As a raw foodie it seems like a requirement to like green juice (and kale). Whenever I drink a green juice and cringe there is a part of me that feels guilty. I feel like drinking green juice has gotten so out-of-control-trendy that people aren’t owning up to the fact that a lot of times it just doesn’t taste good.
There. I said it. Green juice is gross.
Unless, of course, you find a way to combine ingredients properly. As most raw foodies will discover, this lifestyle becomes an obsession and most of us jump in 100% juicing anything in the fridge.
I’ve had hundreds of awful juices but touted them as “cleansing” and “detoxifying” just to console myself. I even convinced myself that my taste buds were just not mature enough for the taste.
Then, as if a divine lifeline from beyond the clouds zapped my brain, it occurred to me: stop putting weird things in your juice!
I had a habit of combining every green possible and then guzzling it as quickly as possible: broccoli, sprouts, zucchini, cucumber, beets, carrots, celery, kale, swiss chard .. you name it, it was in there. All at once. And it was usually gross.
Then I found a juice that is always good and is always a hit with whomever I share it with. This is because I follow three simple rules when making a green juice.
- It must have a sweet fruit
- It must have a citrus
- It must have ginger
When I follow these simple rules then I can add whatever greens I want and it turns out perfectly. Also, it helps when the juice is ice cold.
Just sayin’.
So this is now my signature drink. I alternate the lemon and lime but the ratio is pretty much always the same (and always delicious).
Basic Green Juice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cucumber sliced into chunks
- 3-4 stalks of kale
- 3 stalks celery cut into chunks
- 1 lime peeled
- 1 apple sliced
- 1/4" ginger peeled
Instructions
- Prepare your ingredients.
- Either run everything through your juicer, or do like I do and blend in a high speed blender. Then strain the contents through a nut milk bag or another strainer.
- Pour over ice and enjoy.
What’s your favorite green drink combination?
This sounds so good! I will try it when I go home for the summer, I think. Last year, my brother and I were all about green smoothies- spinach, almond milk, blueberries and whatever else we had on hand. We loved it. But… I want to try this! 🙂
Yay! It really is so refreshing. You could also use a lemon instead of lime, or a pear instead of an apple. It's definitely a good summer drink 🙂 let me know how you like it !!
Originally, I became interested in green drinks as an alternative to my numerous multi-vitamin and mineral supplements that I used to consume daily. I get protein, chlorophyll, fiber, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and other essential nutrients from them.
Yes, what an excellent idea!! Multi-vitamins become mostly unnecessary when you're getting your nutrients from the Earth 🙂
Good article!