Try these green smoothies to help kickstart your weight loss!
The health benefits of a smoothie containing fresh fruits and vegetables are extensive, but often times juices and smoothies only contain fruit and can be very high in calories. Leafy green vegetables are helpful for weight management because they are low in calories and contain essential nutrients like dietary fiber, folic acid, vitamin c, potassium and magnesium along with phytochemicals like lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene that also help protect cells from free radical damage. Studies have shown the numerous health benefits of a diet righ in leafy green vegetables. One study showed that even one daily serving of green leafy vegetables may help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by 11 percent. (1)
Start your day with this great Skinny Ms. Smoothie, or some of the juices below. There’s nothing better for your body than nutrients from fresh, whole foods. Try one of these great recipes today, they’re great for a breakfast, a short juice fast or just for the taste.
If you are completing the Three Day Cleanse & Detox click here for the recipes.
Mean Green Juice 1 – Ingredients: 6-8 leaves kale, 2 green apples, 1 cucumber, peeled, 2-3 stalks celery, 1/2 lemon (no peel), 2 inches fresh ginger, 1 cup water
Mean Green Juice 2 – Ingredients: 1/2 pear, 1/2 green apple, 1 handful spinach, 1 handful parsley, 2 celery stalks, 1/2 cucumber, 1 small piece ginger, 1 slice of papaya
Mean Green Juice 3 – Ingredients: 2 stalks celery, 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 apple, 1/2 lemon, 1 small piece ginger, 1/2 green chard leaf (*optional, 1 additional kale leaf can be used instead), 1 bunch cilantro leaves, chopped, 5 kale leaves, 1 handful spinach
Mean Green Juice 4 – Ingredients: 1 handful of spinach, 3 stalks of celery, 1 small handful of parsley, 1 small bunch of dandelion greens, 1 small bunch of watercress leaves, 3 leaves of green kale, 2 bartlett pears, seeded ¼ lemon, peeled ½ cucumber, peeled
Check out more great drink recipes on the Skinny Ms. Pinterest Page! We’ve also got great Skinny Ms. Smoothies, that easily adjust with a handful of your favorite greens. Share your favorite green smoothie recipe, by leaving us a comment below.
References:
- http://www.vegetarian-nutrition.info/updates/benefits-of-green-leafy-vegetables.php
Should I peel the apples before mixing all the ingredients together?
Kim, Peel only if they are non-organic.
Are this recipes just to use with a juicer? or Can these just be blended?
Meredith, Both. I use a blender most of time but add more water to thin it out a little.
I should rephrase — do these make 1 serving?
Cathie, Yes, 1 serving.
Taylor, We haven’t done the calorie count but should have it added soon. 🙂
I made the first one and I'm sorry, but it tastes terrible! I don't know how I will drink this for 3 days!
Hi, is there anything you can subsitute for cucumber? I hate the taste of it, it makes me feel sick! :/
You can omit the cucumber from the drink and add water.
Are these specific I really like my strawberry, banana, spinach smoothie that I have in the morning
That's great too!
I live in Thailand and we dont have lemons can i use a lime instead
Nikki, Limes work just as well as lemons in this. Enjoy.
Instead of papaya can I use pineapple
Tegi, Yes, you can use pineapple in place of the papaya.
is bloating to be expected
Andrea, There can be bloating initially, yes, but it's just water. It depends on the person.
I find that this makes an enormous drink – two large glassfuls. Is that correct? I didn't put in as much celery, cucumber or spinach and it is still a huge drink. Don't know how I will get through it all!
Feel free to cut down on the ingredients if it's too much for you to comfortably drink.
How many servings are these shakes? They seem huge.
Sydn3y, If put through the juicer, they are about 1 serving. If blending in a high power blender, they will make about 2 to 3 servings.
Was wondering about the lemon in the smoothie. Do you need to include the peel?
Rita, You don’t need to include the peeling.
Can I substitute kale for spinach?
Michelle, Sure can! 🙂
Mean Green Juice 4 as a smoothie: definitely 3 servings.
Also, add an orange, some fresh pineapple, or maybe even a banana. I find that citrus like pineapple really helps to cut the green flavor. As is as a smoothie, it needs something to make it palatable.
I’m powering through it like a beast, though.
Andrea, Good for you. Love your positive attitude!!! 🙂