The Green Smoothie Queen Challenge

Here it is, the first day of the three day green smoothie challenge. The Raw Divas have put together some great, encouraging information, along with a grocery shopping list, some suggestions for wholesome, tasty combinations of fresh fruits and vegetables to help us all along as we pursue our own particular goal.


Some of us have chosen the raw food path as a means to weight loss. Others are looking for a better way to stay healthy, to prevent debilitating diseases and to build a strong immune system. Those of us who are ill, are looking for a more natural, holistic approach of treatment. And still others are eager to have baby-soft skin again with a glowing complexion free of blemishes. Isn't it amazing that what we eat or don't eat can play such a major role in all the scenarios above?


I first met up with The Raw Divas and their Seven Day Raw Food Detox in July. Since then, I've had a green smoothie EVERY morning. And my other two meals are usually raw. Big salads or for dinner, a light, cooked veggie assortment.

I have gone from a size 14 to a size 10.

I have superb energy, look good for my age (68), have soft skin and feel super. I will add that I'm a breast cancer survivor, twice. Once in 1983 and most recently, just this past month, November 2007. Eating well and carefully is very high on my priority list. I attribute eating well to the long 24 year span between episodes. But I could have done better. I ate no processed foods, avoided deadly whites, ate primarily vegetarian, but I certainly did fall prey to a sugar addiction as well as many rich, gourmet foods that while whole not processed, still were not the healthiest nutrient choices I could have made.

Here's the beginning of this morning's smoothie. I had half the finished rich, green smoothie for breakfast and the other half for lunch. This was a great tasting combo that consisted of the juice from two oranges, a frozen banana, a large chunk of fresh pineapple (about the equivalent of 4-5 rings), a handful of frozen mixed berries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and blueberries and 1/2 a 10oz bag of spinach.

I had a big glass full (12 ounces) for breakfast and the remaining big glass full for lunch. I just had a crisp, juicy organic Braeburn apple for my mid-afternoon snack. I plan on preparing another big green smoothie for dinner — soon. This one will have more veggies and less fruit. After all, it's dinner not breakfast now!

For those who are just embarking on the raw food lifestyle adventure, this may seem strange and contrary to the long established habit of eating cooked foods. But if you give it a shot with an eager open mind, it won't take long to see the results, feel the difference and have it become second nature to reach for the blender instead of the sauté pan when meal time rolls around.