Day 1 - March 2013 GSC

Welcome to our Monthly Green Smoothie Challenge!

Next month the Two-Day GSC will be on April 15 and 16 - mark your calendar!
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 Sometimes it is nice to enjoy a light and refreshing drink first thing in the morning. This citrusy burst of flavours is a wonderful way to wake up your taste buds.

Citrus Refresher GS

Yield: 1 quart

 

2 cups young Thai coconut water

Meat from 1 young Thai coconut

1/4 of a fresh pineapple

1 pink grapefruit, peeled and seeded

1 orange, peeled and seeded

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

2 large Chard leaves

• Blend all together in a high-speed blender
• If your regular blender will not puree the grapefruit and orange, simply use the fresh squeezed juice from each
• This GS has a refreshing light citrus flavour 
  

Nutri-Tip:

• Young Thai coconut water and meat, containing soluble fibre, soaks up water and forms a gel which can help slow down digestion.
• Coconut water is very beneficial for replacing fluid loss and can replenish the electrolyte composition in body fluids.
• Did you know that during World War II, doctors used the water in young coconuts for blood plasma? They discovered it is sterile, cool, easily absorbed by the body, and doesn't destroy red blood cells.

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Growing my own veggies makes me feel good, and fills me with joy when I go into the yard each morning to hand pick the tender leaves. This Red Russian kale plant was just bursting with life - so I took a picture!

Basic Kale GS

Yield: 1 quart

2 cups water

1 cup Red Russian Kale

1 cup sunflower sprouts

1 apple, chopped

1 banana, peeled
1" slice of fresh ginger
1 Tbsp Chia seeds

• Place ingredients (except chia seeds) into a blender and blend together until smooth
• After blending, now add Chia seeds and blend another 10 seconds only to prevent the Chia seeds from being ground into a powder, which can catch in your throat
• Let blended mixture sit for 10 minutes allowing the Chia seeds to plump up

Nutri-Tip:

• Chia seeds are 20% protein, 34% oil, 25% dietary fibre (mostly soluble that binds with fatty acids and prolongs stomach emptying time so that sugar is released and absorbed more slowly). The oil from Chia seeds contains a very high concentration of omega-3 fatty acid. Chia seeds are gluten-free!
• Ginger can be used to maintain normal blood circulation and remedy motion sickness. It can improve absorption by stimulating gastric and pancreatic enzyme secretion, is a natural treatment for colds and flu, and ginger is ideal for assisting digestion and food absorption.