Blender Green Juice
In recent years there has been a steady rise in the need for fast, convenient foods that are also health conscious. One example of this are pressed vegetable juices. You no longer have to seek out an independent raw cafe or shop, you can find a wide selection at major grocery chains, coffee shops, and airports.
I can understand the appeal. When your day is jam-packed and you didn't have a chance to prepare food, a green juice seems like a good alternative for reaching your recommended daily vegetable intake. However, there are a few things missing from this seemingly perfect solution. When juice is extracted from fruits and vegetables, the skins and pulp are left behind.
This is problematic because the skin and pulp is where a lot of the nutrients and fibre are, and without fibre present to slow the absorption of sugars into the bloodstream, you'll experience a similar spike and crash that you would with sugar-sweetened beverages. Plus, they will keep you full for about 10 minutes. No bueno.
My solution: Blender Juice!
A combination of greens, fruit, herbs, and water blended thoroughly in a high-power blender give the texture and taste as a juice, but with the added fibre from the skin and pulp of the fruits and veggies.
My favourite combo is this mixture of grapefruit, green apple, cucumber, spinach, ginger, and mint. It's super refreshing, with a nice zing from the grapefruit, and a touch of sweetness from the apple. Feel free to ab-lib and make it your own. If you like things on the sweeter side, substitute an orange for the grapefruit. No mint? Try some parsley instead.
If you need a bit of a reset after an indulgent week, a remedy for calming tummy troubles, or wake up the morning after a big night feeling a little *ahem* , 'dehydrated', this is your cure. At least it's mine anyway. :)
Blender Green Juice
makes two 500 mL servings
1 large grapefruit, peel and pith removed
1 medium green apple, cored and roughly chopped
1 medium cucumber roughly chopped
2 big handfuls of spinach
1 handful of fresh mint
1 2-inch long piece of fresh ginger, sliced
1/2 cup of ice cubes (about4)
1/2 cup water
1. Combine all ingredients in a high-powered blender (such as a Blendtec, Vitamin, or Ninja), blitz until all ingredients are combined, and mixture is smooth and frothy.
Optional: If you prefer a thinner texture, strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve before drinking.