Sunday, April 4, 2010

Green Monster

I know I have a lot of healthy and active readers so I felt this would be the best place to ask this question since I have been looking around the interwebs and still have questions. I want to make my first green monster in the morning, but I am trying to figure out what I should put in, and what would mix well. If not a green monster tomorrow, I am definitely in the mood to start my morning a couple days this week with a yummy smoothie.

I do not have spinach in the house, well I have frozen spinach, I should say. I have cabbage and lettuce. In other ingredients I have peanut butter, milk, yogurt, bananas, cantaloupe, frozen strawberries and fresh, frozen mango, celery, carrots, hmmm.. I think that is probably about it in terms of smoothie ingredients.. But I may be mistaken.

With having those limited options in mind.. what would you suggest? I am up for multiple choices since there are lots of days in the week to try new recipes! Is spinach a must, or can I use lettuce? What are your favorite ingredients to include in your smoothies/green monsters?

The hubby and I are in a eat healthier and get moving kick and I really don't even think a green monster will appeal to him, but I may be mistaken! I am currently hard-boiling eggs to use as protein in my salad line up for the week. Which also brings up, what are your favorite salad ingredients? At the store this week I stocked up on, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, celery, onions, radishes, strawberries (love them in salads!) orange peppers, sweet peas and I think that may be it.. Can't wait for our asparagus to come in!

Give me your salad suggestions.. They seem to be my best bet for lunches everyday and I like to change them up day to day so I don't eat the SAME salad/thing every day.

Thanks in advance.. I can't wait to hear all the ideas and will try to photograph my concoctions to share with you all.. after of course I go through my trip photos and videos eesh.. Anyone else put that stuff off and off cuz you know how much time it is going to take??

5 comments:

Kelly said...

Can't wait to see trip pictures :)

I make my green monsters with a banana (I usually freeze mine first, but I don't think you have to), frozen mango and some spinach. I don't know if you can use lettuce or not but I've definitely used frozen spinach and it has worked fine. I would say I use a little over a cup of frozen mango and then I use only about 1/4 of spinach, but my stomach does not love spinach so thats why I am conservative with it, you could probably use more. I know a lot of people put strawberries in theirs so you could probably do that too. I just enjoy my mango and banana combination :)

I am not a salad girl though, so I can't help you on that one.

I did read Spooky Girl this weekend and loved it. I'll be passing it on Tuesday afternoon :)

The Many Thoughts of a Reader said...

@ Kelly.. Awesome, thanks for the heads up! I may have to break into the frozen spinach. I think tomorrow I will attempt the mango/banana mix.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts on Spooky Little Girl!

Amber said...

YES - use frozen spinach!! I buy HUGE bags of spinach and then freeze most of it! I make my green monsters with lots of different combos but this is my absolute favourite:

1/2 banana
handful of chopped strawberries
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
Lots and lots of spinach - like 3 or 4 handfuls
1 scoop of PB
1-3 ice cubes

YUMMMMM!!!

I would NOT use lettuce or cabbage though. I have used KALE before in G.M. but I think spinach is your best bet!

Can't wait to hear what you think of it!

The Many Thoughts of a Reader said...

@ Amber.. thanks for the suggestion! I will use the frozen spinach tomorrow thanks for the heads up.. i may also throw in a scoop of pb cuz i want to make sure i stay full!

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

I have never made a green monster either but everyone raves about them. I don't have a blender, though, so it's not an option for me. I have contemplated buying one but I am trying so hard to be frugral right now... anxious to hear what you think of the green monster!

Salads are one of my favorite things to take to work. I really like doing taco salads. So I top mine with some taco meat and then tomatoes, corn, peppers, and some kind of bean - either kidney or black bean or something like that. Not sure if you like beans or not, but they are filling and a great source of protein. I also really like avocados - usually slice up half an avocado on a salad and that is another topping that is filling and sticks with you for awhile. I like taco salads since you can use salsa for dressing and then it's low calorie.

interested to see what you come up with!!