What we eat is crucial to our health and, more often than not, it is difficult to get the vitamins and nutrients we need. Eating healthy is hard and cooking requires a good deal of time for busy families, so drinking smoothies is a great habit to develop if you are conscientious about what goes into your body.
A juicer differs from a blender in that you can extract nutrients and juice from the fruit peel and pulp with a juicer, rendering more. Juicers are more costly and require a bit more effort to clean, but the benefits are worth it. Ideally the best juice for you is made from leafy greens and fruits and adding detoxifiers such as ginger, lemon, or turmeric.
Using a blender for a smoothie every day is easier, and you can still obtain most of the health benefits that you would from a juicer. It is all a process. Whichever you choose, fruits and vegetables need to be peeled and chopped, and so you will need to keep fresh ingredients on hand. The combinations of fruits and vegetables is endless, so you can adjust the taste to whatever you desire, adding more or less fruit for added natural sweetness. Have a smooth summer y’all!
RASPBERRY SMOOTHIE WITH FRESH MINT
1 cup fresh raspberries
1/3 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
Place all ingredients in blender, and process until smooth. Serve immediately.
Yield: 1 serving
ISLAND SUNRISE SMOOTHIE
2 cups chopped papaya
½ cup fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon organic honey
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
Pinch salt
1 cup frozen cubed mango
1 cup frozen strawberries
Process ingredients together in blender. Process until smooth.
Yield: 3 servings
CUCUMBER APPLE AND MINT SMOOTHIES
1 cup peeled, seeded, and chopped cucumber
1/3 cup unsweetened apple juice, frozen
¼ cold water
¼ cup fresh mint, chopped
10 ice cubes
Place all ingredients in blender, and process until smooth.
Yield: 2 servings
ORANGE, BANANA AND PINEAPPLE FRAPPE
2 1/3 cups cubed banana
¾ cup pineapple juice
½ cup orange sections
½ cup plain low-fat yogurt
1 tablespoon sweetened, flaked coconut
2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate
1 (8-ounce) can pineapple juice
Place all ingredients in blender and process until smooth. Serve immediately.
Yield: 3 servings
GREEN GODDESS SHOT
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and cubed
1 avocado, peeled and seed removed
1 lemon, peeled and halved, seeds removed
3 handfuls baby spinach
1 cup cold water
¼ cup ice
Place all ingredients in blender, and process until smooth. Strain if necessary. Divide among 4 shot glasses and serve.
Yield: 4 servings
ORANGE DREAMSICKLE SMOOTHIE
1 cup plain reduced-fat Greek yogurt
2/3 cup ice cubes
½ cup chopped, ripe mango, frozen
½ cup fresh orange juice
1 medium orange, peeled and sectioned
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Place all ingredients in blender, and process until smooth. Serve
immediately.
Yield: 2 servings
KEY LIME COCONUT SMOOTHIE
½ cup coconut milk
Zest and juice of 1 lime
1 tablespoon organic honey
1 (6-ounce) container key lime yogurt, frozen
3 ice cubes
For garnish: toasted shredded coconut
In blender, process all ingredients together except coconut. Pour into serving glasses and top with toasted coconut.
Yield: 2 servings
MORNING GLORY SHOT
1 orange, peeled and seeded
1 red bell pepper, seeded, and quartered
1½ cups baby carrots
1 lemon, peeled, halved, and seeds removed
1 (1-inch) piece ginger, peeled and chopped
¼ cup ice
Place all ingredients in blender, and process until smooth. Strain if necessary. Divide mixture between 4 shot glasses and serve.
Yield: 4 servings
GINGER BERRIES AND OATS SMOOTHIE
¼ cup prepared oatmeal
¼ cup low-fat milk
½ teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 cup blackberries
½ cup sliced strawberries
1 teaspoon organic honey
½ cup ice
Place all ingredients in blender, and process until smooth.
Yield: 1 serving
COCONUT OIL PULLING
This is a natural tooth whitener and oral detox to use daily.
1 tablespoon coconut oil
Swish mixture in your mouth for 10 minutes. Spit mixture out and discard.
Yield: 1 serving
