Anyone who knows me knows that I love to juice. If I don’t get my daily dose of juice in the morning, my day starts a little bit off and I crave it the entire day. Not only do I feel more energized with juice, but I see a physical and mental difference throughout my day.
Right now, juicing is the thing. In Los Angeles alone, we have a juicery on almost every block. Everywhere you go, including your local grocery store, there is an entire refrigerated section dedicated to cold-pressed juices. I’m sure you’ve also seen quite a few celebs toting their juices around.
While juices are good for you, they aren’t always good for your budget. Most 12 ounce juices can start anywhere from $4 to $7 and they can go all the way up $11 to $15. They definitely don’t come cheap when you purchase them from a store. Every so often, I do indulge in some in-store juices, but often, I make my juices in the comfort of my own home at a fraction of the cost for around $3 to $4.
Now, a few bucks for a cup of liquid might still sound steep, but many people spend this much on their daily cup of coffee, which doesn’t come with the same nutrient punch as juice. Also, consider the expenditure an investment in your health. Getting your daily dose of nutrients can go a long way to keeping you healthy, cutting down on health care costs and minimizing sick days. The same goes for your children – – so let’s get started!
I have four juice recipes that I rotate on a weekly basis and my kids beg me to make them more each day, so it’s definitely kid-approved. All juices use water as their base but coconut water is another option for added sweetness. As any parent knows, it’s not easy to get your kids to eat foods that are good for them, so this could be your answer to that challenge, too.
Shrek Green Juice:
1 large organic cucumber
1 large Granny Smith apple
2 slices of ginger
1/2 lemon
fistful of parsley
handful of kale or spinach
I usually cut the kale or spinach up into squares and blend the apple and cucumber together in my juicer, along with water. (A high-powered blender can also work.) The ginger goes in last followed by parsley and squeezes of lemon. This one isn’t overly sweet, and it packs a lot of power. It’s a great way to get your kids to eat their greens! (These ingredients make one serving; feel free to double or triple as needed.)
Tropical Green Juice:
If you want a little bit more sweetness, this juice is for you. For the newbie juicer, this is perfect!
1 large organic cucumber
handful of mixed greens or kale
1/4 pineapple
1/2 lemon
Cut everything up into small pieces. Start by adding the cucumber to water in the juicer and then add the rest of the ingredients. As the last step, squeeze in some lemon juice and you’ll fall in love. Adding ice is another option.
Refreshing Green Juice:
If you are hot and you want to cool yourself down, this green juice will definitely hit a spot.
1 large organic cucumber
1/2 lemon
1/2 lime
fistful of parsley
a few stems of mint
1 Granny Smith apple
Blend all the ingredients with water, adding the lime and lemon at the end. Enjoy!
Popeye’s Green Juice:
Growing up, I definitely listened to Popeye and ate my spinach. But that’s not always the case with kids. This juice will make spinach an enjoyable part of anyone’s diet.
1 large organic cucumber
1 Granny Smith apple
fistful of spinach
1/2 large carrot
1/2 lemon
Blend all the ingredients with water, saving the lemon for the end. Carrot can be difficult to blend so if unless you have a very strong juicer or blender, you might want to first grate it.
As you can see, juicing doesn’t have to be difficult nor expensive. The base is usually the same, with either cucumber or a green apple, and you can tweak the recipe as you go along to fit your family’s taste preferences. If you want to integrate more veggies into your daily diet while saving money, juicing is the perfect way to do it.
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How to Make Budget-Friendly Green Juices for Kids originally appeared on usnews.com
