Sip Your Way Skinny: Day 2- "Green Smoothies"

Who doesn't love smoothies? I like to think of them as milkshake's healthy and better looking twin sister.

They have similar consistencies, are still delish, but are (usually) made with fruits and dairy that we're told that we need!

But what else are we told that we need probably more than anything?

Veggies.

If you're like me, it can be hard to find ways to get those 3-5 servings per day that the good old food pyramid suggests.

(Veggie sticks don't count apparently. Similarly, taking vitamins in the place of veggies isn't ok either, ...or so I've been told)

So, when the Internet started exploding with "GREEN SMOOTHIE" recipes, I had to see what it was all about. 

Adding romaine, kale, chard, collards, or ....spinach to your smoothie?

I wasn't so sure. So, I tried it out.

And I'm happy to report that it was good.

 Really good.

Like, "eating healthier without noticing" kind of good. (my favorite kind).

While there are lots of recipes floating around out there, I'll share what I did with you.

(It's a good starter one, because it's not even green and scary like some).

Here's what you need:

spinach

(I tried spinach because we had it, but really any of the greens listed above are used)

frozen blueberries

strawberries

raspberries

yogurt

(I used Activia, but using greek yogurt would be great to add protein)

ice

Here's how to do it:

Layer it all into your blender/magic bullet. (I mostly just used the measurements of "half spinach, half everything else, + a few ice cubes", there's a lot of flexibility based on your preferences).

Blend until smooth.

and sip your way skinny...

And incase you haven't heard about all the health benefits of greens, I compiled a list for you.

It's just a  few of the many health benefits that drinking green smoothies have been linked to:

1. clearer skin and stronger hair and nails

2. increased energy

3. weight loss

4. regular digestion

5. stabilized blood sugar.

This info was taken from here and here, but there are a lot of articles and more benefits if you want to research a bit more.

There you have it friends... go green!

Happy Halloween and some Slime Punch.

We're not super into Halloween around here, but we do love having reasons to celebrate, dress up, and of course, make special drinks.

If you're looking for something last minute to sip on after trick-or-treating, or while you're passing out candy, we have a great one for you. Not too gory, still a bit silly, and made with things you might have on hand.

We bring you: S l i m e Punch.

Here's what you'll need:

2 c seedless green grapes

2 c sugar

1 c lime juice (we used sweetened and cut back on the sugar)

8 c club soda

1 c gin (optional--we made ours without so we could sip it with the niece and nephew)

This is enough to make about 8 servings. We cut back since there were only a few of us partaking.

Here's how to do it:

Freeze your grapes so they can act as ice cubes. About 45 minutes to an hour.

Pour in the club soda. And add green food coloring for an extra "slime-y" looking drink.

Stir in the lime juice and sugar until it's dissolved.

Finally, add in your frozen grapes.
 (They'll float at first which is extra fun, so try to keep them frozen as long as possible before serving.)

That's it! It's the perfect refreshment for those tired trick-or-treaters (and their parents).

Happy Halloween friends!

PS. Take a look at what the toddlers in our life will be wearing this year :

The Man in the Yellow Hat (made by Kirst, isn't it great?), and his monkey, Curious George.

Have you ever seen a cuter pair?

What are you guys dressing up as for Halloween? Making any fun drinks to celebrate?