Slimming Morning Green Smoothies!

Celebrity nutritionist Kimberly Snyder has been my long time go to for vegan, whole food nutrition advice. I am hooked on her green smoothies, especially first thing in the morning. As a base recipe she suggests:

– 2 cups of water,

– 1/2 head of organic spinach,

– 1 head of romaine lettuce,

– 1/2 lemon,

– 3/4 sticks of celery,

– 1 pear,

– 1 apple.

(Try to buy organic!)

Feel free to change this up, or add fruit! However, the more greens you can add the better! Straight fruit smoothies contain a TON of fructose (sugar). Although this is good sugar which has a lower glycemic index than refined sugars (table sugars), which means it is absorbed at a relatively slower rate that doesn’t cause a spike in your blood sugar, to create a full glass of smoothie, you are most likely using multiple fruits at once which is still a large amount of sugar for one sitting. And don’t even think that places like Booster Juice etc. are comparable! They use very sugary yogurts, and syrups, which are not in the slightest bit healthy. Sure, maybe compared to pop, but should not be used as a health snack.

This is a great, quick, easy item to work into your healthy morning routine. I even prefer it to juicing, just for the fact that juicing does not incorporate the fibres and other benefits from the fruit that you are chucking away. Also, it can be quite expensive! The nutrients in smoothies last longer (can last for about a maximum of 2 days), you are using the whole fruit, and they are more filling!

I am addicted to the way it makes me feel! It is detoxifying – as of course all green vegetables are, and leaves me feeling refreshed and free from that terrible bloated feeling that I sometimes get when I eat a heavy breakfast.