I'm trying to imagine what would possess me to drink a "green smoothie" instead of eat a salad... and am coming up completely empty.

no idea. the only smoothies I like are like blueberries and pomegranate

If you like smoothies in general, it's not that big of a stretch to add baby spinach or baby kale to it. It's easier for the body to take in the nutrients because it's in liquid form.

And I think it's cheaper than eating a salad, unless you have like 2-3 ingredients in it.

If people dont like veggies, they may or may not drink the smoothie either because of the greens, even though when you add fruit like bananas, you don't taste it at all.

but.. chewing? Isn't the purpose of chewing to basically liquify? And the price depends on how often you eat vegetables, doesn't it?

t just seems like blending them up takes them from "nice satisfying food" to "drink."

I don't get it.

You could always take some spinach and toss on some plain greek yogurt mixed with salsa.. and that's actual food

honestly when I hear "smoothie" I still think of a purely health halo thing.

But it seems to me like there are two types of smoothies... those that may as well be slurpees, and those that are liquified food.

Some people think eating spinach and salads is the same thing. Considering that many people do not get in the recommended fruit and vegetable servings, whatever floats your boat is good.

I eat both salads and green smoothies, and both ways are a nice way to get in nutrition.

I don't understand not eating vegetables. Unless it's that somebody doesn't like them or finds the price or perishability an issue. (but then, there's always cabbage salad..)

But if it's a matter of not getting enough vegetables, it's that they don't like them, right?

Eating vegetables just seems so much more satisfying to me than basically hiding them? And the mixes and whatnot are expensive, so it can't really be that..

What mixes are you talking about? A green smoothie consists of a base liquid (water, some type of milk, or juice), the vegetable, and fruit. Some people like to add ice to make it more frothy.

It can get expensive if you add other stuff like oils, seeds, powders, etc but that is not needed. Smoothies are nice especially in the summer when you want something cold to drink.

Got one in a love with food box a while ago, and seen them on Amazon. But you were talking price of making smoothies vs. salad. For buying produce it wouldn't make a difference in price per veggie serving.

I like a lot of stuff in my salad, and to buy all of that up front for me is more than what it would cost to buy stuff for a smoothie upfront.

That makes sense I guess.. I'm just skeptical of liquid food.

Sure if you are just buying spinach, it will cost the same no matter what

but for me I just dont eat spinach in a salad (or just lettuce, or just romaine)

I like a lot of stuff in salad.. but don't necessarily require it. Same with pizza, really. I'll put on some of whatever I have, but it's still delicious if I don't have that many things on hand..

lyricalpopstar: I recently started using chia seeds. I heard that they can make the liquid they are in thicker...something about how it gels.

Well, to get to amount of greens you need you'd have to eat a lot of sallads. It's just easier to mix them in a smoothie.

I use chia seeds all over. my standard bread recipe includes partially ground chia seeds.

Chia seeds soaking in my fridge are standard. And alcohol seems to make them absorb water faster, even if it's just a little.

Noticed the other day that vanilla extract speeds up how fast they expand massively.

wait.. but what's wrong with eating a lot of salads? Salads are like the universal food, they're anything and everything.

..I'm a freak, aren't I?

I just want to bite into the greens. At every meal except maybe breakfast.

isn't it less satisfying if you can't bite into it?

I cannot drink veggies unless I can't taste them

I learned this when my jaw was wired shut, I had to have protein shakes, because it'd make me gag to try to drink anything meat or veggie.

Eating salad all the time gets boring? idk, I can't stand the texture of leafy greens, so I don't eat any salads.

Beloved really likes them. The thought gags me - I need the texture of veggies as well as the flavor.

I like smoothies I find them really refreshing and great when you are on the go in the morning I take 2 cups of spinach, kale, avocado, piece of orange, a couple chunks of pineapple blueberries, protein powder

I like them, actually.

some ice and water its delicious and filling. I like salad but they get boring and I I get a lot of protein in there with it. I also add chia seeds and flax

I dont have time to make a salad in the morning before breakfast, but I can add some green superfood powder to a fruit smoothie and chug it down before I run out the door.

Some people make green smoothies by putting matcha powder in them, but I prefer my matcha the traditional way without anything added, just hot water and whisked and drank right away like an espresso shot.

How can eating salad get boring?! Every salad is different!

I don't think I'd dislike green smoothies.. it's more the idea of taking food and just making it liquid. (Unless your jaw is wired shut or something.)

If you're in a hurry and you've got an easy setup for making them, that makes sense.

I've added kale to oatmeal before..

I see them everywhere, it just kinda seems like the popularity of green smoothies is beyond what I would think of as uses.. if that makes sense.

I really envy folks who can drink things like that, because I'd love to try a juice fast. But just fruit juices won't do the trick.

Mastication actually incorporates the digestive enzymes of your saliva into the food as you chew it, allowing absorption of some nutrients to begin through the oral mucosa.

Only the outer portions of a bolus of mechanically pureed mush or juice contacts the mucosa and does not get the same exposure to salivary enzymes or mucosa.

Not a hugely significant loss, mostly, but not "better"

<3

Fogwoman: I guess that's why some people say smoothie drinkers should swish the juice or blend around before swallowing to do the same thing that you said.

Also, there are those who say you should chew so many times before swallowing or else you won't get the nutrients, either.

It all goes to the same place in the end

Apparently with a lot of whole foods you get significantly fewer calories too, usually less than they calculate. I've seen almonds vs. almond butter or almond flour mentioned a lot.