Juicing recipes the kids love!

Although if the truth be known, I haven’t managed to stick to daily juicing as it’s been such a busy time with the summer holidays and work, I am still enjoying trying out different juicing recipes several times a week.

I am also pleased to say that Joshua and Grace are loving the fresh juices which is fantastic considering my chances of getting a piece of beetroot or a celery stick into them normally would probably be slim to none!

I have found that by getting the children involved in making the juices they are very keen to try them as love preparing all the ingredients with me and taking it in turns to put them through the juicer.  They particularly love watching it mix into a smoothie in the blender as I always mix the juices with ice so they are nice and chilled to drink.  Brightly coloured straws also work well for younger children.

Admittedly, washing up the juicer and blender can be a bit of a faff, however, I was given a great tip by a family member (and fellow juicer) that has made life much easier on that front.  When using the juicer remember to put a plastic bag or small bin bag in the bucket part of the juicer that collects all the pulp and waste from the fruit.  This is normally the worst part of emptying and cleaning but with the bag you can simply lift it straight out and throw it in the bin leaving your waste bucket completely clean!  This alone really cuts down the time spent over the sink washing up so a great idea.  Once I’ve thrown away the used bag I replace it immediately with a fresh one ready for the next juice so I don’t forget for next time.

I managed to get the children to try their first juice The Ultimate Health Booster by telling them that it made them grow taller!  I stood with my hand over the tops of their heads and as they drunk it slowly lowered my hand till they could feel it on their heads which made them think they were really growing.  Whether they believed it or not, we certainly had fun watching how much they were growing after each glass full!

The great thing about the ‘Keeping it Simple’ recipe book by Jason Vale is that it tells you how each juice will benefit you.  The children love me reading out as we prepare them that ‘this one will make your bones strong and your hair shiny’ etc.

Below are Joshua and Grace’s top three juices in order of preference (ironically the one with chocolate in came third on the list!):

The Ultimate Health Booster (nicknamed ‘The Growing Drink’ by us!)

1 inch slice pineapple
1 apple (Royal Gala or Golden Delicious are best)
1 inch chunk broccoli stem
1 small handful spinach
1/2 stick celery
1/4 inch piece ginger (with skin on)
1 inch slice cucumber
1 small handful watercress
1/2 ripe avocado (de-stoned)
ice cubes

Remember to wash all fruit and veggies first. Juice everything except the avocado. Place the avocado in the blender along with the ice and add juice. Blend until smooth – enjoy!

I actually double or sometimes triple the quantities listed in the ingredients when making this smoothie for the children and my husband and I, so we all get a glass full.  The kids simply love this smoothie and ask for it regularly which is great as is packed full of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.  The apple and pineapple make it taste sweet and delicious and the ginger gives it a gentle kick!

Reddy, Steady, Go!

2 apples (Golden Delicious or Royal Gala)
1 small raw beetroot
1 small broccoli stem
1 inch slice cucumber
1/2 inch slice pineapple (diced to fit into feeder)
1 lime (peeled)
ice cubes

Put one apple in the chute followed by the beetroot, broccoli, celery, cucumber, pineapple, lime and then ‘sandwich’ with the other apple. Juice the lot, then add ice to cool. All juices taste better when cool, especially veggie ones!

Choctastic

1 orange
1 inch thick slice of a medium pineapple
4 pieces organic chocolate (use fairtrade, above 80 per cent cocoa solids)
1/2 banana (fairtrade if possible)
3 tablespoons low-fat live yogurt
ice cubes

Juice the orange and pineapple. Grate chocolate into the blender (mind your fingers!) and add banana, yogurt, juice and ice. Blend everything till smooth. The only faff factor for me was the time it took to grate the chocolate as a bit time consuming (particularly when you have two over eager young volunteers trying to steal your ingredients). On the up side, this is an extremely balanced smoothie that tastes naughty but is still extremely good for your kids. I loved it too!