Number 2; Goddess Eat Your Greens

We've recently begun that conversation. You know the one that happens when your baby starts to be a bit more manageable and you forget a little about sleepless nights, constant diaper changes, unpredictable behaviours, and the depression. You start to say things like: "We've already done it once, how much harder can two be." And, "At least we'll know what to expect this time." After a few weeks of this, you slide into, "I really don't want her growing up an only child." Then there's the assumptive close, "I don't want them to be too far apart."

Your first child then does something dramatically loving (saying her first I love you, starting to give neck hugs -- you know the difference, and sharing her precious things) and you think, I want to be surrounded by this. You picture yourself a mothering goddess, and say of course I'm ready for number 2. So it was crazy when two weeks ago Drew rolled in on his bicycle from picking up our co-op veggies with 34 ounces of spinach, a bunch of kale, 32 ounces of mixed greens, and 4 hearts of romaine. Upon seeing my dropped jaw, he excitedly replied, "They had extra stuff and said we could take 2 more of whatever we wanted." This boy loves greens so much I swear he's the one with southern roots.
So what's the crazy part right? You see greens, and spinach in particular, are especially wonderful for if you are planning on getting pregnant. Spinach is a gift from the earth to women. It contains zinc, iron, and folate all of which are vital to female health. It is said to reduce breast cancer, aid in menstruation and menopausal challenges, help with pregnancy and hemorrhaging, as well as fetal development and breast feeding. Looking at these boxes and boxes of greens, I was starting to think the universe was sending me a message.
Not wanting to waste a single leaf, I scoured my cookbooks and found a recipe for a Green Goddess shake. Immediately after trying the first one(sevi loved it too), I shoved my family out of the kitchen and mass produced a bulk batch. For the last two weeks, I've almost jumped out of bed so excited for my breakfast knowing all the while my goddess-ness is saying thanks. But the thing is, and I know I've talked about this before, spinach is also great for another kind of number 2. Wonder what that's supposed to mean...


Green Goddess Basic

1 apple (green if you've got it, but any will do)

handful of spinach (or any other greens)

juice of lime to taste (i like it really tangy so i go for 2-3 key limes)

Puree washed spinach in blender, add chunked apple and lime juice. Puree until desired consistency. You can also boil the spinach for 30 seconds to wilt, easy to use up more this way. It does lose some nutrient value but I still feel mighty after eating it. We also like to add a bit of chia or macca for some extra energy and nutrition. Great for a filling breakfast with yogurt or soy milk too. And of course drew's always sneaking in some nuts for that added thickness. I prefer mine just the basic way.