Green Machine!

The things we do to *win*... 

For the second time this year, my Montana family and I are participating in a program called Shape Up Montana. We did it last year and really enjoyed it. This year, we had such enthusiasm that we had to break our team up into two teams because so many more people wanted to do it. We participate as a team because Shape Up Montana, or SUM, is actually a team competition. Teams can register from all over the state of Montana and we compete with each other for the most points per person on our team. This year the team I am on consists of me and Jeff, Tom and Carol (my in-laws), Katie and Josh (Jeff's sister and her husband), and Tia. Tia is actually not biologically related to anyone else on our team, but the first time I met her she introduced herself to me as "practically a sister" to Katie and Jeff. Good enough for me! Our Team name is WeBangs! If you're familiar with Ricky Martin songs from the 90's, you'll understand the pun. As I've mentioned, I do so love puns. 

So, as a team, we earn points for activity/exercise we do. This can be anything from walking and running, to cleaning and housework, to farm chores... and many activities in between. The nice thing about SUM is that they have done a great job coming up with many, many ways to give people credit for activity they are already doing in their daily lives.

The competition runs from February through April. At the end of this time period, the teams who have the most points per person win prizes. Most of all, it's a great program to challenge yourself to be more active, live a healthy lifestyle, and just to give yourself credit for what you may already be doing. I also like it because it has been a really fun way to do something as a family, and especially with Jeff, who has taken a very strong interest in the program. He told me yesterday that he is "competing to win this thing!"  

I guess we all have been competing to win this year. SUM has weekly challenges for participants to try. If they do the challenge, they earn 10 bonus points apiece. This past week, the challenge was to make a special smoothie according to a recipe they had on their website. This was no ordinary smoothie and was somewhat of a stretch for our rural Montana taste buds in some cases.  Nevertheless, I am proud of our team members because we ALL gave it a try! 

The smoothie has earned two nicknames in my vernacular: The Weird Green Smoothie, and Green Machine. They can be used interchangeably. The recipe is pretty simple. Throw a big handful of spinach, a chopped head of romaine lettuce, some celery stalks, an apple, a pair, and a banana in blender with a little water and lemon juice. Blend to perfection... or something like it. 

Jeff, Tom and I made the smoothie this past weekend right after spending all of Saturday morning doing cow work outside.  I wouldn't necessarily say we were looking forward to the smoothie or that it was really a "reward" after completing some hard work...but it was fun all the same. Jeff and Tom are such great sports!  We had a little difficulty getting past the look of the smoothie. Might have had something to do with being in the corrals prior to eating them. Calf poo has a certain color to it... 

Anyway, here's some photos of the whole crazy experience!

Some of the ingredients- awaiting their blended fate!

Mmmmmm.... See why we called it the Weird Green Smoothie?

"You want me to drink this?"

Down the hatch!

Part of a healthy post-chores lunch: Tomato soup, multigrain crackers, and Green Machine.
I had already finished my delicious roast beef sandwich.

Carol was in Bozeman visiting Katie and Josh for the weekend. They mixed their smoothie up on Saturday, too. I have to say they were much, much classier about it in their approach than we were. Thanks to Katie for sending me the photos of their experience!

They were missing the celery, but close enough!

Doesn't that make the smoothies look more appetizing?!
Nice work, guys!

I think I see the hint of a smile on her face...

That might be the look of skepticism... 

As if she's saying, "wow... I just ate that!"

I think for the most part the consensus was that the smoothie was not that bad... but not really that good either. It was overall kind of bland. There were more than a few comparisons to the smell of grass. Jeff said it reminded him of the compost heap. Appetizing, right? Maybe next time (if there is a next time!) we should blend in some flavorful herbs or some sweeter fruits or green tea. Or some honey... or yogurt.. ice cream...rum... All the same, great work WeBangs!