The Smoothie Files

I love reading articles, and will notoriously research any topic that I want to learn more about. Ah, the joy of the internet! I can quickly learn about nearly anything, and fully accept that I am a product of our technology-driven world. My brain is full of tidbits, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Learning something new every day, even if it's generally unimportant, keeps me energized!

My most recent Google Escapade was inspired by seeing an article about Wellness and eating more fruits and vegetables. The suggested daily intake of fruits and veggies has always seemed to be impossible to meet, and I find it hard to believe that ANYONE can take in 5-13 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. I knew without a doubt that I come nowhere near the recommended intake, so some creative solutions were necessary. I learned that with a 2,000 calories per day intake, I should have 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables. Every day. Yuck.

After trolling recipe websites for delicious vegetable recipes, I decided upon a "Green Smoothie". I like the idea of a smoothie, because I can make it ahead and take it to the office. I never realized that working in an office full of ladies would cause complete diet failure due to all the delish treats they are constantly bringing in, so bringing in something healthy has become a necessity to ward off hunger and unnecessary donuts or cookies or chocolate on a daily basis. Those evil temptresses! (I of course meant the treats, not the ladies, heehee.)

The green smoothie recipes I found sounded just terrible, but I decided to give it the old college try...After several failed attempts at green, chunky, unappealing drinks, I finally found the combination of fruits and hearty greens that is both delicious and super healthy. I still can't get my boyfriend to drink one, but I think they are just amazing. I like to divvy up all my fruits and veggies at once, making about 8 or 10 shake packs at once to freeze.

While researching smoothie recipes, I found information about about Chia seeds, which are supposed to be a raw, organic superfood that also staves off hunger. My mom, who is a health officianado, corroborated this finding, she uses Chia seeds on everything. If it's something that she would buy and use on the reg, I know it must be good for me. I found a 1-pound bag of these seeds online for $10, which was a third of the cost that I found at the health food store. Boom!

Okay, enough about articles I've read, here's my recipe. Combine all ingredients evenly between your smoothie bags, place in freezer for grab and go ease. I'll start with about 8 ounces of purified water and the Chia seeds, then add a smoothie pack and blend until smooth. Each bag makes 16-20 ounces. Enjoy!

 

8 sandwich size ziploc baggies
4 bananas, peeled and cut in half
4 medium red apples, cored and cut in half
4 Bartlett pears, cored and cut in half
2 avocados, cut in quarters
3-4 cups red or green grapes (1 large bunch)
1 large bunch kale
1 8-oz. package frozen spinach (or 1 large bunch fresh spinach)
4 oranges, peeled and cut in half
1/4 tsp chia seeds per smoothie pack (I typically add these right before blending, I don't know if the nutritious properties fade when these are frozen)