<p>Green drinks and juicing is very “in” in both my city and San Francisco where one of my kids lives. Juice shops are sprouting up all over town. At around 8 bucks a shot it is expensive.
Whole foods has quite a few cold pressed premade juices for sale. I haven’t tried them but know people who love them.
I also have friends and family who juice or make green smoothies. One uses a Ninja. My S and his GF have a juicer. They make juice and she brings it to work. They try to limit the fruit to reduce calories. By making them yourself you save money and you can control the amount of fruit. </p>
<p>patsmom,
here is OP: " Is there a good-for-you commercially available green drink that is tasty but not overly sweet? "
-Aside from not being green color, water is the best. Where I am wrong? If you like it green, then you can add few lives of your choice, mint is fine. But again, why bother? And another thing, why are you answering to me and not to OP, I do not have any questions. I have only answers.</p>
<p>
I don’t think adding ¼ tsp. of mint to 8 oz. of H20 qualifies the beverage to be called a green drink. You got to throw in more green, leafy veggies like kale or spinach to the recipe. Food Pyramid says you need about 4 servings per day from the vegetable group. Green drinks are a great way to add more veggies to your diet instead of the usual salad and dressing. For example, you can drink one serving at breakfast and snack time then eat other servings at lunch or dinner as a salad or vegetable entrée.</p>
<p>I was feeling so very righteous drinking the Naked green drinks, until I read what someone else mentioned…moslty apple juice.</p>
<p>Green isn’t just about the color! It is a great way to fit greens into your diet.
My green smoothies often turn into muck colored ones because I add raspberries or strawberries.</p>
<p>My suggestion would be, no matter what sort of blender you use, to blend the fresh stuff first. Add any frozen stuff afterward. </p>
<p>My standard mix:
Pulverize:</p>
<p>Banana (does have carbs). Can substitute avocado.
4-5 teaspoons fresh ginger, peeled
Flax seed meal. (Omegas)
Lemon or lime juice
Celery stalk
2-3 kale leaves or lettuce
Mint - if available
Juice, such as OJ or pineapple</p>
<p>This will be beautifully green.
Then add frozen fruit: -not too many different kinds or the flavor becomes just generically fruity</p>
<p>Raspberries or strawberries or pineapple or mangoes. It will not be as pretty. It will taste good.
Blend again, but not so long that it gets warm, unless you prefer a warm drink.</p>
<p>When I drink something with veggies, it’s almost always in a home-made yogurt based solution with no sugar, but flavored with salt, spices, and hot peppers. My favorite is one bright green leafy plant with a very strong flavor; I didn’t know the English name and Wiki lists a botanical sounding “Plectranthus amboinicus”. More often it’s yogurt with a mix of cilantro, ginger, hot peppers, and curry tree leaves all of which are much more readily available. If not yogurt, I sometimes use club soda with these and a dash of lime juice too. When I do this at work nobody even raises an eyebrow any more.</p>
<p>I sure do wish there were POST numbers. The poster above who thinks she has answers…doesn’t.</p>
<p>My, My, My, Miami. Google “green drinks” please.</p>
<p>Dad<em>of</em>3, I was curious about “Plectranthus amboinicus”, so I googled it. It’s also known as Mexican mint or Indian borage. Your drinks sound good to me, especially with club soda instead of yogurt.</p>
<p>Along those lines, although it isn’t green, I like this drink:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.wholeliving.com/216608/golden-elixir”>http://www.wholeliving.com/216608/golden-elixir</a></p>
<p>I’m going to try your elixir, NYMomof2. I often drink a honey/lemon water mixture if I have a cold (a grandma’s recipe) but I would never think to add turmeric and cayenne. I’m not a ginger fan, but if I could drink it in this combo it might be ok. Btw, these spices have reported anti-cancer properties, too. </p>
<p>OK- this thread prompted me to buy a small, inexpensive juicer thing (one of those magic bullet things- may not be the best but I got it for $23 with sale and coupons). I bought some veggies, fruit and protein powder. Please keep the green, non-alcoholic recipes coming-- good ones that you really enjoy. Thanks</p>
<p>Have made 2 smoothies so far. Todays tasted better, IMO, because I used parsley instead of kale with the fruits , little bit of OJ and protein powder. Today’s someecard, though, made me LOL. It said" There is no life without water there is not coffee. And without coffee I’ll kill you all".</p>