I'll have a Green Juice please

I must admit when my sister first proposed this green thick drink, which she had enthusiastically told me contained lettuce, celery and spinach amongst other things, I looked at her waiting to see where the hidden camera was.

I mean who drinks lettuce?!?

I didn't want a bar of it! She assured me that it tasted better then it looked, but I couldn't get past the ingredient list and the colour of the drink.

She tried several times to get me to try it and on the occasion I did, I made sure to make the most sour face afterwards.

If you are reading this Sanja, then yes I admit it tasted nice, but I had to give you a hard time. It's in my job description as an older sister ;)

At the time the green juice craze hit my house, it was all about Kimberly Snyder. Before Kimberly entered our house I was oblivious to the green juice craze. Today I see juicing all over the place. Could it be Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon (Frequency Illusion) or is juicing really on everyones mind?

So what is "Green Juice"?

Green juice is a blended fruit and vegetable drink that contains some form of green leafy vegetables, hence the green colour.

The taste however can range, all depending on what else you add to it. Kiwi fruit, orange, banana, apple, pear, grapes. etc.

Really you could add any ingredient you want. I usually try to use anything in my fridge or fruit bowl, to ensure all the produce are used before expiry.

To me, juicing means:

• Increased Energy - I find that after a green juice in the morning I am much more energised then after my morning coffee.

• Bowl movement - GUARANTEED! In fact make sure you are near the toilets about an hour after you drink the juice. (two if you are really blocked up)

• Fruit intake - I personally don't eat fruit every day. This way I get my 2-3 fruit a day

• Additional Vegetables - While your green juice shouldn't substitute for your daily vegetable intake, this is a great way to add additional vegetables into an already balanced diet

While I don't believe that there are many "disadvantages" to green juice, here are some things that may be looked at as negatives:

• The feeling of full - As all the fruits and veggies are juiced, you would naturally need more to feel fuller.

• Overload on carbs - If you are following a diet where calorie counting is required you would have to watch the volume you drink to ensure lower calorie intake and the percentage of carbs for the day.

• Only select vitamins - As you can't juice every vegetable your green juice will not deliver a verity of vitamins outside the once the fruits and veggies you are juicing contain. As such you can't abandon eating balanced meals with a verity of all different coloured veggies.

TODAY'S GREEN JUICE RECIPE

This recipe can be done with any fruit or vegetable you have in the fridge so my mix today consists of the following:

• 1/2 ripe Banana

• 1 Kiwi fruit

• 1/2 Apple

• 1/2 ripe Pear

• Juice of one Orange

• 7 Kale leafs

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup of ice cubes

You Blend all the ingredients and poor into a glass of your choice, here are some ideas: