Good morning!
Its a rainy, rainy day here in Tampa—I want to crawl back in bed and read all day!
I had a yucky GM this morning! Ryan has been getting on me to just double the smoothie ingredients in the Vita Mix and make it as one then split it into two glasses. I did it today but think I got the wheatgrass sludge from the bottom. It was SUPER thick and not very tasty. I actually didn’t finish it for the first time ever!
Here’s what I used to serve TWO:
- 2 frozen bananas
- 2 scoops Amazing Meal chocolate
- 1 overflowing scoop wheatgrass
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- 2 scoops TJ’s pb
- big handful frozen blueberries
- FROZEN organic spinach
This was my first time using frozen spinach instead of fresh but I don’t think that was the contributing factor for the ickiness. I think I just like to make my own to serve one person….call me selfish!
Ryan forgot his gym bag at home so he is coercing me to bring that to him and as an exchange, he will take me to Burrito Boarder for lunch. 😉 I do love that place!!
Just finished writing new True/Slant article on the big debate between pasteurization and raw milk cheese. Its such a hot topic lately that I had to dig a little deeper in my research! It actually was very, very interesting!
Off to do a short treadmill run! Hope it is sunny wherever you are!
RJ
June 30, 2009 at 9:23 amWell there might be a heatwave in the South of the UK but here in Edinburgh we are besieged by fog so I am with you on that. Just wanted to say how much inspiration I am getting from reading your blog. Green Monsters are now a regular breafast occurence for me, my hubby and a work colleague! I’ve just purchased “30 Day Shred” online and next stop ordering some chocolate flavoured amazing grass!
ashley @ mom of 3 gets healthy
June 30, 2009 at 9:25 ami was out the door @ 6:30am for my run hoping to avoid the rain. i still got it a little though. its nasty out here. (west palm beach) i think its suppose to be like this tomorrow too. what a drag. sorry about your smootie, i hear its going around. lol
Courtney (The Hungry Yogini)
June 30, 2009 at 9:31 amThis rain is YUCKKKKY! But it’s a good excuse to skip some ourdoor cardio =)
Sorry about the bad GM – but at least you experimented!
Hope you have a great day!!!
kailey
June 30, 2009 at 9:38 amhaha i always make my GM’s to serve one too… i hate to admit but im not big on sharing them 🙂
Jen, a priorfatgirl
June 30, 2009 at 9:42 amman on man Jenna, I really want to eat at Burrito Border, it always sounds so yummy! BURRITO BORDER, COME TO MINNEAPOLIS NOW, I DEMAND YOU!
Its rainy here today too and I was so close to just “working from home” but the responsible side won. UGH!
Meggilizz
June 30, 2009 at 9:43 amMorning Jenna! 🙂 I hope your lunch makes up for the icky green monster! Have a nice run! 🙂
Megan (The Runner's Kitchen)
June 30, 2009 at 9:44 amI’ve been wondering about using frozen spinach vs. fresh in green monsters. the frozen is so much cheaper, but i’m worried the consistancy will be off. let us know how future frozen spinach experiments work out! p.s. i love raw milk products. when i lived in italy, i noticed that the milk was more flavorful because it wasn’t pateurized as much.
Rose
June 30, 2009 at 9:46 amI’ve had that happen to me with GMs before. Yuck!
Kelsey
June 30, 2009 at 9:49 amits so funny how fine the line is for a good + bad GM. :/
i love the picture of your kitty!
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food)
June 30, 2009 at 9:49 amHave a great day!
Mrs. Myers @ Eat Move Write
June 30, 2009 at 9:50 amIt’s dreary here in San Diego too. I always say I’m ready for sunshine, but then I never want the heat that comes with it. I’m hard to please.
Actually frozen spinach might have contributed to the sludge at the bottom. It could maybe make it bitter?…
Have a great day!
Maria
June 30, 2009 at 9:50 amI make GMs for 2 people too, but mine was yummy–maybe you need to shake that wheatgrass in there ;). I have a huge batch of fresh spinach, so I froze some yesterday. Hopefully, it will turn out alright :). Look forward to reading that article, I’ve been getting some raw cheese myself, so I’m particularly interested in it!
Heather
June 30, 2009 at 9:55 amI use frozen spinach in my morning smoothies too & found that too much is a bad thing! It made it gritty & a bit bitter actually. I just keep it to about a cup of frozen for a full (individual) shake. I also add a whole banana, cup of whatever milk I’m using, protein, berries & a bit of honey.
katie s
June 30, 2009 at 9:57 amRainy days are the best for relaxation… the worst for productivity!!! You always want to just stay in bed allll day long!! Hope you find motivation!!
Shannon
June 30, 2009 at 9:58 amJenna, just got my Amazing Meal yesterday (thanks to your coupon!) and I LOVE it! Thanks for introducing me to GMs. BTW, I was able to vote for you FOUR times since I have so many email addresses! Wishing you lots of luck!
brandi
June 30, 2009 at 10:00 ami hope your next GM is better!
love the picture of Dexter 🙂
Allie Katie
June 30, 2009 at 10:02 amI am spending a week at my parents’ house in AZ–trust me, they’ve got the sun thing covered here! Question for Jenna or anyone–I am a runner and I want to incorporate yoga into my workouts. I used to do yoga a lot, but that was about five years ago. Can anyone recommend a good video or video series? I would love to do Yoga Downloads but I dont know the names of poses…any suggestions would be awesome!
Thanks,
AK
Lara (Thinspired)
June 30, 2009 at 10:05 amIt might have been the frozen spinach! I used it once and it was HORRIBLE. I think it is because the frozen stuff is much more concentrated than even large handfuls of the fresh. I’m sorry it wasn’t drinkable 🙁
valerie
June 30, 2009 at 10:06 amHey Jenna! I was just curious if I could still buy one of the cookbooks that you were selling for the team in training?
Recipes for Creativity
June 30, 2009 at 10:07 amIt IS sunny where I am! Yay! I have been using frozen spinach for the past week and it’s been really yummy, so I agree, that didn’t cause the slug of your GM! I like the thicker, creamier texture of GMs made with frozen stuff, either bananas or spinach.
Katherine
June 30, 2009 at 10:11 amBoo on the rain and boo on the sludgey monster! I hope your lunch date and some cardio brighten your day a little 🙂
leslie
June 30, 2009 at 10:25 amstarting off the day with a bad tasting breakfast is never good! hope your run makes it better. 🙂
Shannon (The Daily Balance)
June 30, 2009 at 10:46 amSorry that lil monstie turned on ya! Have a great afternoon 😉
K
June 30, 2009 at 10:49 amIt’s a yucky day up here, too! Where is summer?!
lexi
June 30, 2009 at 10:59 amim afraid to try a green monster…but i know i should…hmmm any suggestions for ingredients
Marcia
June 30, 2009 at 11:11 amHey, Tampa! My hub was just in Tampa for business last week.
Kailey (SnackFace)
June 30, 2009 at 11:12 amOh noes! A sludgy, muddy GM sounds like a gaggy way to start the day! I hope your sweat sesh help that, AND I hope you get some delicious lunch for being an amazing girlfriend and taking Ryan his bag. It was supah gray and cloudy on my morning run, but the sun is making a glorious return! Have a fab afternoon!
Jori
June 30, 2009 at 11:15 amMy GM was yucky today too! Like thick powdery sludge hmmm….. I tried to make a bigger batch too!!
Matt
June 30, 2009 at 11:30 amMmm I think I’ll have to go to Chipotle today…
Sharon
June 30, 2009 at 11:51 amI tried making my GM with frozen spinach and it was awful. Won’t be making that mistake again. Have a great day!
Lynn
June 30, 2009 at 12:10 pmI dont know about freezing my spinach… !
Yummy GM !! 😀 Have a great day despite the weather 🙂
Kelly
June 30, 2009 at 12:11 pmI’ll have to read your piece on pasturization vs. Raw since this is something I feel strongly about, especially after my cheese certificate course. Have you read what to eat by marion nestle? She has an interesting chapter on raw milk. I have actually started buying it from a local farm and love using it in cheesemaking and recipes. I am not generally a milk person but I love how nuanced and clean the flavor is.
Lizzie
June 30, 2009 at 12:26 pmJust tried the Sunshine Falafel burger for lunch with leftover salad from last night (spinach, tomato, cucumber, yellow carrots, snap peas) and some garlic hummus and I have to tell you it was SO good! I am always a bit wary about spending money on frozen burgers, but these was really good and pretty filling. Guess this means I need to try Mary’s Crackers . . ..booooo :O)
Sarah
June 30, 2009 at 12:33 pmUgh, the weather is yucky here, too. What a downer.
I really liked your True/Slant article, you answered a lot of questions I had. Thanks for your research!
Serena
June 30, 2009 at 1:08 pmInteresting article, but I don’t think you can have the discussion about pasteurization without addressing the risks for pregnant women. I agree that listeria and other illnesses are very very rare, and I believe they are mostly due to poor handling/cleanliness issues in the US that aren’t present in other countries. But while the risk is rare and most adults can overcome any illness, the risks to unborn babies is far greater – the research shows a way higher possibility of birth deffects or possible deaths due to still-forming immune systems. So while I would normally eat raw cheese, I wouldn’t risk it while pregnant – what’s 9 months compared to the possible consequence, however small? I think you can’t leave that important part of the discussion out.
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down)
June 30, 2009 at 1:11 pmLOVE the color to your dress!! Stunning! 😀
Katherine
June 30, 2009 at 1:28 pmLoved your article. I am just finishing classes for my designation as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and the dairy debate is definitely of peak interest! I think what we often forget is the SOURCE of our food. Why did the Government decide that dairy must be pasteurized? Because it is being mass produced and shipped far away! More people have a chance of being affected if there is contamination. Personally, I try to buy local unpasteurized. Unfortunately the government does not alllow unpastereurized milk to be sold, but there are cheeses and I have found a local yogurt that is unpasteurized and non-homogenized! And it is true – I know many people who were unable to consume dairy because of allergies or asthma who tollerate raw dairy!
Stacy (Eating To Live Love Laugh Tri)
June 30, 2009 at 1:54 pmA day spent lounging in bed with a book sounds amazing! I am way behind on my book club pick and need to catch up. Oops!
Serena
June 30, 2009 at 1:54 pmKatherine, depending on what state you live in, you may be able to get raw milk – only 28 states prohibit it. You can find a lot of places where you can buy it locally from farmers in the states where it is allowed.
Jenn Eats Nutritiously Now
June 30, 2009 at 1:54 pmSorry your GM didn’t turn out to great. It would have been nice if you could have just made two at a time and split it.
nicole r.
June 30, 2009 at 2:18 pmBouncing off Serena’s comment—the primary issue here is that if the FDA allowed unpasteurized milk to be sold, the larger corporations would begin to market it. This means minimally trained (minimally-paid, overworked) personnel half-paying attention to their jobs would be potentially producing harmful product–as they do with some meat products, and even peanut butter. By keeping it restricted, smaller local farms can produce and distribute safely with minimal chance of contamination and harm to the consumer. I’m a med student, I’m really quite wary of unsanitized or minimally sanitized products entering my body. Also, yes pregnant women should NOT consume these products, oh my god.
Katherine
June 30, 2009 at 2:33 pmSerena,
Thanks I am in Canada where it is prohibited everywhere! There is an option to buy into a cow share though…but I haven’t looked into that 🙂
Katherine
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope
June 30, 2009 at 2:43 pmSorry to hear that the green smoothie wan’t up to normal standards. Hope the rest of your day goes a whole lot better! 🙂
Abbey
June 30, 2009 at 2:57 pmCongrats on Top 50 for Murphy-Goode!! I just saw it on the website this morning. Love the dress, sucha cute color!
Kate
June 30, 2009 at 4:29 pmHi Jenna!
I never have any problem with frozen spinach -actually find it better and easier -freezes the GM so no ice required! However it would be easier to put more in, as opposed to fresh spinach. But it may just be that you made a large one and got the slush!
Would be interested to hear if you have that issue with frozen spinach in the future!
Sandy
June 30, 2009 at 7:49 pmI love the dress too. Hope you feel just fabulous at the wedding in that stunning color. I’m sorry you have rain, rainy days always get me down but I always think that the sun is shining everywhere else – for example Florida and San Diego! I have to remember that it isn’t always sunny in those sunshine states either.
caitlin
June 30, 2009 at 9:26 pmthere are 2 times when I couldn’t make myself finish a GM – when I used Kale, and when I used frozen spinach. Let us know when/if you figure out the right ratio of frozen spinach to use! I was thinking maybe it needed more water…
Sarah
July 1, 2009 at 8:51 amI’ve used frozen spinach before and have found it doesn’t taste as good (its rather bland or something), but it was in spaghetti sauce, not a GM.