Spinach is my new Folgers.

Unless you dig the color green like I do, you might think a bright green drink looks odd, but I promise I’ve never had someone say a green smoothie is not delicious.  Even my 3-year old nephew, who generally prefers non-vegetable food, has been known to say, "Get out the salad mommy, let's make smoothies."  I used to drink coffee all day and most of the night long.  Now I drink green smoothies in the morning, and some green tea throughout the day, and I honestly don’t miss the Joe.  

Let’s discuss.  When you think of a smoothie, do you think of milk or yogurt as a “base”?  Rid yourself of that thought for a moment because green smoothies have neither.  They are simply greens (I like spinach or kale), fruit, water and a few ice cubes if you like it slushy.  That’s it! 

Not sold?  A few more votes in favor of giving it a try:

• Green smoothies help you get in an extra serving (or two) of vegetables for the day.  Use this calculator assembled by the CDC to determine what you need.  Most of us need more!
• The plethora of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants contained in the drink are readily absorbed by your body because the blender does the first step in digestion for you. 
• Fiber!  You’ll get a big dose from the leafy greens and the fruit, especially the apple, which helps keep your gut in good, clean shape.  In fact, according to Dr. Andrew Weill, “The insoluble fiber in apples attaches to LDL cholesterol in the digestive tract and removes it from the body; adding one large apple to the daily diet has been shown to reduce serum cholesterol by up to 11 percent.” 
• It’s a quick and easy breakfast to make (and take on the go) for those of us who have trouble finding time for breakfast.
• They taste really good. 

Very Almost Healthy challenge for the week:

1. Go buy a big thing of baby spinach, a bunch of bananas and a bag of apples.  (I’m assuming you’ll be making more than one smoothie this week J  All you need for a serving is one banana and one apple.)
2. Wash the spinach!  Even if it says triple washed, wash it, especially if it’s not organic. 
3. Throw a handful of the spinach in a blender with about a ¼ cup of water and blend until you have green liquid. 
4. Drop in a banana (I like to peel and freeze mine ahead of time) and a sliced apple, and blend again.  If the smoothie is too thick to blend, add a little bit of water and try again.
5. Drink it. 

It’ll be awesome.  I won’t say it often, but in this case I will: I promise.