Part One of Two

Our 6 year old is the one who makes the biggest stink over drinking fruit and veggie smoothies nightly. He is adorable but with his gift of gab he tries to talk us out of having smoothies every night. He will make a great attorney one day – he loves to talk, talk, talk and talk.

Occasionally, our fruit and veggie smoothie is terrible, horrible and simply nasty. On days like these when it’s difficult for the grown-ups to gag down, our kiddos are NOT required to gag them down either. The six year old is certain something amazing happened because he didn’t have to try to talk his way out of drinking the smoothie.

Please use my mistakes to prevent a few of your own.

After blending literally hundreds of smoothies over the last 4 years, we have a few classic fails that are better left passed along rather than swept under the proverbial rug. Mention any of these 7 mistakes to us and we will shudder at their mere mention.

FIRST

RAW Broccoli or Cauliflower….GASP, how could I even say that on a blog meant for people to try all things weird and wonderful and love them because they are good for us? RAW broccoli and cauliflower is awesome in and of themselves. They are NOT awesome in smoothies where picky children are encouraged to drink things without throwing up. Not the point of smoothie love.

We do use plenty of broccoli and cauliflower in our smoothies but it’s parboiled for about 2 minutes. COOLED COMPLETELY, THEN ADDED to the smoothie.

Cooling completely makes a difference because if your cruciferous friends are hot or even warm your ENTIRE smoothie will taste like broccoli or cauliflower. Not awesome, not awesome at all.

SECOND

The WATER the broccoli and cauliflower have been cooked in. WOW, this was an epic idea…use the water and all the nutrients that have leeched into it as the veggies have cooked in as the liquid to get the smoothie to churn.

Like a cruciferous tea of sorts. Yep, the writing is on the wall. Hold your shudder, breathe deep.

Unbelievable. The entire blender of fruit and veggie smoothie tasted like essence of boiled broccoli farm. Again, not awesome. For the record, I LOVE broccoli, broccoli sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage and the whole cruciferous family. In this case, it wasn’t like I was hiding something I usually wouldn’t eat. I was using something awesome the wrrrrrong way!

Stick with grape juice, water, yogurt, keifer or milk (cashew, almond, soy, cow). Stay away from cruciferous tea when used as a smoothie ingredient.

THIRD

PEAS. I LOVE peas, they are considered Heaven’s Orbs of Happiness at my house. Really, like marry them I love them so much. Why not add the little orbs of happiness to the smoothie? Seemed like a harmless well-intended idea at the time.

Well, the entire blender tasted like peas even after only throwing in one or two (granted it was the whole pod with peas that weren’t edible pod)…yikes, drinkable peas were not something any of us could get our head around. It is a much better bet to simply enjoy those orbs of love in the pod or out of the shell, not in your beverage.

After this experience, we made the decision to get our greens from kale and spinach (I am going to try chard and beet greens once they are up though). Turn your thumbnail green from popping them out of their protective nest, we keep them on their well-deserved pedestal, we no longer blend them.

Some people need to make mistakes on their own in order to learn. Others are totally ok with learning vicariously. I hope the mistakes I have made blending will save you time and energy as you blend your own fruit and veggie smoothies.

The last 4 epic mistakes will be in your in box on Thursday morning. They are doozies too. Just a little teaser….did you know celery kills kids? It’s true according to my then 3 year old pickiest picky of all.

Happy Blending!

Brooke

PS Please subscribe so you don’t miss part two of my smoothie fails and share with friends so we can use each other to figure out how to blend better, grow better gardens and become healthier with whole foods!