How to Get Your Greens in Every Day!

Greens, Greens, Greens!

Some people hate leafy greens, and want nothing to do with them.

But me on the other hand… I love them!

Peter is also a fan of greens. He doesn’t polish off a head of kale like I do, but he definitely gets his daily dose.

However, when talking to our Members or even friends & family, we hear that a lot of you struggle to get your greens in every day.

So we thought we’d share our fool proof ways to make sure you get a variety of greens in your body.

First and foremost, what do I mean when I say Greens?

I’m talking about these guys:

• Kale
• Swiss Chard
• Collard Greens
• Spinach
• Mustard Greens
• Lettuce
• Arugula
• Tatsoi

Now you’re thinking…. Why Greens, what’s so great about them?

Chlorophyll

Now this is a cool molecule! I could write an entire post on this, but I won’t. Chlorophyll is what gives leafy greens their green pigment. It’s also responsible for the process Photosynthesis … by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize food from carbon dioxide and water.  W

hat does this do for you?

Well, it creates more oxygen in your blood stream which allows cells to thrive. And when cells are happy, healthy and thriving, there is no place for cancerous ones.

Balancing Your PH

Your body is made to run on a PH of 7.3-7.4.

When your body is running in that range you’ll notice more energy, happiness and overall wellbeing.

In order to get your body to that level you need to eat a highly alkaline diet, and leafy greens are extremely alkaline.

Nutrient Dense

Oh yeah, we love those words around here.

That just means that per calorie they have A LOT of nutrients. Pretty much you could eat bowls and bowls of leafy greens, gain a bunch of nutrients and not very many calories!

Now that’s a deal!

Leafy greens are loaded with vitamins and minerals such as: calcium, magnesium, potassium…along with lots of others.

Cleansing

Greens are a great way to detoxify, clean your blood stream and remove any leftover waste or toxins that may be hanging around.

And Finally:  How do you get your Greens every day?!

Green Juice

We make juice every single morning.

This is something that is non-negotiable.

Since juicing, I have noticed more energy, clearer skin (no makeup needed…ever) and less sick days. If you don’t have a juicer this isn’t an option but maybe consider investing in one? We used to have the Breville Juice Fountain Plus and loved it; but recently we’ve upgraded to the Omega 8006 Nutrition Center and it’s even better!

If you have a juicer and don’t use it…shame on you;)

Seriously, you need to get that bad boy a spot on the counter and start getting up a little earlier and make some.

Trust me, it’s worth it!

Green Smoothies

Peter makes a green smoothie 6 days/week.

I am a little less frequent since I eat a little less. If I have a salad for lunch I won’t have a smoothie. But smoothies are great because they are fast and full of fiber.

If I am going out to brunch…I know I am going to get pancakes or waffles (GF of course), I will make a green smoothie before I leave the house and drink that on the way.

Same with at home, if I am having cereal or oatmeal, I always make a smoothie before.

I think of green smoothies as a digestive aid, in order for a heavy meal to be easily digested my body needs a clear path and smoothies are perfect for that.

Green Salad

Salads made from a base of lettuce or leafy greens are an easy way to get your daily dose.

We have a salad at lunch or dinner every day. If we didn’t have salad for lunch, than it’s given that it’s on the menu for dinner.

We will either make a huge salad, or make that our entrée, or make a medium-huge salad and serve it with something else like pizza or black bean burgers.

Salads are great to bring to work also – just make sure you keep the dressing separate and put some things you get excited about in the mix… like cooked sweet potatoes, dried cranberries, tamari almonds… sky’s the limit!

Green Convenience Foods

When in a pinch or traveling, pick up some prepackaged green snacks.

This can range from green juices at a health food store, to kale chips, even superfood powders that you mix in with your water.

By using those above methods, we have not went a single day without greens in over 4 years!  

If you’ve been struggling to get your greens in, hopefully this helps!

Do you get your leafy greens in every day? What methods do you use?

Still struggling to get your greens in? We would love to hear what challenges you’re facing…