Day 2 - August 2012 GSC

This is how I started my day - with a Pineapple Chard Green Smoothie! These Green Smoothies are not only good for you - but are refreshing, tasty, and give you a lot of energy!

Pineapple Chard GS

2 cups water
1/2 mango, peeled and seeded
1 banana, peeled
1 cup fresh pineapple
1 knob organic ginger (1/2" to 1" chunk)
1 to 2 cups fresh Rainbow Chard (depending on your tasts buds)

• Placing the water and fruit in the blender first makes for easier blending
• After blending the fruit, add the torn or chopped greens
• Blend again and taste

Nutri-Tips:
Both Banana and Mango have soluble fibre to keep your GS from separating (like when you add citrus or apple). Insoluble fibre passes through our intestines largely intact - while soluble fibre prolongs stomach emptying time and may beneficially affect blood sugar levels as sugar is released and absorbed more slowly. For soluable fibre include fruits like banana, mango, blueberries, or pear. Peel and cut ripe peeled bananas into chunks and store them in a bag in your freezer. This way you always have some on hand for the creaminess you desire!

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Finishing off this Green Smoothie Challenge with a Strawberry Milkshake GS. And although I have posted this one before, it is one that I like. Hope you enjoyed this month's GSC!

Strawberry Milkshake GS 

2 cups Arugula/Spinach mixture
2 frozen bananas
1 cup strawberries
2 cups Sesame seed mylk (from unhulled sesame seeds)

• In a blender, mix together until thick and creamy
• Using frozen bananas results in a thicker milkshake effect
• Strawberries can be fresh or frozen - adding more will give a reddish colour and a more intense strawberry flavour
• Use any nut or seed mylk

Nutri-Tips:  I find Sesame mylk has more flavour than Almond mylk, and sesame seeds are a good source of calcium, phosphorous, zinc and copper. Unhulled sesame seeds have a higher mineral content and are less processed than hulled sesame seeds; offer more calcium than hulled sesame seeds; and are less prone to rancidity - they are also gluten-free!