Caution: Do not try this at home

kel7298
kel7298 Posts: 1,542 Member
edited October 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Recently I read a great way to add vitamins and such to a protein drink was to blend in a handful of spinach. "You wont even taste it if you mix fruit in as well", the article said. HMMM..ok, I will give it a try. So I add a handful of spinach and blueberries. NICE!
 
Today, I go to make my drink and notice an unopened baby spring mix in the fridge. Being the frugal shopper I am, I think, I need to eat that before it goes bad. Tada! I can substitute that for the spinach! Looking farther, I see some strawberries, of course, these are not blueberries, but I have that frugal mentality thing going on so they come along for the ride. 
 
I grab a handful and stuff it into the blender. Thinking to myself, "geez, when I made this the first time
, I didn't taste the spinach at all". So another handful of spring mix goes in. Now for the strawberries. I nip the green tops off on a few then think, "why", I got all that other green stuff in there, a lil more can't hurt", so 6 strawberries, green tops included, tossed in. Then I add the whey protein and water. 

As I watch the mixture whirling in the blender I think, "hmmm, its a tad bit greener than last time and a lot more of it". No worries! I pour me a BIG glass and start drinking. It's not to bad. Another big gulp. I don't remember it having this salad taste. Another gulp, OK, I am not sure I like this after all. I look at the blender and there is still more in there. Now remember, I am in frugal mind set, so I pour the rest into the cup and challenge myself to drink it! Another big gulp...ewwww. Despite my vow, I just can't swallow any more. 
 
As I pour the rest down the drain, a green tint fills the sink. How pretty.... 
 
2 hours later - my tummy was definitely not happy with what I did. 
 
Needless to say, adding more of a good thing is not necessarily a good thing.

Replies

  • nyspotlight
    nyspotlight Posts: 124
    That's a lot of fiber. You gotta build up slowly. I also discovered that the hard way.

    I used to get sick from that much green stuff, but you do get used to it. If you want to... a handful of greens here and there in a smoothie is great enough as it is.

    You can also blend one and drink it throughout the day to minimize the tummy troubles.

    But seriously, I hear you. Who thought vegetables could be so brutal!
  • nyspotlight
    nyspotlight Posts: 124
    I just noticed you said you added "whey powder." I have really found that a bunch of greens with protein added is hell on my system. I either have to do fruit+protein. Or just greens+fruit.

    That's just me, but that might have been part of it.
  • lkm111
    lkm111 Posts: 629 Member
    I've been replacing lettuce on my sandwiches and wraps with spinach. I have not been a person to choose spinach in the past, but it tastes fine. This might be better for your stomach! :smile:
  • EnufAlready
    EnufAlready Posts: 77 Member
    I have a Weider whey protein fruit splash in peach mango that is more like a fruit juice instead of milky. I wonder if that would work with greens.
  • kel7298
    kel7298 Posts: 1,542 Member
    I know how good it has to be for me but geez that was rough! I will know better next time. Lesson learned (the hard way)
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    Doh!
    I like grinding steel cut irish oats in a coffee grinder and putting that in my shakes.
  • Bentley2718
    Bentley2718 Posts: 1,689 Member
    I have found that I need something stronger than strawberries to cut the taste of spinach/kale/etc. Raspberries and blueberries work well.

    I do:
    50/50 pea and rice protein
    1 tbs chia seeds
    1/4 frozen banana
    1-2 handfuls spinach/kale/etc
    1 tbs peanut butter (sometimes)

    Blend well then add:
    handful+ of frozen raspberries
    3 ice cubes (sometimes)
    almond milk

    It works pretty well for me, but I'm well accustomed to a high fiber diet. I did find that adding powdered wheat grass to my smoothies played hell with my system for whatever reason, even in small amounts.
  • kel7298
    kel7298 Posts: 1,542 Member
    I have found that I need something stronger than strawberries to cut the taste of spinach/kale/etc. Raspberries and blueberries work well.
    /quote]

    Yea, I found that out.

    Thanks for your smoothie recipe.

    Helloitsdan - never thought of doing that. Thanks!
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