PinHappy New Year!
I’m thrilled that 2014 is here. Not that I didn’t enjoy devouring everything from sour cream coffee cakes, to pounds of ham and turkey, to enough cookies over the past two weeks to sink a ship, but I do love clean living and am happy to get back to it. I’m even more shocked though that my kids miss healthy food when there isn’t any around.
Just last week we were at a restaurant and when I asked Kenya what he wanted to drink he asked the waiter if they had green juice. Seems kind of weird for an almost 7 year old to be ordering of his own free will something green, but I truly believe kids get what their bodies need if you simply make good foods available to them — they will often even seek it out.
Early last year when I picked my kids up after school, I started bringing them a green apple or pineapple juice made with kale in the blender. My friend Jackie originally told me that she did it for her kids and I thought it was a brilliant idea. Generally the first thing out of my kids’ mouths when they see me in the afternoon is, “did you bring me a snack?” They’re also generally beyond thirsty after school, so it’s a perfect time to watch them guzzle something delicious and good for them to boot.
I challenge you to get your kids involved with this recipe. Buy all the ingredients and then have them make it with you. That’s how this drink became popular in our family. At first there was some resistance but now my little ones actually request it. So get out the blender and start your 2014 off with a bang knowing that you and your family are filling your bodies with lots of nutritious (and yummy) fuel!
Green Apple Juice
Ingredients
- 1 whole apple, chopped,
- chopped pineapple
- 1 cup packed chopped kale
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 lemon
- honey, to taste
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth.
- Strain through a fine mesh sieve into cups and serve.
I usually use a juicer to make the kids’ juices. Any reason to use a blender instead of a juicer in this case?
Just made this with my toddler assisting. Being on a tight budget, we took the solids that were strained out, added a bit more pineapple and a splash of apple juice to the blender, then put it in the freezer and raked it with a fork every so often to make a granita. He scarfed it down!
Nope. The pulp leftover after straining should be very little and is mostly just fiber. Which of course is a good thing to have, but straining that bit out doesn’t loose too much nutrition.
Looks great! But do you lose any nutrition by straining it?
Any acid will work to cut the greens flavor, so orange or lime juice, or even a splash of vinegar (you don’t taste it!) since I’m allergic to citrus.
I can’t wait to have a new house that has more room to keep my juicer out! By then, my daughter will be almost a year and I could start introducing some fresh juice to her sippy cup! I try to have her eat more veggies than fruits right now so that she doesn’t have a love for sweets. I would drink the crap out of those!
Thanks! My new years resolution is to make healthy smoothies and purees with the blender. I will keep it out on the counter now!
The nutrients will start breaking down immediately though, so the sooner the better. Maybe freeze in cubes (freezes faster for less nutrient loss) if not planning to drink right away.
You can keep it in the fridge for about 3 days!
Excited to try this! How long can this last in the refrigerator? Or must you serve it immediately? Thank you!
Yum! My 2.5 year old drank it up without any sweetener, I used spinach. Do you discard the pulp or have you added it to other recipes? I’m thinking muffins or scones.
Great idea. Do they drink it in the car? Any recs for good travel thermos for smoothies?
Would it be possible to use frozen kale and maybe reduce the water amount a bit? Thanks.
Do you think this can be made the night before and stored in the fridge? I work until 3:45, take a bus to a P&R, and pick up the kids at 4:30. I would rather not run home first to make a healthy smoothie only to pick them up closer to 5:00. =)
I love this idea! We enjoy healthy homemade Popsicles and our favorite ones use greens and pineapple:
http://crayonsandcroissants.com/2013/07/08/homemade-popsicles-our-favorite-recipes/
I’ll have to add this juice into the rotation!
I like the idea of bringing it to school when they are ready to put just about anything in their mouths. Yum!