permission to dine: meg's groovy smoothie
Monday, January 23 
I’m not a martyr when it comes to eating. I don’t choke down things that taste disgusting just because I’ve heard they’ll make my insides smile. But I really love it when I discover recipes and foods that are both tasty and healthy.
Lately I’ve been listening to Michael Polan’s In Defense of Food (as an audio book), and watched Dr. Terry Wahls TED video on “Minding Your Mitochondria,” where she says that if you want kickass vitality, one should aim to include three dinner plates full, or nine cups, of veggies every day. So between these voices and my stated desire to increase veggies as a New Year intention, I’m just feeling mighty free range and Portandia these days.
Perhaps we could hang out and be groovy together?
I’ll bring the tofu and you bring the sprouted couch cushions for meditating.
Also, I might be writing this post on Saturday night while sipping a glass of wine on an empty stomach before dinner. Blogging while almost tipsy is not a crime; in this case it just makes me your highly-affordable and talkative date.
Anyway, I would make you one of my delicious smoothies, which I concocted myself, and have been drinking practically every morning for the past few weeks.
Also, please do not listen to Shawn (who would happily pack a box of Little Debbie snacks as his sole food cache for a long day of hunting) who said the following after trying my latest smoothie addiction: “Where I grew up, we called this ‘silage,’ Megan. It’s meant for feeding animals, not humans.”
Pfft.
“Now if you could create a meat smoothie, then you’d be on to something,” he added.
The taste of this drink is earthy and slightly sweet.
Should you care to join me in superior health and good taste, then please assemble the following:
Meg’s Groovy Smoothie
1/3 cup of beets, shredded
1/4 cup of carrots shredded
Fresh ginger, grated (to taste)
Handful of Swiss chard or spinach, torn to small pieces
1/2 cup frozen, sweet cherries
1 cup orange juice
Put everything in the blender and push the most powerful button you have on the damn thing while holding the top down. If you need more liquid, add a bit of water to get things moving. (If you’re lucky enough to own a Vitamix, well, mixing all of this into uniformity is sissy stuff. Lucky you.) Let it run for A WHILE. If you like your smoothies cold, add a few ice cubes at the end, once you no longer see chard bits floating about, reminding you that this is a “healthy” shake. Pour into a tall glass, and enjoy.
END NOTE: Do let me know if you end up trying this recipe, and what you think.
Reader Comments (12)
Scanning the cupboard and freezer for ingredients - something tells me this very old can of cherry pie filling would not be an appropriate substitute for the frozen cherries... Just reading the ingredients reminds me of what my daughter says about the high fructose corn syrup: "Don't fruck with my corn!"
My sister offered my brother-in-law one of those health bars full of odd fibrous things, and he resisted. She said, "But it's all natural and organic." He said, "So is horse manure, but I don't eat that either, thanks anyway."
I'll let you know how my smoothie turns out. I'm sure RRD will not be asking me to share.
Now I love smoothies and I like most veggies but I just can't get into putting the two together. The health food store near my work has a smoothie/juice bar and they do combos similar to yours. I've seen them being made so I know people order them. Me? I'll stick to all-fruit smoothies. Still good for me, right?
Toss in a tablespoon of chia seeds and increase your omega-3's and calcium... :)
I prefer all fruit smoothies too. Love beets but only pickled. If you can get your boys to drink this, more power to you.
If you can get the boys to drink that, I'd say that's an opening for a new sociology segment here on the blog. "S#it I got my boys to drink!" The possibilities are endless!
This meat-based smoothie idea though... that's an un-tapped market segment. I think Shawn's on to something. I'm not quite sure of the full ingredient list, but it must have bacon. (and yes, some Lipitor for those watching their vital signs...wimps)
Hehehe...! Now, how about bacon added to Megan's recipe with Trying to be a Healthy Nurses' extras..... That might have even more potential still! I'd be willing to try it! Thanks for sharing!
I think it sounds delish! I make one similar to this, but with apples instead of cherries. I'd being willing to try cherries!
Change the beets to dark rum
Change the carrots to light rum
Change the chards to coconut cream
Keep the OJ
Blend with ice
Sprinkle with fresh grated nutmeg
There's a caribbean smoothie that makes you feel good inside and out.
Caution, operation of heavy machinery after ingestion not advised.
Both photos made this look ok. Reading the recipe made me gag. I'm out.
Yum! We make green drinks around here every morning and now I'm completely addicted. Look out! I can't wait to try beets.
NLwD: I'd love to meet that daughter of yours someday — I suspect she's just as clever and funny as you.
FaveAuntie: Too bad I didn't make you one of these while you were here! I could've gathered the boys and asked them to help me guilt you into it under the guise of the "Try it" rule, which I've tortured them with much of their lives.
Healthy Nurse: I first read about chia in the book "Born to Run" a few years ago. Since then, I keep hearing about chia seeds, but have yet to try them or find them anywhere. Guessing you can get them at the Co-op? Otherwise I'll be forced to order up one of those Chia pets and harvest the sheep "fur" for my smoothies.
SDA: Oldest Son had half of mine the other day and said, "MMm, not bad." Boo-yah!
Sexy Beast: Well, I am actually pretty expert at getting people to drink gross shit. (Not that this recipe qualifies as that in any way.) It started with my unsuspecting little brother, when I would craft fine concoctions like yogurt mixed with pickle juice or wet cat food, which he would eat...About the meat-bacon smoothie. I once ate a delicious dark chocolate bar with bacon. Seems like there are possibilities with the chocolate-bacon smoothie combo idea.
Laurie: Just saw a photo of you poor cat on FB! Hope he's OK :)
Melynda: Sweet! I'll try the apples next time I run out of cherries. I'm fond of "pink lady" apples myself.
Dad: I love you!
SueKush: But it's good for you, Sue! No, really. Don't make me fly out there and make you one.
Emily S: Do tell! What's in your green smoothies fellow groovy girl?
"silage" ..going to be giggling over that one for a while. I may have to try this. I hear chard is good for you and it sounds pretty well disguised in this. I've put beets in cake before and passed it off on unsuspecting youngsters and they ate it happily so I know there is potential there. I try not to be too much like my mom, who put zuchini in everything and bran in everything else. (remember the "magic" chocolate chip cookies dear bro? ) "don't fruct with my corn" HAHA can I put that on a T-Shirt?