know that it is because of our super supportive community that lives are changing. So take a moment to congratulate our winners, or if you didn’t get a chance to share how Simple Green Smoothies has changed your life, post it in the comments below. We’re here cheering you on every day. A million hugs!

Peace, love and leafy greens,
Jen + Jadah

P.S. In case you missed the last challenge, joined late or want to join the party again— we have our next 30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge starting July 1=> CLICK HERE to get on that email list.

The post Rawsome Testimonials + Vitamix Winner appeared first on Simple Green Smoothies.

Written by contributor Felicia Clark of A Simply Raw Life

A mango and pineapple green smoothie bowl just reminds me of sunshine. And sunshine equals southern California right now.  The weather has been just perfect the past few days. Here’s an Instagram shot of my evening last night. And actually it’s almost getting too hot here… But who’s complaining? All of my friends know that most mornings I drink a green smoothie, and with this warm perfect weather, I wanted to share with you one of my all time favorite green smoothies - a mango and pineapple green smoothie bowl. I make a version of this smoothie probably about 4-5 times a week and I am definitely not tired of it yet!

Turning your favorite smoothie into a smoothie bowl allows you to change up your smoothie routine. And by adding your favorite toppings you can make it into a fabulous breakfast.

MANGO AND PINEAPPLE GREEN SMOOTHIE BOWL

Ingredients

1 cup almond milk

2 cups organic spinach

1/2 cup frozen mango chunks

1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks

1 tablespoon peanut butter

Directions

Put into your high speed blender the almond milk and spinach and blend well. Then add in the remaining ingredients and blend well until completely blended smooth.

It’s so creamy delicious. I love using spinach because it blends so well, you will hardly notice you have 2 cups of spinach in your smoothie.

Top it off with your favorite toppings such as hemp seeds, raw cacao nibs, granola or your favorite berries.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Join the conversation!

What’s your favorite green smoothie? Give us some more inspiration on some new, fun and healthy recipe combinations!

The post Mango and Pineapple Green Smoothie Bowl appeared first on Simple Green Smoothies.

This giveaway is sponsored by Vitamix, a company improving people’s lives one high-quality blender at a time.

This giveaway is closed. Winners will be announced May 8, 2013

Today is your super lucky day!

We are thrilled to announce our Vitamix giveaway— which happens to be my favorite brand of blender. After years of blending with my $50 wedding present blender, I finally burnt out the motor and bought a Vitamix 5200 and fell in love.

It’s an amazing blender and one of the best financial investments I have made for my health. Some things are worth the splurge, and this is one of them. Jadah recently got a red Vitamix 5200 and is totally having fun blending her leafy greens into creamy goodness, too. So now it’s your turn— Are you ready to up your green smoothie game and win a Vitamix 5200?

5 Reasons I love my Vitamix

1. Blends my leafy greens into a creamy green smoothie in 20 seconds
2. Saves me time prepping produce (I can throw in whole pears, apples, carrots, oranges and not flinch)
3. Comes with a “tamper” for times when I go a little crazy on the leafy greens and they get jammed in the container (the tamper safely pushes it down while still running)
4. The BPA-free container is easy to clean and very durable
5. Turns my frozen banana & frozen mango into a whipped treat in seconds

Are you ready to win the oh-so-awesome, super delicious red Vitamix 5200 Blender?

This giveaway is closed. Winners will be announced May 8, 2013

Enter to win the Vitamix 5200:

One green smoothie lover will be scoring a Vitamix 5200 blender— is it gonna be you?!

All you have to do is post in the comments below how Simple Green Smoothies has changed your life!

For a bonus entry, record a short video (a smartphone video will do just fine) on how Simple Green Smoothies has changed your life. We’re not looking for anything fancy. We’re looking for heart, honesty, and just real people slurping the good greens. Then share it on YouTube, so we can all change the world together— one green smoothie at a time!

STEP 1: Record a short video and tell us how Simple Green Smoothies has changed your life.

STEP 2: Upload your video to YouTube with the subject line: Simple Green Smoothies vid by [Your name]

STEP 3: Add to the YouTube caption: http://simplegreensmoothies.com | Simple Green Smoothies— Join the green smoothie lifestyle!

STEP 4: Comment below with your YouTube URL link— we can’t wait to hear your story and see your face!

One entry per person— giveaway ends May 1 and winner will be announced on May 8, 2013 via email. U.S. entries only.

**If you don’t win this giveaway, you can still save some cash on a Vitamix.**
1. For free shipping ($25 discount) on your Vitamix purchase => click here
2. Save up to $150 by purchasing a refurbished Vitamix + free shipping=> click here

Post in the comments below how Simple Green Smoothies has changed your life!

The post Vitamix Giveaway {Closed} appeared first on Simple Green Smoothies.

Written by Sergei Boutenko

If you run, hike, swim, snowboard, cycle, attend crossfit, or actively engage in any other sports, then you’re probably aware that your body requires extra nutritional supplementation in order to function properly. Simply put, athletes need more nutrients than less-active people. They demand more from their bodies and thus must compensate with the right nutrients to keep up performance and recovery.

Unfortunately, today’s athletes have been duped into believing that in order to maintain proper health, they must consume a wide range of animal products, supplements, and power gels. I think this is one of the biggest misconceptions in the field of sports and fitness. In this post, I am not interested in arguing whether athletes should be vegans or not.

I simply want to challenge the traditional approach and illustrate that the nutritional needs of an athlete can be met through natural means. I believe all athletes can benefit by consuming more fresh, organic greens and fruits in a blended concoction commonly referred to as a “green smoothie.”

To keep the body performing optimally, you must consistently replenish the following seven essential nutrients: calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, selenium, sodium, and zinc. Traditional athletes accomplish this by taking multivitamins and supplements. In my personal practice, I have found it beneficial to disregard tradition and instead blend green smoothies made from dark leafy veggies and fresh fruit. While I do not consider myself an “endurance athlete,” I live an extremely active life.

Here is my idea of a good time: last summer I climbed Mt Shasta (a 14,179 foot tall mountain in Northern California) in four hours and forty-five minutes. The following day I decided that I needed to climb more mountains so I scaled nearby Mt Mcloughlin (9,495 feet) and Mt Thielsen (9,182 feet) in one day. Mind you, I have never taken artificial supplements and base my success and endurance largely on my diet.

Athletes Need More Nutrients Than Less-Active People

Let’s look at the essential nutrients needed to sustain prolonged exercise, as well as how one can get these elements in natural form.

1. Calcium is essential because it prevents muscle cramps and helps strengthen bones. According to the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) most athletes don’t meet their need for daily calcium intake. Lack of calcium can lead to a slew of problems, such as, osteoporosis and hormone imbalance. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommended daily dose of calcium ranges between 1,000-1,500 mg per day. Most people think that the best way to get calcium is to drink a glass of milk. Few people are aware that dark leafy greens are just as effective at loading the body with calcium. According to the USDA, one cup of milk has 314 mg of calcium. A cup of collard greens has 357 mg of calcium. That’s 63 mg more than a glass of milk. Thus a green smoothie crammed with collard greens can meet ones need for calcium no worse than milk.

2. Iron is another common element that athletes are deficient in. One of iron’s primary functions is to carry oxygen to cells and eliminate carbon dioxide from the body. Most sports nutritionists recommend eating red meat to get your daily dose of iron. In traditional sports nutrition it is rarely mentioned that tomatoes, apricots, pomegranates, currants, olives, Swiss chard, and parsley are also excellent sources of iron.

3. Magnesium is essential for athletes. Its presence is vital in more than 300 chemical processes that sustain basic human function and health (http://triathlon.competitor.com). These functions include blood pressure regulations, muscle contraction and relaxation, nerve function, immunity, and cardiac activity. Foods that contain high amounts of magnesium include: almonds, flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, spinach, beet greens, collards greens, and dates. Adding these foods to your green smoothies will aid your body in many of its metabolic processes.

4. Potassium is easy! Every good smoothie needs a banana. According to the USDA, one cup of mashed banana has more than 800 mg of potassium. If you’re not a fan of bananas, here is a list of other foods that are high in this essential nutrient: avocado, beet greens, spinach, apricots, cantaloupe, figs, nectarines, and pears.

5. Selenium is critical to antioxidant production. Athletes who don’t get enough selenium in their diet experience more cell damage and take longer to recover from strenuous exercise. Regular consumption of Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, spinach, and seaweed will ensure that your body gets enough selenium.

6.  Sodium retains water in the cells and prevents dehydration. Fresh fruits and vegetable are better at helping cells retain water than any sports drinks on the market. Period!

7. Zinc levels are directly correlated to endurance. Athletes who have lower than recommended zinc levels in the body will struggle to perform at their peak. According to the ICPA (www.chiro.org) zinc is also crucial for tissue repair. Here are some foods that contain high amounts of zinc: pumpkin seeds, squash seeds, water melon seeds, peanuts, bee pollen, sweet peppers, spinach, parsley, and seaweed.

Why you should stop spending money on expensive supplements

In addition to the seven essential nutrients, sports enthusiast also require higher than normal amounts of protein. If you look at the nutritional composition of most dark green, leafy veggies, you will find that they rival many types of meat in essential amino acids (protein). For example, one pound of romaine lettuce or kale provides you with roughly the same amount of protein as a quarter pound steak (www.drfuhrman.com). One pound of greens may seem like a lot, but when you blend a pound of greens in a smoothie, it’s not too difficult to consume it in its entirety. After all, large, muscular animals like elephants and cows get their protein from greens.

In a nutshell, my message is simple… “Stop spending money on expensive supplements and instead, blend a smoothie!” I am so confident that green smoothies rival conventional supplements, I’m making a documentary about it. One week ago I launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for a documentary about how green smoothies affect endurance athletes.

If you pre-order my video your contribution will help me fund this documentary. For more information on my project, check out this link: Kickstarter Project | Powered by Green Smoothies Film

P.S. Here’s an awesome Power Green Smoothie that’s great for pre and post workouts…

Sergei’s Green Power Smoothie

1 cup spinach
1 cup Swiss chard
1 cup collard greens
1-2 stalks of celery with dark green leaves
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 banana
1 peach, pitted
1 pear
1/2 avocado
4 dates, pitted
2 tablespoons bee pollen (optional)

Serves 2-3

Add enough water to blend everything in the blender. Blend until smooth and enjoy!

Join the conversation

What green smoothie are you slurping on today? Do you drink green smoothies before or after an intense workout? I’d love to hear about it! Share in the comments below.

The post How do green smoothies affect endurance athletes? appeared first on Simple Green Smoothies.

Written by contributor Felicia Clark of A Simply Raw Life.

I am seriously on a natural, homemade  ice cream kick and when Jen mentioned that she saw a kale blueberry ice cream on one of her vacations to the Carolinas, we thought, “Yes! We have to make that.”  I love these ice cream recipes because they are so ridiculously easy and good for you.  I have no guilt what so ever feeding this to my little man.  I think you will agree once you have tried it too.

I love this recipe also because it is not only dairy free, but it is packed with nutrients and does not require an ice cream maker.  I think I will be making this as a smoothie next week.  I couldn’t resist trying it before I chilled it in the freezer, and it was A-MAZING!

KALE BLUEBERRY ICE CREAM

Ingredients

1 cup almond milk
2 large frozen bananas cut into pieces
2 large stalks of kale, deveined and chopped
1 cup fresh blueberries
2 dates, pitted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Place the the almond milk and kale into your high speed blender and blend until the kale is blended in well with the milk.  Then add all of the other ingredients and blend well until the mixture is like a thick smoothie.

Pour the mixture in a plastic container or like me, into a 9×13 dish if you want to nice dish to serve it in.  Then chill the mixture in the freezer for 2-3 hours until firm.

Now the ice cream is ready to serve!   Store the ice cream in the freezer.  This treat is best served the same day but can be stored in a the freezer for a few days.  You may have to let it sit at room tempurature slightly before you can sccop it once the ice cream has been in the freezer over night.

Either way, this kale and blueberry ice cream is super delicious and I can’t to make some more scrumptious ice cream flavors!

Enjoy!

Join the conversation!

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor or combination? Give us some more inspiration on some new fun and healthy ingredients!

The post Kale Blueberry Ice Cream appeared first on Simple Green Smoothies.

Most people either hate bananas or love ‘em. Jen and I are huge fans of bananas, so you’ll find them in many of our green smoothie recipes. Bananas add a creamy texture to green smoothies and they’re the perfect natural sweetener! But if you’re a banana hater, or allergic, or you’re just looking for a fresh smoothie taste, we want to share a few of our favorite banana-free green smoothie recipes with you.

Peach Coconut Dream

Enjoy this mildly sweet green smoothie— perfect for those watching their sugar intake. If you buy organic peaches, go ahead and keep the skin on for extra fiber.

ingredients

2 cups spinach
2 cups coconut water
2 cups grapes
2 peaches

– Serves 2 –

Brain Fuel Green Smoothie

This banana-free recipe is packed with brain boosting healthy fats and plenty of fiber to keep all the food flowing through your body with ease.

ingredients

2 cups spinach, fresh
2 cups coconut water
2 ripe pears
1 cup mango
1/2 avocado

– Serves 2 –

Cantaloupe-Grape Sweetnes

This naturally sweet smoothie is not only hydrating with the high-water fruits like grapes and cantaloupe, but it’s also heart healthy. Omega-3s found in flaxseed support brain development, and they help lower your risk of heart disease.

ingredients

2 cups spinach, fresh
1 cup almond milk, unsweetened
½ cup of water
½ cantaloupe, ripe & rind removed
1 cup grapes
2 tablespoons coconut oil, unrefined

– Serves 2 –

A good substitute for bananas in smoothies

If you’re allergic to bananas (or just can’t stand the taste), some great banana substitutes are:

• Mango
• Papaya
• Pear
• Chia seeds
• Fresh dates
• Nut Butters
• Unsweetened applesauce
• Avocado (won’t add the sweetness, but will definitely add the thick and creamy texture)

For more banana-free green smoothies recipes, => click here. Want to know more about superfoods like chia seeds and flaxseeds? Read about the 10 superfoods you should be eating.

P.S. Freeze your bananas before adding to smoothies– the banana taste will not be as strong.

Join the conversation!

What’s your relationship with bananas? Love ‘em or hate ‘em? Share what you use as a banana alternative in the comments below.

The post Yummy Banana-Free Green Smoothie Recipes appeared first on Simple Green Smoothies.

Hey, green smoothie rawkstars! The 30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge, starts Monday, April 1, 2013! Have you signed up yet?

Even if you receive our weekly newsletters (or were a part of our January challenge), you have to update your subscription preferences to join the April challenge. It’s the only way you”ll receive our weekly emails with the challenge recipes and shopping lists.

All you need to do is Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this email, and click the grey link that says update your subscription preferences. This will open a new window in your browser. Make sure there is a check mark next to Join the next 30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge: April 1-30. Then click the green button that says Update Profile. Now you’re in like Flynn!

Now onto some green smoothie 101 education! One of the most popular questions we receive from our awesome community, is what’s the difference between juicing and blending? We love to blend, and we are 100% green smoothie advocates because it’s an easy and healthy lifestyle to maintain– especially with super busy schedules. But we also know green smoothies are not the only way to live an awesome, healthy life. So we asked one of our favorite holistic nutritionists (and registered dietician) to break it down for you.

Juicing vs Blending…
Written by contributor Angela Stanford, MBA, RD, RYT of Vital Nutrition & Wellness

As a nutritionist people are always asking me, “Angela, which is better, blending smoothies or juicing?” And I answer, “Well that depends on why you want to blend or juice and what you blend or juice.”

Both smoothies and raw, fresh juices are very easy and delicious ways to infuse your body with lots of healthy nutrients, and to ingest those 5 servings of veggies and 3 servings of fruits we’re recommended to eat daily.

Juicing or blending, which is better?

Whether you choose to blend or juice, you are gifting your body improved health by using these nutrient packed drinks to get more health giving, healing veggies and fruits into your body. Regularly drinking smoothies or fresh, veggie-based juice will:

• increase your veggie intake dramatically
• make it easier and quicker for your body to absorb nutrients because the blending and juicing allows the foods to become somewhat “pre-digested”
• curb appetite and reduce cravings for sugar and processed foods because you are nourishing your cells with what they are asking for – micronutrients. You body no longer craves the “carbs” (macronutrient)

BLENDING

Pros:

• You can blend more than just veggies – along with your veggies, you can add fruits, milks, ice, nuts, seeds, avocado, nut butters, oils, protein powders and crushed up supplements
• Fiber helps fill you up – Since you are blending the whole veggie and fruit, the added fiber from the peels and flesh help fill up space in your stomach giving you a comforting feeling of fullness
• Cost of the blender is minimal – most people already have a blender in their kitchen
• Kids are more inclined to drink/eat smoothies – In my experience, kids love smoothies more than veggie-based juice because you can thicken them up to look and taste like a frozen dessert. Just add a little frozen fruit, banana, ice or ground chia seeds to your veggies to help thicken up the drink.

Cons:

• Less quantity of nutrients per serving than juicing – Because the fiber remains in the drink, you need to drink more smoothies than juice to get the same amount of vitamins, minerals and phytotnutrients per glass
• Some produce is not good for blending. Root veggies like carrots, sweet potatoes, parsnips and beets are packed full of nutrition, but don’t taste so good in smoothies. They come off chalky and bitter. They are more suitable for juicing.

JUICING

Pros:

• More veggies per serving – Since the fiber is removed, more veggie juice fits in the glass versus a smoothie
• Easier to digest nutrients – Unlike blending, juicing extracts nutrients and most of the water from veggies and fruits leaving behind plant fibers in skins, peels and seed hulls. This allows your body to absorb the nutrients quicker without having to expend energy to digest all the bulk of the fiber too.
• Quicker energy boost – Juice has a higher concentration of veggies (and therefore nutrients) per glass versus a smoothie, and is in an even more pre-digested format than smoothies for quicker nutrient absorption.
• Less heat damage. Blades run at high speed on blenders that can slightly heat the smoothie which could kill off some of the beneficial enzymes. To counteract this, add ice to your smoothie to cool it down.

Cons:

• Juicing machines sometimes more difficult to clean – Juicers usually have more parts to clean and take a little longer to clean than blenders
• More refrigerator space required – Juicing requires more veggies and fruits per serving than blending, so you need to have more refrigerator space to store them
• Veggie costs are more than blending – because you are using more veggies per serving, you need to buy more

Along with SimpleGreenSmoothies.com, I’m fond of a book called The Juicing Bible by Pat Crocker. It is a great resource for to blending and juicing for both newbies and veterans. It offers dozens of recipes for raw, fresh juices, blended drinks and homemade frozen treats made from these nutritious beverages.

So now that you know the pros and cons of blending and juicing, you make the choice….or do you have to? Why not do both!
Angela offers nutrition counseling, teaches workshops combining yoga and mindful eating, and helps people start edible backyard and patio gardens. To learn more about Angela, visit Vital Nutrition & Wellness.

Best juicers

This is the juicer Joe Cross used in the movie Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, and it’s ideal for first-time juicers. It’s a centrifugal juicer with an extra-wide 3-inch feeder chute that accommodates large pieces of fruit or vegetables, eliminating the need for chopping vegetables. You can buy it on Amazon here: Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain Plus 850-Watt Juice Extractor

This juicer is easy-to-use and clean, and perfect for leafy greens. The Omega 8006 model is a masticating juicer, known as a low speed juicer, which protects and maintains healthy enzymes, prevents oxidation, and even turns nuts into nut butters. Check out the 4.5 star reviews on Amazon here: Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Juicer

Best blenders

The Blendtec is known for it’s sleek and sexy design. Very easy to clean, and it’s one touch “smoothie” button makes blending green smoothies super easy. If you want the blender Jadah uses, you can buy it with free shipping here: Blendtec. Save even more money with the Reconditioned Blendtec. Both type of blenders offer a 3-payment plan option. Enter promo code 460868 to get free shipping.

The most affordable way to buy a high-speed blender with an awesome 5-8 year warranty is to buy the company refurbished blenders. Jen bought and uses the Reconditioned Vitamix. You can own it for $329 with free shipping. Buy it here: Reconditioned Vitamix.

Best blenders on a budget

Many people are happy with their Ninja Blenders. It’s a little tougher to blend kale to a smooth texture, but with a little pre-blend of just your leafy greens and water, it can be done. The newest Ninja blender now has a single serve blender option. Definitely a great starter blender that you can get on Amazon: Ninja BL660 Professional Blender with Single Serve

The single serve Nutri Bullet blender is great for a single person, or someone who needs a travel blender. My mother-in-law prefers this blender over the fancier blenders because of how easy it is to use. Just make sure when using a single serve blender, you adjust the recipes, since you won’t be able to fit a whole lot inside. Buy it on Amazon here: Nutri Bullet Hi-Speed Blender/Mixer System

Peace, love and leafy greens,
Jen + Jadah

P.S. If you’re debating between the Vitamix vs Blendtec, check out Jen’s side-by-side comparison by clicking the link here: BATTLE OF THE BLENDERS: BLENDTEC VS VITAMIX

Do you juice or blend?

Share in the comments below if you juice, blend, or both. Let us know what machine you use too…

The post Juicing vs Blending : What’s the difference? appeared first on Simple Green Smoothies.

Congratulations Joy W. and Danielle E!

Jen and I are truly amazed by all of the green smoothie recipes our Rawesome community has shared over the past few weeks. We hope you check out our Facebook wall for recipe inspiration. There are so many green smoothies that make you wanna holla. So rev up your blenders like a rawkstar!

*For this photoshoot, Jen used a We Love Citrus lid with a vintage Ball mason jar that her husband found at the local thrift store— score! You can get all these green smoothie fixins on Amazon: mason jar with handle, daisy mason jar lids, and paper straws. So adorable!

Cantaloupe-Grape Sweetness

This smoothie is not only hydrating with the high-water fruits like grapes and cantaloupe, but it’s also heart healthy. Omega-3s found in flaxseed support brain development, and they help lower your risk of heart disease. In just 1 tablespoon of flaxseed, you get 2 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber. This smoothie is naturally sweet AND banana-free!

Click here to see the recipe for: Cantaloupe-Grape Sweetness Green Smoothie

Coco-Ginger Zinger

This green smoothie has a nice sweet and spicy kick to it while your taste buds do a little happy dance. Cinnamon is known to level blood sugar and boost the metabolism, while ginger strengthens the immune system and settles the tummy from discomfort.

Click here to see the recipe for: Coco-Ginger Zinger Green Smoothie

Check out our Feature Friday Recipe Winners!

1. Cranberry Kale Cooler
2. Piña Colada 
3. Mango Ginger Immune Support
4. Chocolate Covered Cherries
5. Cucumber-Grape Punch
6. Strawberry-Peach Refresher
7. Cantaloupe-Grape Sweetness
8. Coco-Ginger Zinger

Use promo Code: GREEN2013 to get 5% off everything in the EcoJarz store

Want more green smoothie lovin’?

• For more recipes, click here for our top green smoothie recipes!
• Want to join our next 30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge in April? Sign-up here. It’s FREE!
• Purchase our 30-Day Green Smoothie companion eBook guide: Start the challenge now.
• LIKE us on Facebook, FOLLOW us on Instagram, GET INSPIRED on Pinterest

The post Cantaloupe-Grape Sweetness + Coco-Ginger Zinger: Feature Friday Recipes appeared first on Simple Green Smoothies.

Written by contributor Felicia Clark of A Simply Raw Life.

One of my all time favorite foods to eat these days are raw desserts!  There’s just something about raw desserts and chocolate that make me happy.  They are simple to make, you don’t have to cook or bake them, they are packed with nutrition and taste fresh! Raw cacao is rich in antioxidants and an excellent source of iron, dietary fiber, calcium, zinc and potassium. If you have never made a raw dessert before, you will be so surpised how simple and easy this is.  I can’t wait for you to try this!

Raw Chocolate Chocolate Brownies

If you want to get your chocolate fix, these Raw chocolate chocolate brownies really hit the spot. 

Ingredients

4 cups walnuts
2/3 cups raisins
2/3 cups medjool dates, pitted
2/3 cups raw cacao
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons finely ground fennel

Directions

Place walnuts into a food processor and grind into the consistency of a meal. Don’t over process or it will release too much oil.  Add the raisins and dates and process until the mixture is well combined.   Add the raw cacao powder, vanilla and fennel and process again until mixture is sticky yet still crumbly. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.  Add 1-2 tablespoons of water and mix well using your hands. It should start to resemble a dough.  Press the mixture into an 8 x 8 inch baking pan lined with parchment paper or plastic wrap.  Chill in the freezer for 1 hour.  Remove the brownie by lifting up the parchment paper and slice into desired size pieces.   Store in the refrigerator for up to one week or in the freezer for one month.

Enjoy!

Join the discussion!

Do you have a favorite raw dessert recipe using raw cacao? Share in the comments below.

The post Raw Chocolate Chocolate Brownies appeared first on Simple Green Smoothies.