Green Zen

Green Zen

I find the green smoothies are my favourite, especially this one which I find very Zen like, relaxing, soothing and oh-so-nutricious! It’s really high in Vitamin’s A & C, a good source for Calcium and Iron and high in dietary fiber.  I especially love the dash of lime that brings a refreshing zip to the creamy avocado, garlic and cilantro & spinach combination.

DSC_0013_watermark #3 Green Zen

Ingredients:
Makes 1.5 litres (3 servings of 500ml each)

  • 3 cups water
  • 1 cucumber, chopped
  • 1 avocado
  • 1/2 bunch cilantro
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 limes, peel/rind removed
  • 2-3 handfuls spinach

Add all ingredients to the blender in the order listed. Blend on low speed and gradually increase speed. Blend on high until smooth and frothy. To learn more about how I create smoothies visit My Smoothie Approach and if you are looking for a blender visit my post on Choosing a Blender for some ideas that will fit any budget. Enjoy!!

Nutrition Green Zen

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Creamy Blueberry Banana Smoothie

Creamy Blueberry Banana Smoothie

If you create this smoothie with a Vitamix you will absolutely love the fluffy, creamy texture.  Mmmm Deee-Licious!! Definitely one of my favourites. Very high in vitamins A and C, a great source of iron and calcium and lots of fibre! Not to mention the antioxidants from the blueberries.  All in all a nutritious powerhouse!

DSC_0006_watermark blue ban almond flax spin

Ingredients:
Makes 1.5 litres (3 x 500ml servings)

  • 3 cups water
  • 2 cups blueberries
  • 1 banana
  • 1 big handful raw almonds (soaked overnight and rinsed well in the morning)
  • 2 tbsp flaxseed
  • 3-4 big handfuls spinach

Add all ingredients to the blender in the order listed. Blend on low speed and gradually increase speed. Blend on high until creamy and fluffy. To learn more about how I create smoothies visit My Smoothie Approach and if you are looking for a blender visit my post on Choosing a Blender for some ideas that will fit any budget. Enjoy!!

Nutrition blue ban almond flax spin

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Raspberry Mango Smoothie

Raspberry Mango Smoothie

I love this combination.  The tartness of raspberries with the sweet and creaminess of mango makes this smoothie a definite keeper!

DSC_0001_watermark mango rasp spin

Ingredients:
Makes 1.5 litres (3 x 500ml servings)

  • 3 cups water
  • 1 mango, chopped
  • 2 cups raspberries
  • 3-4 big handfuls spinach

Add all ingredients to the blender in the order listed. Blend on low speed and gradually increase speed. Blend on high until smooth and frothy. To learn more about how I create smoothies visit My Smoothie Approach and if you are looking for a blender visit my post on Choosing a Blender for some ideas that will fit any budget. Enjoy!!

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1-Day Mini-Cleanse

1-Day Mini-Cleanse

Do you ever feel like your body just needs a quick reset?

Perhaps you are a little more tired than usual. Perhaps you’ve been working too much and not exercising enough.  Perhaps you’ve been eating a little more than usual or eating things that just don’t jive with your body.

Whatever it is, you are just a bit “off” and need something to kick-start your body.

This ARV 1-Day Mini-Cleanse will leave you feeling clean, refreshed and energized after just one EASY PEASY day!! 

The best part with the 1-Day mini-cleanse is YOU WON’T BE HUNGRY!! You can drink as much smoothie and eat as much salad as you need to with only two conditions:

  1. only eat when you are hungry and;
  2. stop eating when you are full.

TIP:  Don’t forget, feeling “full” on healthy clean food is a much “lighter full” than “full” on not so healthy food which is more like a “sluggish need to sleep and relax NOW” kinda full. Just saying ;-)

So isn’t that great news!  It’s only for 1-Day, you won’t be hungry, and you will be left feeling clean, refreshed and energized and hey, you might even loose a pound or two!!

How great is that?

I’m starting the cleanse myself this Saturday, does anyone want to join me?

Sweet Pepper Salad w/ Romaine

1-Day Mini-Cleanse

Here’s how it works in 4 – EASY PEASY Steps:

  1. Start your day with a large glass of water with juice of 1/2 lemon. If you are chilled you are welcome to use hot water, or if you prefer you can use warm or even cold water. Starting your day with lemon water helps reduce your body’s overall acidity, (yes lemon is acidic but once metabolized it does not create acidity in the body), it also helps to wakeup the liver and flush out unwanted toxins.
  2. Throughout the morning and all through the day, enjoy 2 litres (8 cups/64oz) of the Cleansing Green Smoothie (recipe below).  For example you might enjoy 500ml/2cups at 3 hour intervals – 8am and again at 11am, 2pm and 5pm. Note: If 2 litres isn’t enough for you, then by all means make a 2nd batch or 1.5 batches…listen to your body and don’t starve yourself!! Drink enough to be full**.
  3. For dinner enjoy a GREAT BIG Clean Green Salad (recipe below).
  4. Also drink as much water or herbal tea as you like throughout the day and evening. Make sure you have at least 6-8 glasses of water (hot or cold) throughout the day/evening. I also love hot water (yup, plain hot water) I find it warms my insides and feels surprisingly satisfying, especially on days when you aren’t having any cooked foods.

And that’s it!

Easy Peasy!

Give it a try! Email me (AlmostRawVegan@bell.net) with subject “1-Day Cleanse” and I will be happy to answer your questions and support you through the day!! Enjoy!! xox

DSC_0021_watermark #6 pasley cilan apple lemon

Cleansing Green Smoothie

Green smoothie (i.e. smoothies with only a little fruit or no fruit at all) will leave your body feeling refreshed, clean and energized – more so than any fruit based smoothie. Don’t get me wrong, I love fruit based smoothies (as you know from my gazillion recipes), but there’s something especially wonderful about the cleansing and refreshing effect of true green smoothies.

This smoothie is chocked full of nutrients and is an excellent source of Vitamins A & C, it’s high in fibre, great source of iron and calcium. The best part is that both cilantro and parsley are great cleaners.  Parsley cleans the blood and gives you fresh breath and the high levels of chlorophyl helps cleanse your entire system. Cilantro binds with toxins and helps eliminate them from the body. So you are in good cleansing hands with this Smoothie ;-)

Ingredients:
Makes approx. 2 litres

  • 4 cups coconut water (or filtered water if you have no coconut water)
  • 1/2 bunch parsley
  • 1 bunch cilantro
  • 1 lemon, peel/rind removed
  • 1 apple, cored and chopped
  • 1/2 bunch romaine

Add all ingredients to the blender in the order listed. Blend on low speed and gradually increase speed. Blend on high until smooth and frothy.

You’ll want to store the smoothies in jars – if you have it, use 4 x 500ml mason jars. Fill the jars to the top (the less air the better as it’s the air exposure that will reduce the effectiveness of the enzymes (see Why Eat Raw).  Screw lids on very tight and store in the fridge. If you are on the go, add the jars to a travel bag with ice packs.

Now if you feel 2 litres isn’t enough for you, by all means create another 1/2 or full batch. If you make too much you can always use it the morning after.  Just be sure to drink what your body needs and don’t starve yourself.  Remember to drinks lots of water (hot or cold) and herbal tea as this will also help take the edge off.

To learn more about how I create smoothies visit My Smoothie Approach and if you are looking for a blender visit my post on Choosing a Blender for some ideas that will fit any budget. Enjoy!!

Great BIG Clean GREEN Salad

For dinner enjoy this salad:

  • 1-2 heads of whatever combination of greens you like (spinach, romaine, kale, etc.)
  • 2-3 cups of your favourite raw veggies (tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, cucumber, beets, etc.)
  • 1 big handful of sprouts like sunflower sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, pea sprouts, etc (sprouts are amazing living foods with tons of protein)
  • For added flavour & spice you can add:
    • any fresh herbs you like, i.e. cilantro, parsley, thyme, basil (you can use dry herbs, but I think fresh tastes more yummy and fresh also offers more nutrients)
    • some minced garlic and/or ginger
    • a chopped up hot pepper!!
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • lots of fresh ground pepper
  • NOTE: just make sure you don’t use any oil, no nuts/seeds, no avocado, no grains or legumes, no potatoes (sweet or regular).

Add chopped greens (spinach, romaine and/or kale, etc.) to a large bowl. Add chopped veggies, chopped sprouts and toss together.  Add herbs, garlic/ginger and/or hot peppers.  Top with juice from lemon and lots of fresh ground pepper.  Toss well together. Enjoy as much as you like to feel full! For some that will be 1-2 bowls, for others you may eat 3-4 bowls. Eat what your body needs and the rest can be saved for lunch the next day. Keep in mind the “full” you feel after a day of cleansing will be a “nice light” full vs. the almost sluggish full you feel when you eat a heavy meal ;-) Enjoy and Happy 1-Day Cleansing! xox

dsc_0034_watermark-tom-zuc-sprout-spin-seed-salad1

That’s it, that’s all.  How EASY PEASY is that?

So, I’m starting the cleanse myself this Saturday, does anyone want to join me?

I can’t wait to hear from you! Email me (AlmostRawVegan@bell.net) with subject “1-Day Cleanse”. I’d love to hear from you, answer your questions, hear how you like the cleanse, how you feel!

I can’t wait to hear from you.  xox

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Ruby Picante Smoothie

Ruby Picante Smoothie

A wonderful ruby red smoothie that is filled with immune boosting nutrients.  Not only is it high in dietary fibre, but it’s also very high in potassium as well as vitamins A & C. A good source of iron and calcium as well as high in magnesium and vitamin B6. The hot pepper will warm your insides while the carrots contain loads of beta carotene, a powerful phytonutrient that boosts the immune system.

DSC_0009_watermark #2 ruby after

Ingredients:
1.5 litres (3 servings 500ml each)

  • 3 – 31/2 cups water
  • 3 carrots, chopped
  • 1 large beet, chopped
  • Beet greens from 1 large beet (approx. 2-3 cups)
  • 1 green apple, cored and chopped
  • 1 lemon, juices
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped

Add all ingredients to the blender in the order listed. Blend on low speed and gradually increase speed. Blend on high until smooth and frothy. To learn more about how I create smoothies visit My Smoothie Approach and if you are looking for a blender visit my post on Choosing a Blender for some ideas that will fit any budget. Enjoy!!

DSC_0008_watermark #2 ruby before

Nutrition - Ruby Picante Smoothie

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Mango Orange Simplicity Smoothie

Mango Orange Simplicity Smoothie

I am totally addicted to mangoes! At this time of year when they are plentiful, I will enjoy mangoes every day (and some!! ;-) ). It’s not uncommon to see me standing over the sink enjoying the plush juiciness of a mango right from the peel/core! Oh my lord, I so love them!! Needless to say I have enjoyed many mangoes these past few weeks. When using mangoes in smoothies, I like to keep it simple as I love the flavour and texture that Mangoes give to any smoothie. This smoothie is a prime example, I love its simplicity with only a few ingredients, but very powerful and nutritious ingredients! This smoothie is very high in Vitamins A & C as well it is high in Vitamin B6, potassium and dietary fiber. Oh and I love the brilliant green colour of mango smoothies! My love affair with mangoes is never ending! As always, I hope you will enjoy as much as I do! ♡♡

DSC_0004_watermark mango orange sunflw sprout spin BEFORE

Ingredients:
Makes 1.5 litres (3 servings of 500ml each) ♡ although I drank the whole batch myself! Yup, I did! ;-)

  • 3 cups water
  • 1 mango
  • 1 orange
  • 1 big handful sunflower sprouts
  • 3 big handfuls spinach

Add all ingredients to the blender. Blend on low speed and gradually increase speed. Blend on high until smooth and frothy. To learn more about how I create smoothies visit My Smoothie Approach and if you are looking to purchase a blender visit my post on Choosing a Blender for some ideas that will fit any budget. Enjoy!!

DSC_0003_watermark mango orange sunflw sprout spin GLASS

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Blueberry Mango Orange Smoothie

Blueberry Mango Orange Smoothie

Blueberries, mango and orange = Heaven!!  A wonderful splash of flavour and the mango gives this (and any) smoothie a wonderful creamy texture.  Not much else to say!!  It’s a keeper!

Ingredients:
Makes 2 litres (4 servings of 500ml each)

  • 4 cups water
  • 2 cups blueberries
  • 1 mango
  • 1 orange, peel removed
  • 4 handfuls spinach

Add all ingredients to the blender. Blend on low speed and gradually increase speed. Blend on high until smooth and frothy. To learn more about how I create smoothies visit My Smoothie Approach and if you are looking to purchase a blender visit my post on Choosing a Blender for some ideas that will fit any budget. Enjoy!!

DSC_0005_watermark blue mango orange spin

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Gaspacho Smoothie

Gaspacho Smoothie

I really love LOVE savoury smoothies, especially around lunch or dinner time.  They provide a different level of “comfort” for the tummy and satisfy in a different way than the fruit/green smoothies.  I’m sure you will love them as much as I do.  This one is filled with tons of nutrients.  It is very high in dietary fiber, iron, potassium and  vitamins A, C, B6 also a great source of thiamin, riboflavin and calcium.  Bottom line it’s chocked full FULL of nutrients and your body WILL love you for it! ;-)

DSC_0005_watermark gaspacho

Ingredients:
Makes 2 litres (4 servings of  500 ml each)

  • 4 cups water
  • 2 large tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 red pepper, chopped
  • 5 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 1 lemon, peel removed
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 4-5 stalks kale, stalk removed

Add all ingredients to the blender. Blend on low speed and gradually increase speed. Blend on high until smooth and frothy. To learn more about how I create smoothies visit My Smoothie Approach and if you are looking to purchase a blender visit my post on Choosing a Blender for some ideas that will fit any budget. Enjoy!!

Strawberry Dream Smoothie

Strawberry Dream Smoothie

We love LOVE strawberries! Combine them with avocado and banana and you get a wonderful creamy dreamy texture to your smoothie!  Yum!  This smoothie is high in potassium, dietary fiber plus a great source for Vitamins A & C and a good source of iron and calcium. The best part, it tastes super delicious!!

DSC_0004_watermark ban straw avo flax hemp spin

Ingredients:
2 litres (4 servings of 500ml each)

  • 4 cups water
  • 1 banana
  • 2 cups strawberries
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 4 medjool dates
  • 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
  • 1 tbsp hemp seed
  • 3 big handfuls spinach

Add all ingredients to the blender. Blend on low speed and gradually increase speed. Blend on high until smooth and frothy.

To learn more about how I create smoothies visit My Smoothie Approach and if you are looking to purchase a blender visit my post on Choosing a Blender for some ideas that will fit any budget. Enjoy!!

TIP: Flaxseed when mixed with liquid becomes very gelatinous and will thicken your smoothie even more.  So if you are saving some of your smoothie to drink later in the day, it will continue to thicken so you may want to add more water to allow room for thickening.

Nutrition Strawberry Dream Smoothie

DSC_0006_watermark ban straw avo flax hemp spin MIXED

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Creamy Raspberry Delight Smoothie

Creamy Raspberry Delight Smoothie

I love when my Hubby asks for a smoothie for breakfast ;-) . If he’s not having a smoothie he will normally have Berries with Oats & Almond milk, one of his fav’s! He does love his smoothies as well, and today’s creation was made especially for him!!  The banana and avocado combination results in a really yummy creamy texture, the raspberry adds tartness but then I added extra sweetness with the dates.  The wheatgrass adds an extra boost of green energy along side the spinach.

This smoothie is very high in iron, vitamins A & C as well it’s high in dietary fiber and potassium.

DSC_0001_watermark creamy reaspberry delight

Ingredients:
Yield:  2 litres (4 servings of 500ml each)

  • 4 cups water
  • 1 banana
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 2 cups raspberries
  • 2 cubes wheatgrass (optional, but a great extra boost of greens!)
  • 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
  • 1/4 cup raw cashews
  • 4 medjool dates, pitted
  • 4 handfuls of spinach

Add all ingredients to the blender. Blend on low speed and gradually increase speed. Blend on high until smooth and frothy.

TIP: Flaxseed when mixed with liquid becomes very gelatinous and will thicken your smoothie even more.  So if you are saving some of your smoothie to drink later in the day, it will continue to thicken so you may want to add more water to allow room for thickening.

To learn more about how I create smoothies visit My Smoothie Approach and if you are looking to purchase a blender visit my post on Choosing a Blender for some ideas that will fit any budget. Enjoy!!

Nutrition info Creamy Rasp Delight

Black & Blue Berries Smoothie

Black & Blue Berries Smoothie

DSC_0023_watermark Blue black alm spin flaxYet another nutritious combination that is filled with antioxidants from the wonderfully fresh blue & black berries.  It’s also very high in Vitamin A & C, dietary fibre and manganese and high in magnesium and potassium and a good source of calcium and iron. All in all a power packed nutritional breakfast that is sure to hit the spot.

Ingredients:
1.5 litire (3 servings of 500ml each)

  • 3 cups water
  • 2 cups blueberries
  • 1 cup black berries
  • 1/4 cup raw almonds (soaked overnight)
  • 2 tbsp flaxseed, ground
  • 3 big handfuls spinach

Add all ingredients to the blender. Blend on low speed and gradually increase speed.  Blend on high until smooth and frothy. To learn more about how I create smoothies visit My Smoothie Approach and if you are looking for a blender visit my post on Choosing a Blender for some ideas that will fit any budget. Enjoy!!

Nutrition Black and blue smoothie

Virtual Vegan Potluck – Citrus Glow Smoothie

Virtual Vegan Potluck – Citrus Glow Smoothie

vvpLOGOI am so excited to be taking part in the May 2013 Virtual Vegan Potluck.  A special thanks to Vegan Bloggers Unite for hosting such an amazing event.  I missed the first two potlucks – you should have seen all the amazing recipe contributions!  Wow!!

This is the 3rd Virtual Vegan Potluck which includes over 168 participants from across the globe – Canada (yeah!! where I live!), Denmark (yeah!! My heritage/roots, where I use to live & where all my extended family still lives!!), South Africa (yeah!! where I lived as a kid!), Belgium, USA, Japan, India, UK, Australia, Poland, and more!! Can you believe it? 168 vegan recipes at your finger tips!! Now, THAT is amazing!!

My easy-peasy contribution is this wonderful refreshing Citrus Glow Smoothie, perfect to start your morning.  Those who follow me at my blog, on Facebook or Twitter will know I’m addicted to my morning smoothies. There are so many great reasons for following an Almost Raw Vegan Food Pyramid and eating raw foods - and one of the easiest ways to add more vegetables and fruits to your diet is adding a Green Smoothie recipes to your day.

DSC_0014_watermark #5 orange cuc pump spinachThis Citrus Glow Smoothie is chocked full of nutrients.  It is very high in vitamins A & C, high in dietary fiber, iron and potassium, a great source of calcium and so much more!  Plus the citrus helps the body absorb the iron in the pumpkin seeds. The cucumber is oh-so-hydrating and great for your skin. Oh and don’t forget the amazing boost of plant-based protein!! Look at that, 9.5g of protein in one serving!

Ingredients:
Makes 1.5 litres (2 servings)

  • 3 cups water
  • 3 large oranges, peel removed and chopped
  • 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
  • 1/2 cucumber, chopped
  • 2-3 big handfuls spinach

Add all ingredients to the blender. Blend on low speed and gradually increase speed.  Blend on high until smooth and frothy. To learn more about how I create smoothies visit My Smoothie Approach and if you are looking for a blender visit my post on Choosing a Blender for some ideas that will fit any budget. Enjoy!!

Nutrition Citrus Glow

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That’s it, that’s all for my easy-peasy contribution to the May 2013 Virtual Vegan Potluck!!  Be sure to use the GoBACK and GoFORWARD buttons to scroll through all the other amazing recipes. Enjoy!!

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