Having a juicy summer
June 21st, 2010
My blogging has been flagging lately, and I’d like to blame summer fun – but really it’s because my site got hacked and I’m dealing with switching servers, etc…
But other than these administrative details (bor-ing!) this summer is off to a pretty magnificent start. The other day was hot, to the point that I didn’t feel like eating much of anything. That’s when a bell went off in my head:
JUICING!
Wow, all winter goes by and I pretty much forget about my kick ass Breville juicer. Do you have a juicer? If so, time to break it out. If not, think about making an investment. Juicing is something you really can’t replicate – not even the highest quality bottled stuff comes close to fresh, homemade juice.
But let me be clear: juice is in no way a replacement for eating real food! Just like vitamins, it’s a good way to get nutrients. But juice is not a whole food – it’s got the vitamins, antioxidants and sugars from the fruit and veggies you juice, but not the fiber.
In any case, fresh juice is incredibly refreshing and energizing on a hot day. Now remember, anytime you juice you condense all the sugar from fruit into a couple of sips. Without fiber, that sugar hits your bloodstream hard and could leave you feeling jittery. Combining fruit with veggies is key! You want to stay away from juicing, say, 10 apples to make apple juice. Instead, try blending apples with dark leafy greens for a sweet green juice.
Shown above:
Light and Sweet Green Juice
1/2 head of curly kale
1 apple
1 pear
1 lemon, peeled
My favorite part about juicing is definitely getting creative. Celery, cucumbers, beets, carrots, collard greens, oranges, lemons, apples, pears – it’s all fair game!
My least favorite part about juicing is cleaning the juicer. Here’s my strategy: Clean the juicer and all its parts before you drink your juice. Yep, it takes a little self control but if you clean the juicer before everything dries it makes it soooo much easier. And then your yummy juice is the reward.
What else are you craving on hot days?
Fresh fruit on protein-dense greek yogurt is rocking my breakfast world. Frozen grapes and banana slices are topping my list for desserts and snacks. Here are some of my past raw, living food recipes to try:
Asian Cabbage and Peanut Salad
Spinach Avocado Soup
Mediterranean Wheatberry Salad
Creamy Herb Wraps
