Favorite Juicing & Blending Recipes

A lot of you have asked for juice recipes to start with if you are new to juicing and blending. Here are three of my favorites. I typically make at least two of the three each day. Doug carries two bottles with him to work every day. I like to start my day with the Sweet Green Smoothie because of the high protein content. It is super high in 'green' nutrition yet tastes sweet like a smoothie because of the pineapple. I make it in my Vita-mix blender. The other two are juices and work well in either a centrifugal or masticating juicer.

Vita-mix (commercial strength) Blender:

Example of Centrifugal Juicer:

Example of Masticating Juicer:

A few tips for easy prep and great taste:

Green Smoothie: I prepare 6-8 baggies of fruit for Green Smoothies ahead of time with 1/2 ripe banana, 3 strawberries (frozen or fresh) and one large spear of (cut into chunks) pineapple. I keep a stash of baggies of fruit in the freezer so it easy to grab one when I want a smoothie. May substitute 1/2 cup of blueberries or other berries for strawberries)

Green Smoothie: It's important to put the water in first, then the supplements, then the greens, then the fruit on top. If you don't have a Vita-mix or other commercial strength blender, add the supplements into the water and blend. Then add the kale and blend. Then add the spinach and blend. Finally add the fruit and blend.

Ginger in Carrot/Apple/Ginger juice: I recommend starting with a very small chunk (1/4 inch or less) of ginger and add more each time if you want stronger flavor.

Apples: I have found that in most juices that call for apples, the best flavor comes from Granny Smith Apples. Unless the recipe specifically calls for a certain type of apple I use Granny Smith; the green apple, for those who are unfamiliar.

Beets: I have never liked eating beets, but they are great in juice. Be sure to use the greens (leaves and stems) as well.

On with the recipes:

SWEET GREEN SMOOTHIE (in Vita-mix)
20 oz Water
1 Tbsp Flax Seeds
1/2 Tbsp Hemp Seed
4 Tbsp Protein Powder (should be 1 scoop or 1/2 scoop depending on your brand of protein)
1 Cup fresh Kale (1 large kale leaf)
2 Cups fresh Spinach (roughly 4 good handfuls)
3 large frozen Strawberries (see above tip)
1/2 frozen ripe Banana (see above tip)
1 Lg spear frozen Pineapple (roughly 1/2 cup, see above tip)

Add in order, blend and drink. Makes approximately 40 oz of smoothie. Definitely a full meal or enough to share.

CARROT/APPLE/GINGER JUICE
I always make 32 oz of juice at a time, so my recipes will all reflect that.
1 Granny Smith Apple
1 small chunk (1/4 inch) FRESH Ginger (see above tip)
Carrots (approximately 12-14 large)

Juice the apple and ginger, then add carrots until you reach 32 ounces. The number of carrots depends on the size. Could be 16 if they are small, could be 10-11 if they are very large. That's why I add the carrots third, so I can just add them til I reach 32 ounces.

CARROT/BEET/CUCUMBER JUICE
1/2 Large Cucumber (2/3 of a small)
1 Small Beet including the green tops (1/2 medium beet or 1/3 large beet)
Carrots (approximately 10-12 large)

Juice the Cucumber and Beet first, then add Carrots until you reach 32 ounces.

What is your favorite juice recipe. I love to try new combinations, so please share. Are you finding it fairly easy to add one juice a day to your diet? If so, have you noticed a change in your energy level or alertness?