Monday, February 2, 2009

A Fresh Start: Green Drink

It's a sunny day outside, the birds are chirping and the temperature is above thirty -- a good reason to celebrate around here during the winter. January was a big mess: between traveling, my Grandmother's passing and a major project coming to an end, my fitness and eating healthy routine has been on the back burner. I still got workouts in and I still ate decently, but the sporadic nature of it all has worn down my immune system. I wake up each morning with a sore throat and have been taking sudafed for three days straight. What I need is to get back to my routine and eat a load of vegetables, and I have.

I offer you: the Green Drink.

Don't let the, er, greenness, of it deter you. I was a bit weary myself as I was putting it together, but as soon as I tasted it the only word that came to mind was: fresh. Okay. And yum too. Talk about a drink that makes you feel good: it certainly has a lot of fiber, a few servings of vegetables and a whole load of vitamins in it. And really, it tastes good. And really, I drank it for breakfast along with a scrambeled egg and I'm not hungry at all right now (at 12:20pm). Fiber mixed with protein is an amazing thing.

Super Simple Green Drink (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan, paleo)

Serves one.

1 green apple, cored (and peeled: this is not needed if you are normal and can eat apple skins without having an allergic reaction like lucky me)
2 handfuls spinach
1 small cucumber
1 stalk of celery
6 ice cubes
1/2 cup of water

Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend the heck out of it until it forms a liquid. I didn't have to chop any of my ingredients beforehand because I use a blender that sounds like a vacuum cleaner (vitamix), but for regular blenders, I would recommend doing so. Drink right away. If left alone the drink separates a bit, but just mix it again briefly before drinking.

Per your comments, and in attempt to feel my best on my wedding day (and really don't you want to feel your best at all times), I started to get back into yoga -- Bikram Yoga -- that hot kind of yoga. I took a ninety minute class on Sunday morning and I think I have a favorite new form of exercise. I was sweating buckets by the end of class and my muscles were sore this morning; I never get that from normal yoga and I think I like it.

10 comments:

Jen said...

Where did I read this recipe recently?? Dax Moy? Elimination Diet? I know i have it printed out somewhere, just have been too afraid to try it!

Liz said...

I'm not sure Jenny. I got the idea from a tv show on the food network about a diabetic woman looking to get rid of her diabetes and she drank and "green drink" among many other things. They didn't provide a recipe so I winged it.

Marlow said...

Looks yummy! I love to get fresh juice with ginger, celery, and beets but the price tag can be hefty. Can't wait to try it!!

Anonymous said...

Love the super greeness of the drink. Sounds tasty but I would have to substitute something for the cucumbers, since I'm allergic to them. Any suggestions?

Anonymous said...

Now you've reminded me that I love green drinks and haven't had one in too long. . . though your green color is much more vibrant than mine (I mix in blueberries, resulting in a kind of sludge color--mmmm!) ;)

Liz said...

That sounds like a great combo Marlo! I love beets.

Hmmm. Good question Geri. I'd say jicima maybe; it's fresh tasting like cucumber. Though doubling up on the celery might work.

Mmmm: blueberries. Good call Ricki! Though I can see how it can turn a strage color with them.

Jen said...

I figured it out, there's a similar recipe on the Body Ecology Diet cookbook which I downloaded recently.

Lauren said...

Mmm, the green drink looks really good. I think I'll have to try it sometime!

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Unknown said...

I'll recommend home made Green drink for everyone. You'll find the recipe everywhere on web. Green energy drinks are very healthy to use.