The reason I don’t have smoothies regularly is because I find the glycaemic load far too high. I looooove mango and banana, but they just send me hyper. Grin. A Vita-mix would mean that I could put enough fibre in the mix in the form of tough raw veggies, to combat the sugars. One day. Some time after the Colour Analysis training, the Nile Cruise and the new back gate.

Do you grow your own sprouts? If you sprout seeds, you get all their original nutrition, plus an amazing surge of extras, that are present in the growing tips. I don’t eat enough of them to keep the growth cycle growing (end up wasting lots), but it sounds like with your family and your smoothie habit, you would make full use of them.

And the Nut idea is great. A handful of almonds and you would get a smooth creamy effect just like yoghurt, but without the dairy.

Yum!

I have independently arrived at a smoothie recipe very similar to yours. Some other things I add.

Spinach (can be purchased frozen in small ‘nuggets’ giving a uniform daily serving)

1/4 of an avocado: avocados are loaded with vitamins, antioxidants, and valuable fatty acids (also, the fat aids in the absorption of fat soluble vitamins that may be in the other ingredients.)

I also read of another recipe that uses cooled green tea for a portion of the liquid contents. I might try adding that to the mix. Anyhow, this plus a handful of almonds makes a great lunch (and prepared the night before, a very quick lunch during a busy day).

It does make a racket. My story continues with my dumping the whole thing into my food processor, having not yet realized there was a mango pit in the soup. I was in a hurry, you see. It’s not only a demonstration of my cleverness. Now, THAT made some noise. Didn’t harm the blades of the food processor though.

So off I go to Canada Tire and buy whatever’s on sale, because I live in a hurry. It happens to be this B&D $100 thing, on for $50. It’s even noisier than the mango episode. And it has this 2″x2″ display to let you know what speed button you pushed in case you forgot or were cooking in the dark. Who designs these things?

I thought about replacement blades but my track record dictates that the motor would die the day after the new blades arrived.

Thanks

My garage is a broken blender museum. I have done exactly the same as you! One victim was my doing because I absent-mindedly dropped the mango pit INTO the blender. Snapped a blade right off. Too bad too, it was my favorite blender of them all.

I know what you mean about the time to assemble all those ingredients. Since very cold drinks hurt my throat, I pre-place all the ingredients in the blender with the frozen berries at breakfast time. That seems to keep it all cold enough it all stays fresh. At noon, I just buzz it and drink. I could never manage it otherwise.

Glad you enjoy the recipes. I know they’re a bit rugged for folks used to processed food but once you get used to the health additives and the extra “texture”, it’s really quite good!

I’m sorry I didn’t catch this sooner — I didn’t realize you were a smoothie person! I LOVE smoothies — I frequently have them on the weekends for breakfast/lunch. I even bought a 2.5 horsepower blender because I killed two less-powered blenders. I hope you’ll post more recipes! How do you manage to find the time to make smoothies on weekday mornings though? I always plan to make them and then end up running out of time

Regards,
Emily

Aren’t smoothies the best? I get mine half-ready in the AM so the fruit’s not all frozen at lunch and I look forward to it all morning. The recipe is a work in progress. Lately I’m adding kiwi a lot. It’s fab.

The hemp hearts were something I had come across but dismissed as faddish & ridiculously priced at my local source, but a cousin visiting my Mom, got the ol’ ‘word of mouth’ talk from the next door neighbour, so, of course, I had to give them a go.
Supposedly, hemp hearts contain more required amino acids(proteins) than milk, eggs or meat; are more digestible than soy; more Omega 3 than fish & are suitable for those unable to eat gluten, sugar, milk, nuts & meat.
Can’t say I’ve had anything miraculous happen, but I love the nutty taste & they’ve become a staple part of my morning routine, whether I’m having a smoothie or cereal.

Any appliance that’s survived 8 years is well worth it!

I never thought of just putting the flax seed directly into the blender, instead of pre-grinding them in the coffee grinder. It seems so sensible and it would save a step. I’m going to try a few and see if they come out ground or whole.

Hemp hearts is a new one for me. Why hemp hearts?

Have to admit, that I’ve been spending a lot of time with my Mom, as she recovers from hip surgery, & gosh, I finally lost my resolve, & bought some tex-mex cheez-whiz for my own fridge. Even my son, snorts in disgust, as I’m usually much more discerning about my food choices. In my defense, I only bought the small size.
That said, you’ve inspired me to get back to smoothies. I use hemp hearts for protein (available online from a producer in Western Canada at more reasonable prices) & I throw my flax seeds straight from the freezer into my Vita-mix. I know you prefer to buy inexpensive blenders, but I’ve had my Vita-mix for 8 yrs & absolutely wouldn’t be without it. I truly think it worth the investment.

Cheers,
Gail from South Surrey, near the “west beach”.

Great to hear from you! I’m very glad your time here is worthwhile.
: )

I use a Westinghouse blender at the moment, but I have to qualify that information with a few stories.

The first is that I know from blenders, or any other electrical appliance, because I have a veritable museum of them in my garage that no longer work. I blame this on my husband and this strange magnetic field he emanates. A wristwatch will stop within 3 days of being on his arm. You should see him witch for water. It’s spooky. And he can turn towards the North blindfolded in a dark tunnel. I’m grateful his effect doesn’t expand to include computers, at least not so I’ve noticed.

So, I’ve decided I don’t favor blenders where the collar and blade assembly at the bottom unscrews. They may be easier to clean but they’re not as strong. Having said that, I only buy the cheaper ones because everything eventually finds its way to the museum. I don’t spend more than $40 on a blender.

Also, I don’t put ice cubes in my smoothies. Swallowing very cold drinks is uncomfortable to me. On the rare occasion that I’ve made a daiquiri : ) , it crushes ice very smoothly and fast.

You can see it here. It just has 3 speeds because I do everything on High anyhow. I think I bought it at Zellers. So far, it’s been more durable than any of the others.

http://kitchen.manualsonline.com/manuals/mfg/westinghouse/wst2024ze.html

The Oster I got 12 years ago as a wedding gift got sold in my garage sale because it left way too many ice chunks in my smoothies.

Thanks for your help and info!!! I am sooooooooooo glad I found you!

The blog is a labour of love, and it truly is both ( a labour and a love).

I will tell you honestly that there are times (mostly when I’m tired) when I think “why would anyone care what I have to say about anything?” . I’m very honored to say that I receive many lovely comments like yours and it truly keeps me more motivated and inspired than anything else could.

As you say, it does give me some sanity…or at least some direction. I’m on this journey too, traveling the same path, making life all it can be, and reacting to the negativity that is out there.

The coconut oil is a controversial topic. The jury seems to me to be out. There are passionate believers (just google “coconut oil” and you’ll find lots on MCT’s, anti-viral and immune-boosting properties; testimonials and credentials abound) and adamant or cautious non-believers (like here :

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA316479) .

I don’t know the final answer, so I do use it but only about twice a week.

Favorite steamed vegetables? You know, I like anything except eggplant. Usually it’s broccoli, Brussel sprouts, red cabbage, Swiss chard, kale. I do eat yellow vegetables, but in lesser quantities because they’re starchy. I battle my weight just like most women do.

I’m glad you enjoyed the foods and cancer book. I found it simply exceptional. As you say, best explanation of cancer I’ve seen.

Regarding your husband, you know who I’d ask? Dr. John LaPuma. He’s fabulous, really. And there may be more to this than simply the addition of calories. An MD’s input seems like a sound idea to me. Go to http://www.chefmd.com and post a question. And sign up for his email recipes, they’re wonderful. I learn something new with the Health Tip that comes with each one.

Thanks again for your comment! It will put a smile on my face for the rest of the day.

I feel as full in a few hours as I do after eating any meal. It works out to about 2 large glasses. Along with a plate of greens of some sort, and a piece of dark chocolate, I actually feel quite full. I’m hungry by supper, but not ravenous. Green tea in the afternoon, or a glass of red wine, and I’m fine. It’s a pretty solid smoothie. People watching me “drink” it have asked me what I’m chewing on : )

Rosalie,

So this is interesting. Is there an advantage to keeping flax in the freezer, or is it just the convenience of pre-grinding a supply and then keeping it fresh? I grind it as I need it, but I don’t store the seeds in the freezer. I figure if they’re out on the floor in the store, what would I gain by freezing them? My freezer, well, it’s full of NoName ice cream (so I’m not tempted to get into it) , frozen fresh herbs, nuts, and Bill’s chicken wings.

I’m interested in the Keffir and have read some really good things. You’ve reminded to try it. I know I’ll like it.

The pineapple? No special reason, it just tastes good and provides diet variety. It does contain bromelain and there are various sources that discuss its health benefits. I’m not certain about the anti-inflam virtues of pineapple, though I do believe in the whole anti-inflam thing wholeheartedly, both inside and out.

At http://www.drweil.com, there’s a lot of good stuff about his version of this diet, like this page

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02012/anti-inflammatory-diet

It’ s very close to how I eat, minus a few of the supplements. I believe it is right on the money.