Hi friends!
An early morning post — surprise!! 
Right after I get off of work today I am meeting up with my brother for our belated xmas gift exchange and then I have dinner plans directly following. So I’m here bright and early this morning, knowing that I won’t be back in front of the PC again until LATE tonight. Guess where I’m going for the dinner plans?? I’ll give you a hint: my plate will most likely have GIGANDE beans on it!!
I made the BIGGEST GREEN smoothie yesterday morning after I finished my Physique 57 workout. I almost couldn’t fit the lid on the BlendTec. (Do you think that’s bad for a blender??) And as I poured this 34 ouncer into a massive cup, it occurred to me that I haven’t been posting the “parts and pieces” that I throw into my smoothies these days. I guess I figured they might be old hat to some of you who have been reading for a while. But for the sake of new readers (and in an effort to convince the rest of you to make a green smoothie) I should consider doing that more often. I’ll start right now!
The Über-Green Smoothie
- 9 oz water
- 1 apple (cut into chunks)
- 2 cuties/clemetines (peel removed)
- 1/2 very large cucumber (peeled)
- 1 stalk celery
- 1/2 avocado
- large fistful of spinach
- medium fistful of clover sprouts
Blend away!
Mmm avocado in a green smoothie makes it so thick and creamy! This smoothie rocked. It kept me full for almost 3 hours.
While we are on the subject of green smoothies, do you ever make your smoothies ahead of time to drink later? I never used to do that, but have made a few “to go smoothies” to take to work and drink later in the day while I’m there. The idea of it used to gross me out until one of my training clients told me that she makes hers the night before, then gives it a good shake the next day when she’s ready to drink it and it still tastes great. So I figured if she can do hers overnight, mine could sit in the fridge for a few hours.
The smoothie still TASTES fine, but I’ve learned that they don’t agree with me after they’ve been blended and held for later consumption. Folks, I’m gonna get a little “TMI” on ya here: I end up looking about 5 months pregnant – I’m NOT kidding! My lower abdomen gets really distended and … uh.. ummm… well, a little gassy if you don’t mind my saying!
DOES THIS HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE?? I have to know if this is just me and my ridiculously sensitive ‘system’ or if others experience this.
It makes me wonder if it has to do with the enzymes, natural sugars or fiber breaking down (or something along those lines.) There are no protein powders in my to-go shakes (I nixed those early on out of the ones I take to work, in case the protein powder was the culprit). I can make two identical smoothies, drink one immediately with no tummy trouble, but drink the other one 2 hours later and have it cause a very unhappy belly. Hmmm, mysterious.
So do tell if you have had this happen (if you don’t want to post that kind of info in the comments section for all to see, feel free to email me directly shari@fitfeat.com)
#1 by Joan on January 17, 2010 - 1:01 pm
Quote
Hi Shari,
I just saw this post for the first time, somehow I missed it but I do have an opinion to add. I wonder if your (everyones) stomach acids are more concentrated in the morning and can break down the food more effictively than later in the day when the stomach acids are more diluted with liquids, coffee, breakfast etc. Perhaps a digestive enzyme with that 2nd smoothie? I’ve read papaya is a great digestion aide so if your research agrees, perhaps some papaya added into every afternoon smoothie would be enough?
I had an awful time long ago when I would eat an apple after lunch. Then some smart person told me to eat the apple first then my lunch, so the food would ‘push it through’. It worked, but I still don’t eat much fruit anyway.
I think I may need the digestive enzymes to better digest fruits. I have two kinds of enzymes, one has papaya. just some thoughts to consider.
Joan´s last blog ..January Cheer!
#2 by Shari B. on January 18, 2010 - 9:21 am
Quote
Hi Joan,
Thank you for the Papaya idea, I’ll definitely give that a shot. When I do my second green smoothie, it’s always the next thing I have after the first green smoothie so there shouldn’t be much else in its way. From food combining perspective I’ve had the same issue with most fruit, like you had with the apple. I learned that for me, I needed to eat fruit either by itself or only with greens because it digests faster and if it’s mixed with harder-to-digest foods, it will begin to ferment in your GI tract.
I do have some digestive enzymes, so I’ll give that a shot next time too!
Thank you for the great suggestions!
#3 by Cindy on January 14, 2010 - 9:08 am
Quote
Magic bullets are AWESOME. Esp if you just want to do a small, quick snack, dressing or even a smoothie.
I love mine and it’s always out…and often in my lunch bag.
yah…some offices are not conducive to creative and healthy eating) i am lucky mine is pretty good about all that. we have a mini kitchen(ette) in our dept and I normally just make all my stuff there and than we have the LUNCHROOM kitchen that is full of toaster ovens and stuff. (sink AND the insta hot)
I am spoiled. Than I have my underdesk bag of old appliances I use. Like my mini chopper, my mini rice cooker (that I took back home and am using again) and things like that. It would be so harder to eat as much raw and plant based things without my goodies.
I guess I will appreciate that today!
Cindy´s last blog ..I got some sleep
#4 by Paula on January 13, 2010 - 2:17 pm
Quote
Nice color! I love green smoothies! I have taken one to work for later, but wasn’t fan. I am thinking I need a magic bullet to keep at work.
Paula´s last blog ..One-Dish-Dinner
#5 by Shari B. on January 14, 2010 - 6:39 am
Quote
Hi Paula – if you do get a magic bullet, let me know what you think of it! I don’t have one either…
#6 by Cindy on January 13, 2010 - 8:52 am
Quote
OH MY GOODNESS what a bummer Shari. I make my smoothies “for later” all the time because I am up waaaay before the baby is and would wake him and so I make mine mostly at night right after he goes to bed (or before) but at any rate I always make mine the night before and it has never done that to me. I also don’t put the PP in mine when it “sits” I drink them fresh on weekends but M-F are made ahead.
sigh
office life, huh?
sorry you get that effect. NO GOOD.
are you able to make them at the office? I bring my magic bullet sometimes and make fresh smoothies if I got lazy and didn’t make ahead. It’s a pain dragging everything to work but in a pinch it works.
I also keep a mini chopper under my desk for at the desk food processor. haha
we haven’t had our christmas with my brother either. Need to set a date!
HAPPY WEDNESDAY
Cindy´s last blog ..I Tried…Really, I TRIED
#7 by Shari B. on January 14, 2010 - 6:38 am
Quote
Hi Cindy! It’d be a little tough to use a Magic Bullet in our small office – we have internal wholesalers on the phone non-stop. Maybe if I took it to the ladies’ room!
For the time being, I’ll just drink them at home before I go, and do a different snack at work. I need to look into a Magic Bullet… haven’t yet since we have the BlendTec, but maybe the MB is worth a look!