Vital Greens came to my attention in July (2012) when I started work at Health 2000. I’d read what Barbara Kendall said about it in our August/September magazine and how she has the whole family on it. The 76 ingredients in this nutrient-rich super food were impressive, and I don’t mind green drinks, but taste was going to be the decider.

A week later I found out. Although I’d avoided the July cold/flu epidemic, I was stressed and run down despite daily multivitamins and fish oil. Apart from starting a new job and having to get up super early to drive my husband to work first, then repeat it backwards in peak hour after 5pm, our rural home had gone unconditional and we had a month to purchase another. I went down to the Health 2000 warehouse to ask for a sample of Vital Greens, and got given a handful of sachets. Back at my desk I mixed the green powder with water and had an audience of one as I pulled the obligatory face. A watery Pineapple Lump?

The next day everything seemed to take half as long, with a smile, as I found myself running up stairs, bouncing around with the dogs and giving a bit of cheek. By the end of the week I’d organised my own precious 600g to take home. I knew my husband wouldn’t need convincing, given how uplifted I was feeling, but what about the kids? My son has Type 1 diabetes, and stepchildren are all dairy, gluten and wheat free, so finding healthy food everyone likes is just as tough as getting kids to eat sufficient green or raw foods.

    Husband: “Yeah, OK. That’s all right.” He has his with watered-down juice.
    Son (19): “Yep, that’s not bad actually. I can definitely taste the chocolate.”  He has it with cow’s milk.
    Stepson (14): “It’s like chocolate, or pineapple … quite nice.” Mixed with almond milk.
    Stepdaughter (13): Liked it, told her mum all about it, and mixed a glass up the next day.
    Stepson (11): “Dad, can I have another green drink?”
    My verdict: It’s yum, and I’m possibly addicted to how good I feel. 

OK, so the 600g isn’t going to last as long as I thought, but I’d rather invest in optimal health and illness prevention, than face the consequences later. I now have a Vital Greens supply at work as well, and the co-worker I pulled the face to, plus our graphic designer, have since become Vital Greenies.

More vital information: Vital Greens was developed in 2000 by two Sydney based naturopaths. It is a balance of nutrient-dense greens, vegetables, fruits, herbs, vitamins and minerals, powerful antioxidants, pre and probiotics, essential fatty acids, fibre, plus an alkalising pea protein.
It is suitable for the whole family, vegans and vegetarians, people with dietary restrictions, and gluten, wheat and dairy free. It is sweetened with organic Thaumatin. Ingredients are balanced to provide optimum nutrient levels to help support detoxification, digestion, intestinal health, immunity and to assist vitality and energy.

Vital Greens120g NZD $39.90		Vital Greens300g NZD $94.90		Vital Greens600g NZD $169.90