Healthy Green Juice with Lemon

A flavorful & healthy green juice. 

With my juice mini-cleanse over, I thought I would take a moment to share one of my favorite recipes with you. But before I do, I'm going to reflect on how great the week actually was. 

I thought I was going to be hungry all the time. Breakfast I wasn't worried about. I usually have
green smoothies anyway, but dinner? Just juice? Yes it's healthy, but would it be filling? I had my doubts.

When I started this cleanse, I didn't really know what flavors to put together, so I just started experimenting. Usually, I would have a sweeter, fruit based juice for breakfast and a healthier, vegetable based juice for dinner. Of course, always trying to incorporate greens into each juice I made.

Juicing I have learned, can be an integral part of your daily lifestyle. Unlike smoothies, juicing removes all the fiber from your fruits and veggies, leaving you with a delicious liquid that is packed with nutrients. Unlike smoothies which take a longer to digest because of the fiber, juice is easily absorbed and gives you the jolt of nutrients that each ingredient has.

All the good stuff that your body needs in one little drink. Slurrp...delicious! (That was me drinking...)

When, and if, you decide to go on a juice cleanse, there are some staple ingredients that you must pick up. Any which way you combine these ingredients, you'll have a tasty, healthy juice that will fill your body with nutrients and boost your energy throughout the day.

Your greens:

• Kale
• Romain Lettuce
• Celery
• Cucumber
• Fennel

Your roots:

• Carrots
• Beets

Your fruit:

• Apples
• Pears
• Grapefruit
• Lemon

Use a combination of greens, roots and fruits and I promise you'll have a delicious juice on your hands. It's important to balance your sugars, so try to incorporate one of the greens into each of your juices.

Green Juice with Lemon

Overall the week was great. I lost a couple of pounds (probably just water weight, but it still felt good) and I had more energy than I had in a long time. I wasn't starving like I expected, and it was reassuring knowing that my body was just as happy (if not happier) with a green juice for dinner rather than a big, carbo-loaded meal.

My plan is to continue to juice for breakfast, potentially having another juice mid-afternoon if I have the time. If Matt's away, I'll likely juice for dinner as well. I'm definitely a fan of juicing now and can't see myself going back to my old habits anytime soon.

Healthy Green Juice with Lemon

serves 2

ingredients:

• 1 large green apple, cored and quartered
• 1 medium carrot, cut into thirds
• 2 celery stalks, cut into thirds
• 1/3 medium cucumber, cut in half lengthwise
• 1/2 fennel bulb
• 3 kale leaves
• 1/2 lemon, peeled or squeezed in after

Wash all your ingredients thoroughly before juicing. Place all you ingredients in your juicer (mine must be one at a time). Stir and drink immediately.

Mmmm...you feel healthier after each sip.

Other green beverages you may enjoy:

• Alyssa's Favorite Green Smoothie
• Green Pina Colada Smoothie