Green smoothies are popular with parents and naturopaths. When making a green smoothie, include a mixture of two parts fruit and one part green, leafy vegetables such as baby spinach, romaine lettuce or kale.
Dark greens supply vitamins E and K, as well as calcium and fiber. Green smoothies aid digestion, boost the immune system, and help even the most finicky eaters obtain their daily portion of vegetables. For a Tropical Smoothie recipe, blend two mangos, ice and water. Then, add ½ cup of chopped baby spinach or romaine lettuce to the mix. Add orange juice or apple juice to sweeten and top with fresh mint or basil.
Sales of juices and smoothies have increased significantly in recent years. Packed with clean pure flavours, the health benefits seem like a bonus point. Some of these drinks are almost like a meal in themselves, which is partly why they sit at the top of the menu. A glass of raw juice (carrot, cucumber, tomato, orange and apple) is a great way to enjoy the anticipation of a bowl of noodles.
Apart from orange and grapefruit juice, juices are not that easy to produce at home unless you have a proper juice machine. This pulps the fruit or vegetable in order to extract the juice. Smoothies are somewhat easier, although you do have to stick to softer ingredients, like bananas, mangoes and berries. Most smoothies contain banana, which helps to give the drink some body. There really is no end to the variations of juices possible.
What follows are a couple of suggestions that make use of a blender. If you decide to purchase a juicer the whole world of vegetables adds a completely different dimension.