CHAPTER 3 Healthy Drinks So what’s better, juicing or blending? Hmmm, hard to say. They each have their place. To juice is to extract the liquid from fruits or vegetables and remove the pulp. Blending pulverizes the produce to make a smooth drink. The biggest difference: Smoothies can be loaded with fiber while juices naturally can’t. However, both can be nutrient-packed. Personally, I drink smoothies more often, but I still can’t resist a cool, revitalizing glass of juice. Either way, filling your blender with locally grown greens, freshly picked berries, and homemade nut milks can only be a good thing. Blender drinks are an excellent way to add the USDA-recommended five daily servings of fruits and vegetables to your diet. So use the following recipes as guidelines, but don’t hesitate to voyage out on your own. Be creative. Experiment with your own favorite combinations and change up your ingredients according to what’s in season. It’ll help ensure that every sip is delicious, and variety provides a broad range of nutrients. Flash freezing fruits and vegetables at their peak of freshness helps preserve vitamins, and will expand your options to a rainbow of choices during those lackluster, produce-poor winter months. These quick and easy drinks are a super-healthy way to start the day, or sometimes even end it. Cheers.
Cool Mint Slush serves 4–6 Refreshing and smooth, this icy concoction will cool you down on the hottest of days. A splash of vodka or gin turns this drink into a delightful summer cocktail. Whip up a batch in advance and freeze in a resealable plastic bag. When you’re ready to use it, break up the mixture in the sealed bag then add it to the blender container, pulse several times, and serve. 1 whole lemon, cut into quarters, seeds removed ¾ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (juice of about 3 lemons) ⅓ cup raw honey, or more to taste ¼ cup water 4 cups ice ½ cup fresh mint leaves, plus extra for garnish Add the cut lemon and lemon juice to the container and blend on medium-high until smooth. Add the honey, water, and ice and continue to blend until completely smooth. Put the mint in the container and pulse five or six times, until the mint is chopped and mixed throughout. Serve garnished with mint leaves.