You’ll Drink “Food Babe’s” Green (Kale) Smoothies To The Very Last Drop!

Vani Deva Hari, who blogs as the Food Babe, is an American author and food activist, who promotes more nutritious—especially organically-grown—food choices in lieu of the typical highly processed foods offered by the conventional food industry. She started the Food Babe blog in 2011, and it received over 54 million views in 2014.

Born in Charlotte, N.C., to Indian immigrant parents from Punjab, India, Hari first attended the University of Georgia, before transferring to University of North Carolina at Charlotte. After graduating in 2001 with a degree in computer science, she worked as a management consultant. In her early 20s, Hari was hospitalized with appendicitis and nearly died during treatments. In response, she began looking into health and nutrition issues. Hari has over 97,000 Twitter followers, and an official Facebook page with over one million likes. She refers to her followers and supporters as the “Food Babe Army.”

One of her favorite superfoods is kale, and either of the pair of kale-dominated smoothie recipes presented below are her healthy breakfast start to most days. The first recipe was her original kale smoothie drink and the second is her newest variation that features the kale superfood. “It’s a new version of the infamous ‘Hari Shake,’” says Hari, (Hari, my last name, means green in Hindi) and it’s by far my favorite these days. This recipe tastes like a sweet tart (you know, the candy from Willy Wonka) that I haven’t had in years.

“I made some for a local visiting television crew who had come to interview me,” Hari added, “and to my surprise both the cameraman and reporter drank their entire shake. They didn’t leave a single drop, which of course left a huge smile on my face and a lasting impression about the impact one can have on changing people’s impression about eating healthy food. I have a feeling you will really love this combination as much as I do – please let me know if you try it.”

The Hari Shake—A Poem—by Food Babe (Vani Hari)

Hari Shakes are a staple of my life
My husband drinks them because Food Babe is his wife
But that’s not the only reason you see
He drinks them because they are so damn yummy!

Hari Shakes are nothing fancy, just a green delicious smoothie with a name
Acting like I invented a new drink, would make me sound so lame
I drink these gorgeous green beauties because I love getting my dark leafy greens
And because I know it will help me look like someone in their teens!

You blend it all together with lots of vitamin-and-fiber-rich fruit
It’s easier to digest, preventing you from a poot.
You also get more nutrients, because blenders can breakdown the vegetable cell wall
Chewing all the time is for the cows, y’all!

Hari Shakes are a great choice for busy lifestyles and are perfect to make the night ahead
Knowing you have one ready in the fridge will make you sleep easier as you lay down in your bed.

If you haven’t had a green smoothie before try this recipe tonight
It will fill your body with lots of phytonutrient love giving your body instant light!

Commit to exercise, loving yourself, and drinking Hari Shakes as part of your daily routine
And you’ll experience what it is like to be a lean, mean, cancer-preventing machine!

Food Babe’s Original Kale “Hari Shake” Smoothie

Prep Time: 15 Minutes—Total Time: 15 Minutes—Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 4 cups kale removed from stem
• 4 large stalks of celery chopped
• 3 sprigs parsley
• 3 sprigs cilantro
• 1 pear chopped
• 1 apple chopped or 1 cup strawberries or fruit of your choice
• juice of ½ lemon
• 8 ounces of filtered water

Instructions:

1. Wash all vegetables thoroughly and place into a large bowl.
2. Add 8 ounces of water and lemon juice into a blender with 2 cups of kale.
3. Blend for 30 seconds until just incorporated.
4. Add additional kale, herbs and celery, and keep blending for another 30 seconds.
5. Next add apple and pear and blend for another 30-60 seconds until well combined. (Do not over blend.)
6. Pour mixture into two glass storage jars.
7. Best served after chilled—especially for your first one!

Notes:

“Makes approximately two 20-ounce servings. Sip slowly and drink immediately after or store up to two days. **Pear and apple work best because they bind all the ingredients together and make a creamier consistency—but feel free to add a variety of fruits to your liking—but not more than one serving of fruit per smoothie.** ***Please buy all organic ingredients if possible.*** Using a large bowl for all ingredients is super helpful.”

Food Babe’s New Kale-Pineapple-Grapefruit “Hari Shake” Smoothie

Prep Time: 10 Minutes—Total Time: 10 Minutes—Serves 1

Ingredients:

• 2 cups kale removed from stem
• 2 large stalks of celery chopped
• ½ cucumber chopped
• 1/3 grapefruit
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• 6 ounces of water

Instructions:

1. Wash all vegetables thoroughly and place into a large bowl.
2. Add 6 ounces of water into a blender with celery, cucumber and grapefruit.
3. Blend for 30 seconds until just incorporated.
4. Add kale and pineapple and keep blending for another 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Notes:

“Makes 1 serving—Sip slowly and drink immediately after or store up to two days. Tip: I like to add protein powder and 1 tablespoon of chia seeds for a meal replacement shake or after a workout. ***Please buy all organic ingredients, if possible.***”

You can view Hari’s original posts here and here.