In my family home, we love to juice fresh raw organic fruits, herbs and vegetables. During the winter months we do not do it so much, but during the warmer part of the year when our vegetable garden upstate New York is flourishing, we juice a lot! With summer finally here in the Northern Hemisphere, our juicer is officially out of the cupboard and back on the kitchen bench where it will stay, for now.
Juicing is a quick way to get your daily dose of fruit and veggies, a wonderful way to start the day and flood your body with essential nutrients. Juicing on a regular basis has been credited to a better immune system, weight loss, glowing hair and skin and increased energy (among other things).
I like to throw whatever produce we have into the Juicer (including scraps like apple cores and beetroot and carrot stalks), and hope for the best! Unfortunately though, I can admit it, sometimes it does not taste so good. This is why unless you are a juicing genius (like my husband) following a recipe is a wonderful idea.
Today, we have 3 recipes to inspire you to start juicing. If you do not have a juicer, I suggest checking out the Omega website; they sell all kinds of different kinds HERE. They also have a ton of other juice and smoothie recipes, like this Raw Cacao Avocado Smoothie; which I must try soon. It looks so delicious! I love avocado.
Healthy green juice recipe made with spinach, collard greens, cucumber, lemon and fresh herbs.
What You Need for 1 serving at 500 ml
- 4 cups spinach
- 1/2 head of collard green or swiss chard (about 6 leaves)
- 1 cucumber
- 1/2 bunch of parsley (about 1 cup lightly packed)
- 1/2 bunch of cilantro (about 1/2 cup lightly packed)
- Juice from 1/2 lemon
If you have a ‘low’ setting on your juicer, juice all items in the recipe but the lemon juice. When complete, add lemon juice, stir and enjoy
Tropical Beetroot Juice
What You Need for 1 serving at 500 ml
- 1 beet
- 100 grams (1/4 of the fruit) fresh pineapple, skin removed
- 1 pear
- 1 inch ginger root
- Juice from 1/2 lemon
If you have a ‘low’ setting on your juicer, begin with the softer items first – pear and lemon. Then turn to ‘high’ and juice the remaining ingredients
Green Energy Smoothie
What You Need for 1 serving at 1000 ml
- 1 cucumber, seeded and sliced
- 3 cups raw spinach
- 1/2 medium-sized honey-dew (cubed)
- 1 cup organic green tea
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 cup of ice cubes
- 1/2 fresh ginger root
Blend and Enjoy
Garnish with fresh berries if you like
We suggest using only organic produce if possible, as eating foods which have been sprayed with chemicals is not advisable for anybody. If you cannot afford, or do not have organic produce available in your area, try your best to avoid these foods which are on the Environmental Working Group’s list known affectionately as “The Dirty Dozen”. These foods are sprayed severely with pesticides – apples, strawberries, grapes, celery, peaches, spinach, capsicum, nectarines, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and snap peas. Instead, choose fruits or vegetables with thick skins as the chemicals do not affect them as much.
Thanks for stopping by Willy B Mum. We hope this posting has inspired you to live a healthier lifestyle.
Peace, Love and Plants Make the World Go Around!
