These three colorful vegetable juices are an easy way to make juicing a habit this year.
The aftermath of the holiday season hit me hard; I have just started to rouse from the post-holiday haze.
December is certainly a month of activity; a frenzy of feasts, festivities and family that flies by in a flash. The next thing I knew 2013 had arrived and I was overcome by a desire to hole up, hibernate and recharge.
Frankly, the closest couch and a good nap were in order. Well, that and something fresh and liquid; a respite from the excesses of December.
Whether you are new to juicing, or an old pro, the start of the New Year is certainly the season for it. When you’re feeling a strong urge to eat clean and re-energize, no supplement is a match for the vitamins, minerals and nutrients found in whole foods like vegetables.
One of the most frequently asked questions about juicing is “why not eat your vegetables instead of juicing them?" The problem is that most of us just don’t eat enough of them and juicing is an easy way to increase your intake. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat them, it means you should do both if you can.
Store bought juices are not the same thing; most are laden with added sugars and preservatives, those that aren’t have most likely been pasteurized. Manufacturers pasteurize juices to prevent spoilage, but the process of heating the juice can destroy the availability of some of the vitamins and enzymes so fresh, raw juices are best.
Drinking freshly pressed vegetable juices along with eating a variety of vegetables provides our bodies with an abundance of raw materials and nutrients from which to thrive.
Green juices are king when it comes to juicing as they are both nutrient rich and low in sugar, but if you are hesitant to plunge into green drinks, root based juices are a naturally sweeter alternative that still pack a nutritional punch. Start with carrot juice and gently ease your way over to spinach juice and other leafy greens.
These three colorful juices are an easy way to make juicing a habit this year.
Spinach and Pea Shoot Green Juice
Pea shoots offer vitamins A, C and folate. Spinach is rich in vitamin K, vitamin A, manganese and folate as well. The apple and lemon add a little tartness to the fresh flavors of the spinach and pea shoots.
Ingredients
- 2 oz/56g pea shoots
- 3 oz/85g of baby spinach
- 1 small handful of parsley leaves
- 4 celery stalks
- 1 large lemon, peeled and seeds removed
- ¼ of a large tart green apple, seeds removed
Instructions
- Chop everything into chunks that fit into the juicer chute.
- Pass all the ingredients through the juicer, alternating hard and soft ingredients.
- Strain juice to remove foam if desired.
- Pour juice into ice-filled glasses and serve immediately.
Notes
Gluten Free, Grain Free, Paleo, Vegan, Raw
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 146Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 118mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 6gSugar: 17gProtein: 4g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Beet and Sweet Potato "Roots" Juice
Sweet potatoes and carrots are high in beta-carotene, vitamin C and anti-oxidants. Beets are rich in phytonutrients and have blood pressure lowering properties.
Ingredients
- 1 small beet scrubbed, peeled
- ½ a large sweet potato scrubbed, peeled
- 4 carrots, scrubbed
Instructions
- Chop everything into chunks that fit into the juicer chute.
- Pass all the ingredients through the juicer, alternating ingredients.
- Strain to remove foam if desired.
- Pour juice into ice-filled glasses and serve immediately.
Notes
Gluten Free, Grain Free, Paleo, Vegan, Raw
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
Serves 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 167Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 178mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 9gSugar: 16gProtein: 4g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Carrot Kohlrabi Juice
A unique twist on carrot juice.
Ingredients
- 6 carrots, scrubbed
- 2 small or 1 large kohlrabi, scrubbed and peeled
Instructions
- Chop everything into chunks that fit into the juicer chute.
- Pass all the ingredients through the juicer, alternating ingredients.
- Strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove foam if desired.
- Pour juice into ice-filled glasses and serve immediately.
Notes
Gluten Free, Grain Free, Paleo, Vegan, Raw
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 133Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 187mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 13gSugar: 13gProtein: 4g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch says
Oh Sylvie! These are exquisite!
Amanda says
Stunning Sylvie!!! You make juicing look so good! 🙂
Siri says
Everything in this post is so healthy and appeasing to the eyes. Love the color combo and the simplicity of the recipes! 🙂
Siri
TidyMom says
These look so beautiful Sylive, no one would ever guess how healthy they are.
So tell me, what is kohlrabi
Sylvie says
I should have taken a picture of the kohlrabi, it's a great vegetable, crunchy and crisp a little like a radish but sweeter and with less bite. I'll have to make another recipe with it and take some pictures.
Leanne @ Healthful Pursuit says
I'm SO feeling the same today so I'm taking the afternoon off, cuddling up on the couch and reading a good book. Can't wait to just veg out.
Alison @ Ingredientsinc.net says
i can't wait to make these! This is right up my alley
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
Well Sylvie, your juices are much prettier than mine ever turn out.. I might drink these! 🙂
Eha says
Beautiful juices looking very appetizing indeed. I juice sometimes: basically a carrot/celery/apple combo: am looking tho' at Maureen's very healthy one 🙂 ! On the whole tho' I do believe in actually eating the vegetables [no hardship for me :)!] to get the very necessary fibre and avoid possible potassium excess [I take antihypertensives as many of us do and that can make a dangerous mix!] - homemade juices can be too concentrated at times and commercially made we won't talk about 😀 !
Rosa says
So healthy and colorful!
Cheers,
Rosa
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I do juice and I should be doing it right now. I have a great green star juicer and my favorite juice is beet, spinach, red cabbage, carrot, ginger and apple. It's really good for recharging the liver after the holidays. 🙂
Sylvie says
That sounds fantastic Maureen, I'll have to try making your juice!