enhances flavour. A tasty combination that I enjoy is sweet potato, mango, orange juice and coconut milk. Add a little ice and you’ve got a creamy tropical treat that boasts high levels of vitamins C and A, and will keep your engine running all morning! Another trend that is gaining popularity is to incorporate vegetable purees into baked goods. Try using squash in place of pumpkin, or add beet puree to chocolate cake or muffins. It’s a fun way to get extra nutrition, especially for the picky eaters in your life. Another way to benefit from the many nutrients present in vegetables is to make fresh fruit and vegetable juice blends, and you don’t even need to buy an expensive juicer to do this. All you need is a decent blender and a fine mesh strainer of some sort. Blend chopped raw vegetables and/or fruits
together with a little water or juice and then strain the mixture to remove the pulp. Voila! You have a healthy, cleansing, energizing drink and can use the pulp in other dishes like soups, stews, and baking. FLS
Amanda Oro, RN, is a nutrition consultant for Fuel Fitness and Nutrition Inc. For more advice on mindbody wellness, please visit the Facebook page at Fuel Fitness & Nutrition Inc.
Easy, Pre-Workout Juice 1 small beet, raw and peeled 2 carrots 1 apple 1 ⁄4 – 1⁄2 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled Blend and strain (or juice) above ingredients together and add water to taste if needed. Enjoy! This juice provides vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and is great as a pre-workout drink. Beet juice has been shown to increase oxygen capacity and endurance during exercise, allowing you to exercise at a higher intensity for longer periods of time. The apple and carrot juices will provide a steady supply of energy as well. Try blending some of your own favourite flavours together and see what you can come up with. It’s another way to incorporate more plant food goodness into your life. Your body will love you for it!