HERD ABOUT IT?

by ana grarian

Ana is trying for a healthier living. 1st up is what I eat. Chocolate, coffee and peanut butter have been my mainstays for much of my life. It is just too easy to grab a cup of coffee and a peanut butter sandwich when heading off to work in the wee hours of the morning. And since they sit out on my counter, they are easy to grab for a snack at any time. Chocolate? – Well let’s say that a constant at most jobs I’ve had has been a coffee pot and a candy machine, and at home on the farm, baking brownies was a simple dessert that any of us could throw together.

It’s not that I don’t like fruits and veggies. Bananas do not stay long in my fruit bowl. Apples and oranges are a real treat, but too messy to easily eat at the front desk at work. At home the veggies tend to get passed by by some of the diners, and it gets to be easy to just put together the meat and pasta, or potatoes.
I have often purchased some of the commercial beverages, but they seem to be pricey, very sweet, and I am not sure as healthy as they purport to be; though a convenient grab and go meal.
My daughter is thinking of trying the 30 day Green Smoothie Challenge, so I am experimenting. 2 handfuls of mixed greens, 2 fruits, and some other veggie like carrot, brussel sprouts, broccolli. I try to lean heavy on the veggies but most recipes lean toward more fruit because it is sweeter. I add a little stevia if I need it. I also throw in the peels except for citrus, and the stems. My smoothies are a little chewy but I don’t mind that. (Did you know that some types of beer are considered chewy?) You can even add a little oatmeal to make it more filling if you are using it as a meal. 20 ounces usually keeps me going at work until noon, and it has cut down my coffee consumption. I’m sure as the weather gets hotter I will enjoy these even more.
Today was the best one I have had. 2 cups mixed greens, an apple, 1 cup of almond milk, 1 cup water and a dash of pumpkin pie spice.
Another reason for the green shakes is to make it easier to eat local, grow my own, and avoid factory meats. I am already planning for my garden to be full of spinach, kale, swiss chard etc. I live in a fruit growing area, so I can get local apples year round, and I can pick and freeze berries. (Hopefully my raspberry bush makes it through the winter) Hmmm, I just started thinking of how the wild garlic mustard might work into a shake.
There are green smoothies that incorporate cocoa powder – I wonder if coffee would go well?