A lot of people that consume smoothies regularly might not even realize they are partaking, at some level at least, in a “raw foods” diet. Plus they may not know the good they are really doing for their bodies. Especially when making smoothies without any yogurt or milk, people may be on a path towards raw vegan health without knowing it.

In it’s simplest form a smoothie is just blended fruit. Smoothies taste wonderful and because no heat has been applied, most (or all) nutrients are left in tact and make the smoothie a very healthful food. Add to that a handful of a dark green leafy vegetable and you have yourself a nutrition powerhouse in a yummy, easily digested, easily assimilated form.

The definition of a raw food smoothie might differ from person to person. It’s true that blending “any” type of raw food can be called a raw food smoothie, but to me it’s much more than that. My family and I consume several smoothies each and every day, in fact, on some days that’s all we have! Our smoothies are always raw, always vegan and 90% or more of the time have greens mixed in. And believe it or not they taste great.

To prepare them, blow the dust off the old blender, add to the carafe a 1/2 cup or so of water (no need to measure). The water helps with the blending. Sometimes more liquid is needed. Some people use freshly squeezed juice in place of, or in combination with the water. Add in some fresh or frozen fruit. Berries are great. Or try a mango. Add in some chopped greens. A handful is good for just starting out but keep at it and I bet you’ll be craving even more greens as time goes on. Blend and serve. It’s that simple.

I myself have tried hundreds and hundreds of raw green smoothie recipes. You have to really play with the ingredients to see what works for you. Of the smoothies I’ve tried, I’d estimate that I liked 75% or more of them and of the one’s I liked I’d rate them somewhere between a 7 and a 10.

Smoothies are best consumed immediately after blending but they usually keep well in the fridge for about 24 hours. It’s a good idea to keep lots of 1/2L and/or 1L jars on hand for drinking from if you plan on drinking a lot. My family uses mason jars which have screw on lids so we can take them with us wherever we go without concern of spilling. If you are concerned of breakage, there are BPA-free plastic options available for your “drinking vessel” as well.

Click HERE for a free download of a handy raw green smoothie resource list which includes links to tools and supplies, recipes, diet challenges, a free mini-course, and more.

Some of the better blenders on the market are the Blendtec HP3A and any model from Vita-mix. You might be able to find some used ones on eBay, but Amazon also has some decent deals, often with free shipping. But if all you have is the K-Mart $30 special go with it, it’ll do the trick, it just might not blend as thoroughly.