During the Summer, do smoothies make up the majority of your meals? They do for us. Especially when it gets too hot in the kitchen to cook. And, as our days get busier and we prefer to spend every minute soaking in the extra daylight hours, what do we do? We pull out the Vitamix! The ice-crushing, vegetable- and fruit-pulverizing machine that transforms solid foods into pulpy, liquid beverages.

While cold-pressed beverages are generally best for the body since the heat generated from blending can affect the nutritional content of the juices, we enjoy blending to retain the fiber from the skins and pulp that help cleanse and remove toxins from the body.

The inclusion of antioxidant- and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables such as kale, spinach, apples, and berries in the beverages help to maintain a balanced system and healthy, glowing skin. Over the years, we've tried numerous blends and have adapted some to our tastes. Here are some of our favorite fruit and vegetable blends:

Green Smoothie:

water (purified)

3 kale leaves

2 apples

1 pear

1 celery stalk

handful of spinach

1/2 a cucumber

1/2 a lemon

ginger

Detox:

water (purified)

1 lemon or lime

1 tablespoon of raw honey

ginger

(Mostly :)) Fruit Smoothie:

water (purified)

2 carrots

1 apple

1 banana

1 cup of mixed berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)

1 celery stalk

1/2 a lemon

Remember to alternate the variety of foods that you consume, since eating too much of a good thing can build up in your body as well. And, remember to use organic and chemical-free produce when making your blends.

We hope you enjoy these recipes and let us know your favorites. Have a wonderful and healthy Summer!

Published by Susan Ng // www.NaturallySusans.Etsy.com // www.NaturalllySusans.com