Fruit and Vegetable smoothies

We were inspired last week by a documentary and website called Fat Sick and Almost Dead. A fellow named Joe Cross had poor health due to inactivity and poor diet choices and did a big lifestyle change to regain his health. We did not want to buy a juicer (another appliance to buy, store, clean and eventually dispose of) but we have a good blender so we have been making an effort to make and drink healthy smoothies. These have been great because we make up a few jars at once, put them in the refrigerator and they are cold and instantly ready. Fast food at its best!

Some of the combinations we have tried are:

Carrot Juice

2 cups shredded carrots

6 cups water

Blend them together for two minutes.

Strain out the pulp through a fine mesh strainer and keep the juice as a healthy base for smoothies. 

You can save the pulp for soup in the freezer.

Blueberry Kale

3 cups water or carrot juice

6 pitted dates

2 cups kale (stems removed)

2 cups frozen blueberries

1 banana

Blend the water and dates first to ensure there are no chunks in the bottom.

Blend it all together until smooth.

Refrigerate or serve.

Strawberry Kale

3 cups water or carrot juice

6 pitted dates

2 cups kale (stems removed)

2 cups frozen strawberries

1 banana

Blend the water and dates first to ensure there are no chunks in the bottom.

Blend it all together until smooth.

Refrigerate or serve.

Mango Kale

3 cups water or carrot juice

6 pitted dates

2 cups kale (stems removed)

2 cups chopped mango

1 banana

Blend the water and dates first to ensure there are no chunks in the bottom.

Blend it all together until smooth.

Refrigerate or serve.

**This one is a bright green colour and will attract comments when you drink it but it tastes tropical due to the mango and banana.

These are combinations we did this weekend but you can vary the fruit for others and we have used greens such as spinach, collard greens, beet greens, or anything else you would like to try. 

The dates add sweetness to the drinks and if you don't need it sweetened you can reduce or omit them. If you like it sweeter you can add more.
Fat Sick and Almost Dead

Joe shot this documentary in 2007 and is still 100 pounds less than when he started.