Day 1 - December 2012 GSC

Welcome to our Monthly
Green Smoothie Challenge!

In Courtenay, we had our first snowfall last night, and I wanted to share with you what I saw this morning from my kitchen window . . . Winter Wonderland!
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Getting back to Green Smoothies! The first GSC of 2013 will be held on January 21 and 28 - be sure to mark the date on your calendar!

Here's a recipe from the October GSC that doesn't use bananas. But it was separating, so today I added avocado to make it thick and creamy. To understand why this happens, have a look at my Dec 14, 2012 post 'Fibre in Your Green Smoothies'.

Apples n' Sprouts GS
2 apples
1 cup frozen pears
2 cups mixed sprouts
1/4 avocado, peeled and seeded
2 cups water

• Placing fruit in the blender first makes for easier blending
• After blending the fruit, add the fresh sprouts, and blend until smooth
• I used Gala apples - just removed the stem and the whole apple went into my Vitamix
• If using a regular blender you may want to leave the skin on, but remove the core
• And if not drunk right away the apples turn GS brownish - so add lemon juice

Nutri-Tips:

• Apples are a source of fiber and pectin, to help your digestive system work at its best, eliminating harmful toxins from your body.
• Sprouts are one of the most alkalizing, nutritious and easily accessible foods. Rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins and enzymes, they are easily grown in 4-6 days at minimal effort and little cost. A sprout contains all of the energy, vitamins, nutrients and power that enable it to transform from a small seed into a strong plant. In the sprout stage, its nutritional value is at its maximum (sprouted seeds can contain 400% more protein than lettuce and many times more nutrients).

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To balance out the more intense flavour of cilantro, try adding coconut water, pear, and Romaine lettuce for a nice balance. Another recipe with no bananas!

Cilantro Coconut GS
2 cups young Thai coconut water
3 Kiwi fruit, peeled
1 pear, stem removed
1 bunch cilantro, stems removed
1 cup Romaine lettuce

• Add all ingredients to blender and mix together until smooth

Nutri-Tips:

• Cilantro is well known for its anti-inflammatory and detoxification power, and has long been used for digestive disorders
• It also has the ability to bind with toxic heavy metals that can accumulate in tissues and then removes them from the body