Here's a great way to get in some extra veggie servings. All you need are a few veggies, some fruit and a really good blender (I love the Vita Mix--expensive but worth it because it blends so throroughly) or a juicer. Either way you're going to get lots of vitamins & phytochemicals, but with the blender, you'll have the added benefit of fiber. Leave the skins on!
Of course, we all know about fruit juices, and you can make your own with a juicer or a blender, but fruit juices (especially processed ones w/added sugars) can be high in calories & not very filling. But have you tried adding some veggies into the mix? Here are a few combos I've tried & enjoyed. I wasn't sure what I'd think; I tasted the first one tentatively...I was surprised at how tasty & refreshing these drinks are, especially on a warm day.
Note: If you use a blender rather than a juicer, your drink will be thicker, so you can either add water or ice, or just enjoy it thicker, like a smoothie. Adding water or ice can change the flavor a bit, so taste first.
Sweet Spinach
Combine a handful of spinach, 1/2 apple (seeds removed), 1 carrot (or a handful of baby carrots), and a dash of ginger. Juice or blend until smooth, adding water only if needed.
Warning: This turns out the color of mashed avocado--It tastes much better than it looks!
Celery Zinger
Combine 1 stalk celery, 1/2 pear, 6 baby carrots & a dash of ginger. Juice or blend, again adding water only if needed.
Ugly Combo
Combine 1/2 pear, a handful of blueberries, a handful of baby carrots, a handful of spinach, and a bit of ginger. If using blender, add a 1/8 cup ice water & blend. This one is even uglier than the Sweet Spinach recipe--resembles dark algae! BUT it tastes really good!
These are 1-serving sizes; simply add more ingredients to make more.
Try any number of combinations of fruits & veggies. If you really need more sweetness, try adding 1/2 tsp honey to your drink.
Let me know what you think!
~Pam
p.s. Snappy blender cleaner: Rinse blender & lid with warm water. Pour 2 drops of dishwashing liquid into blender. Fill about 2/3 with hot water. Cover w/lid & blend on high for 1 minute. Rinse well, & Presto! You're good to go!
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