Though I tend to reach for my blender and green smoothie recipes in June, my sources (by which I mean Pinterest) tell me that they’re quite popular in January when everyone is recommitting to health and fitness goals. When I unearthed my fancy Vitamix blender from storage after moving last year, it was tempting to break it in with ice creams and milkshakes, but instead I started experimenting with fruit and veggie smoothies and green juice.
The thing I like best about green juice is that you can mix and match your favorite fruits and veggies to create new variations. Even if you’re new to going green and wary of the thought of drinking your salads, the right combination of kale, apples, pineapple, berries, parsley, cilantro, cucumbers, celery, ginger, lemon juice…you name it — is refreshing and loaded with good for you nutrients.
There are tons of shops and juice bars popping up in cities but the price of a blended beverage will run you upwards of $8, if you’re lucky. You can easily cut down on costs by buying your favorite combination of organic fruits and vegetables and create your own combinations. My favorite is a blend of spinach, strawberries, cucumber, lemon juice and about a cup of water.
I prefer my juice to be pulp-free (nothing will kill your juice buzz faster than slurping a chunk of spinach through your straw) so I like to pour my juice through a strainer or cheesecloth before enjoying.
- 1 cup water (or fresh orange or apple juice)
- 1 cup ice (crushed if possible)
- 1 large handful of fresh spinach, about 1-2 cups (or mix of kale and spinach)
- ½ cup cucumber, peeled and sliced
- ¾ cup strawberries (fresh or frozen both work great)
- Directions:
- Place all five ingredients in the blender in the order listed. Blend again until smooth. Add in more almond milk and/or ice for your desired consistency. Store whatever you don’t drink in the refrigerator for up to a day.