Healthy Drinks

Looking to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet? Who isn't, right?

Well this simple veggie juice might help you with a lot more then just getting your servings of fruits and veggies into your day.  It gave me so much energy I performed random household chores with a smile. 

It is loaded with vitamins and minerals including fiber, potassium and vitamin C.  I made it after traveling and returning home from the Fitbloggin Conference, I thought I would give my immune system a big boost. 

So before I explain my weird juicing process...involving two small kitchen appliances...I'm saving my pennies and asking Santa for the mother of all blenders...yes, the Vitamix! So until then...I'm working my ghetto style juice operation.
 

all smiles

Now...truth be told..I got a wonderful Waring blender for our wedding, and completely burned out the motor making crazy juice combinations.  What can I say, I know I'm a freak.  Chopping up hard apples and celery in a regular blender. Hint: don't do that! Smoking motor smells and smoothies don't mix.

However, my crafty side came out and I figured out a way to produce this amazing green miracle once again.  I'm lucky enough to have an awesome Cuisinart food processor and my good old trusty 14 dollar blender from Target!  Between the two machines...I wash lots of dishes and magically whip up something healthy and delicious.  Let me tell you...it's worth all the effort.

In this corner.....we have....

 

machine #1  food processor: chops up apple, orange, celery, anything hard and a little water.

machine #2 blender: pulsed up apple, orange, celery mixture, banana, ice, greens (spinach & romaine), more water and lemon juice.

Ingredients: 2 oranges, 2 celery stalks, 1 apple, 1 banana, the bunch of romaine lettuce, 3 cups spinach, juice of 1 lemon, water and 3-4 ice cubes. 

Blend together until smooth and creamy. 
Pour into glasses and enjoy.  Get ready to feel amazing.

This easy recipe is a variation of Kimberly Snyder's GGS.  I make them all the time, and just use whatever I happen to have on hand.  Feel free to pulse and blender whatever you have in your fruit bowl and add lots of greens.  It's a great way to use up ripe fruit. 

Warning: this juice might make you do crazy things.  No joke after I finished this juice I tackled a project that was on my to do list for awhile.  Yes, folks I cleaned out all the crap from underneath my bed! Where did that energy come from? Hum, I wonder.  Could it be all those real foods and raw veggies?

*Hint: if you are making this for just yourself, add a little more lemon juice, cover and refrigerate for later in the day or even the next morning.  Shake it up and enjoy it all over again. 

After writing this blog now for awhile, I'm noticing a pattern.  It seems as though I really enjoy drinking my fruits and veggies.  I'm not quite sure why? I still have all my teeth, I'm fairly young and healthy, but something about not chewing and slurping a fun drink is easier.  Great for anyone on the go.  Here's to getting in more plants and fruit in our diets!  Enjoy.

What do you prefer....chewing or drinking fruits & veggies?
Have a gentle week everyone. 
Be well.