Green Smoothies

Green Smoothies

I've seen a lot about green smoothies over the last couple months.  I'm so glad!  It's a fantastic way to add raw, dark leafy greens to your diet (perfect if you're pregnant or nursing!).  It's completely raw and dairy free too! 

I know you're thinking, "why on earth would I add spinach or kale to a perfectly good smoothie?".  Trust me, it's amazing!  My 5 and 1 year old LOVE them and so does my picky husband.  :)  You actually can't taste the greens at all!  Your body will thank you for it too!

So here's how I make green smoothies.

What you'll need:

Frozen Fruit Medley 

Spinach or Kale (or both)

Coconut Milk

Banana

 2 handfuls of greens (this equals about 3-4 cups)

1 banana cup up.  The riper, the better!

2 cups of frozen fruit

1 cup of coconut milk.  

Put in blender in that order.  Greens, fresh fruit, frozen fruit, liquid.  

This makes sure the greens are well blended and the frozen fruit doesn't all freeze together in the liquid.  It takes longer to blend and you have to stop and break it up.  I have a cheap blender so that may not be a problem if you have a nicer one.

No need for ice because of the frozen fruit.

**A Tip**

If you don't like the taste of greens or this is your first time experimenting with them, go with spinach.  Kale is so good for you but it is harder to cover up the taste.  Usually a good ripe banana will cover the taste of it.  My husband isn't a huge fan of the kale and would rather have spinach only.  Or you could add a little honey and an extra banana too!  I bet that would take care of it!  After drinking them for a while though you can start to add more greens.  

Experiment with your favorite fruits!  I feel as though it's the banana that covers up the "green" taste. As long as that banana is in there you can't go wrong!

Now you know how, but here's why!

Spinach:

fiber in spinach helps curve overeating, prevents constipation, aids in digestion, and keeps blood sugar low

fights against cancer and heart disease

packed with antioxidants

can lower blood pressure

contributes to glowing skin

boost immune system

Kale:

aids in digestion

helpful for your immune system, metabolism, and hydration

high in calcium, has more per calorie than milk

has more iron than beef

helps protect against cancer

great cardiovascular support and can help lower cholesterol

Hope you enjoy!  How do you make your smoothies? 

happy homemaking, 

April

Weight Loss: Who does it glorify?

Your approach to weight loss is either sinful or fruitful. It can be sinful in obvious ways, such as pride, lust, and jealousy.  The sin that is the easiest to fall into, however, is one most overlooked.  For example, if I were to lose weight because I'm gorgeous and when I lose weight then John will think I'm hot and that will make Jane jealous.  Well that's obviously pride, lust, and jealousy!!  But I also have to evaluate if I'm looking at my weight loss as the key to my happiness.  Am I making an idol out of losing weight?  Is my self worth found in a number on the scale?  Of course not, my worth is found in the fact that I am a child of God!  No number is greater than that.  However, if we are being honest and realistic, we want that number on the scale to go down.  If it doesn't go down, we would be upset.  Does that mean that being upset about weight gain is sinful?  I don't think so.  Weight loss is hard work, time consuming, and expensive.  When you put your heart into something, you expect results.  So how can weight loss be fruitful?  

It's our hearts that matter.  

Take the earlier example.  If I want to lose weight because I want to glorify God with my body and I want to be visually appealing to my husband and I can help and encourage Jane along the way.  My heart is turned towards God and not towards myself.  I have to be sure that I'm glorifying God and ministering to Dax and to Jane.  Because my heart has changed, my motives are different.  I love The Biggest Loser.  Every contestant has a motivating factor; children, spouse, family, health, and so on.  There is always a point in the show where the contestant will say "I was here just for my daughter, but now I'm really here for me too".  This is always the "turning point" for them.  I want to just scream, DO THIS FOR CHRIST!!!  

O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name.

Psalms 44:8

Is it glorifying God to be a mother who doesn't sit around on the couch all day?  Yes.  Does that mean that you should spend hours in the gym?  No.  Is working out to remain attractive to your husband a ministry?  Yes.  Does that mean being a size 6?  No!  Is it a ministry to cook healthy food for your family?  Of course.  Does that mean it has to be all organic and made from scratch?  Of course not!  I would even raise this question; is enjoying your favorite foods glorifying God?  I say, yes, why not!  But there is a difference between enjoying and worshiping.

It is so easy to make an idol out of food.  I have dealt with this my entire life and it has been a hard struggle.  I have suffered from every eating disorder there is.  The hardest to let go of is over eating.  I made a god out of it.  Sad, eat.  Happy, eat.  Mad, eat.  Feeling out of control, eat.(this usually proved how out of control I was)  Food was my comfort and my peace.  I worshiped food and my pants size showed it.  Worship of food can go both ways though.  I can put so much pride and emphasis on preparing only this (organic) or that (whole foods) kind of meals.  That too can be sinful!  

I have to pray and repent about this daily.  Now I pray while making my grocery list.  I pray at the grocery store to make good purchases, both our health and finances.  God has convicted me while writing this to pray while cooking, for the people that will be eating it.  If we seek God in our weight loss and pray for guidance, He will never let us down.  

-April