NEW Juice recipes, Smoothie recipes…time to get back to it!

I am literally having a hard time typing on my laptop. It’s ridiculous. Is it possible to be away from your laptop for so long that you have to reacquaint yourself with the keyboard? I guess it is because that’s what I’m experiencing right now. I have missed my blog, missed eating healthy (mostly low fat raw vegan or 80/10/10) all the time and definitely sorely missed feeling healthy and vibrant. I guess being pregnant (not having an easy time with it) and taking care of a newborn can really throw you off your game. Well, y’all, I’ve gotten back on the saddle, I’m thoroughly enjoying the process of taking care of myself again and now I want to get back to talking, or rather, typing about it.

My sins. I have many of them this year. I literally shoved anything and everything down my throat while I was pregnant. I couldn’t eat and satisfy myself fast enough. I had an insatiable appetite 24/7. All the time. All the darn time. I woke up thinking about food (unhealthy food) and went to bed thinking about what (unhealthy) breakfast I would have the next morning. It was horrible and pleasurable all at the same time. I am incredibly hungry all the time now thanks to being a breastfeeding mommy but at least this time I’m shoving bananas down my throat and waking up excited to make a green juice. I thank the heavens above that I literally did not pay for my sins by gaining excessive weight while pregnant but my hormones are definitely waaaay out of whack which I can’t balance with any herbs till I’m done breastfeeding. I gained 19lbs and lost all of it by the time I was 10 days postpartum. THANK YOU GOD. All that being said, I look forward to a healthful postpartum journey and I want to take you with me whether you’re happy with your weight, want to lose weight, want to feel energized by your meals, lower your cholesterol, control your blood sugar or just love to prepare and enjoy delicious new healthy recipes. I can guarantee it’ll be an interesting ride!

Here are a few juice and smoothie recipes that I have made in the last few weeks that have really gotten me excited! I mean…really excited!! 🙂

Blueberry Delight Smoothie Recipe

• Blueberries, 1 cup
• 1 banana
• 1 orange
• Handful of spinach
• 1tbsp of flaxseed meal

Simple Strawberry-Mango-Orange Smoothie Recipe

• 1 cup of strawberries
• 1 orange
• 1/2-1 cup of mango

Great Green Juice Recipe

• 3-4 stalks of celery
• 1 cucumber
• 2 apples
• 1 kiwi
• Handful of cilantro
• Handful of parsley
• 1 lemon
• knob of turmeric 

So there you have it folks! Those are 3 pretty good recipes worth making….right now 🙂 If you can’t wait 500 months for my next post, do check me out on IG (Instagram). I’ve been posting great recipes there pretty often the past few weeks. Do scrub those veggies really well and choose organic ones if available/affordable. I made my smoothies with the all-too-amazing Vitamix and juiced with the Omega J8006.

~Happy Juicing Y’all!~

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Make a Green Juice and Feel Better NOW

Do you desire greater health? YES! YES! YES!

Are you constantly making excuses? YES (It’s too cold, I’m too tired etc)

Is there always something seemingly more important to do in the moment? YES (fold the laundry, pay bills, clean the kitchen, buy groceries etc)

I figured I’d just answer the questions for myself. I’ve somehow put so many other things ahead of the list in my life when all I really wanted to do was just make and enjoy a homemade organic green juice. So while I stare at the pile of laundry next to me I’m sipping my green juice, blogging and feeling happy. Making and drinking green juice as I usually do, in the quiet of my home, early in the morning, has an extremely cathartic effect on me. I feel calm, refreshed and approach all the tasks of my day in a more relaxed manner. All the noise that was going on in my head about all the things that need to get done today that was truly making me feel overwhelmed is gone! All I did to make it stop the ‘noise’ was to do something I love that took less than 15 minutes from start to finish. So while I think everyone should make a green juice especially because it sets the tone to make healthier choices the rest of the day, the moral of the story is to just hit the PAUSE button as soon as your day begins and perform a task that is calming. For me, this morning, it was prayer and a green juice, what will it be for you?

Here are 2 green juice recipes that hopefully inspire you to take time for yourself each morning so you can feel better NOW 🙂

• Cucumber (1)
• Celery (2-3 stalks)
• Apple (2 apples)
• Lemon (1)
• Romaine Lettuce (1 head/heart)

Green juice recipes don’t get easier than this…

• Celery (3-4 stalks)
• Apple (2-3 apples)
• Lemon (1)
• Spinach (2 large handfuls)

 

~Make and enjoy a green juice for a better start to your day!~

Beet and Orange Juice, Raw Vegan Reflections

Half of 2014 is already gone! I can’t help but feel that I should be reflective on what has transpired during the first 6 months of this year as it pertains to my new mostly raw vegan lifestyle. In summary…IT ROCKS!!!! It’s amazing, it’s fun, it’s filling and fulfilling, it’s energizing, it’s everything I dreamed it would be and so much more. Let me make it perfectly clear that I have not been 100% raw vegan the entire time, if I had to give it a number I would say 90% on average with very very very many 100% days. I went with ‘the flow’ as they say and I did not beat myself up for indulging in unhealthy eats. What I found instead was that after eating ‘clean’ my body became hyper sensitive to processed/unhealthy food that I naturally didn’t want any of it. I often felt sick, had an upset stomach and severe acid reflux after eating such food. I still really struggle with social gatherings. There are often absolutely no options to eat a raw, fresh fruit and/or vegetable meal in restaurants and even in people’s homes which I think is really sad. I have to say that eating this way has brought me so much JOY and I have experienced enormous benefits from eating this way. I will try and outline some of them below.

• Grocery shopping is effortless and fun. I don’t need to look at labels. I simply purchase organic, whole, fresh, raw fruits and vegetables. That’s it! A few other things I also buy are dates, ground flaxseeds, hemp seeds and dehydrated unsweetened coconut. A plant-based diet made up of whole foods (fruits and vegetables) is the way to go!
• Meal prep is so fast and there are no stinky lingering oil/cooked food smells in the house. Every meal/dish is always so colorful. Radiant is the word actually!
• Fruits and Vegetables are delicious in their most natural state. There is nothing like a ripe fresh mango, crunchy & salty celery, a sweet & juicy orange or smooth & creamy avocado. Nature/God is PERFECTION.
• I have boundless energy all the time and I have released (lost) 20 pounds 🙂 which is FANTASTIC. I truly feel like my body is healing itself from the inside out with fruits and vegetables. I have indulged in the most delicious juices, smoothies and salads the past 6 months and I can’t wait to see what the next 6 months brings. The weight loss was a nice bonus. My creative side has evolved and I feel so inspired when I’m in the kitchen now so much so that I made this new recipe this morning and I’m calling it BEETASTIC! Try it y’all. I know you will love it.

BEETASTIC JUICE

1 Beet and 2 Oranges. That’s it! 🙂 As always, use organic ingredients if possible.

 

~Juice, Try Something New & Enjoy!~

Orange, Apple, Pineapple and Lemon Juice

I really enjoy my super green juices but sometimes there’s nothing more satisfying than a sweet juice, especially for breakfast. I was a little bored with my usual orange juice so I came up with this blend and added 1/4 lemon to make it tart and not overly sweet. This juice is loaded with Vitamin C and will give you energy to get (and keep) you going all day! This juice is also a crowd pleaser so feel free to make and share this juice with your family and friends. Use all organic ingredients if possible 🙂

• 3 oranges
• 1/4 pineapple
• 2 apples
• 1/4 lemon

~Juice&Enjoy!~

Grapefruit, Cucumber, Apple and Orange Juice

I looooooove juicing grapefruit. I made these juices for company and they were a hit!

• 1 Grapefruit
• 1 cucumber
• 1 Apple
• 1 orange

The pink juices are my usual fave Grapefruit and Apple Juice combo

If any of you are on Instagram, it’s my new favorite addiction and I post recipes pretty instantaneously on it (like this recipe) along with other great raw food (juice, smoothie, fruit and salad) eats. Follow me @mapleavenuejuice and let’s inspire each other. I love it! Don’t know what took me so long to join.

Here is one of many pictures I posted on Instagram that was absolutely delicious. Don’t you want to eat it NOW?

~Juice&Inspire~

 

 

 

 

Maple Avenue Juice Recipe Index

Grapefruit and Apple Juice

Sweet Potato and Orange Juice

Celery, Kale, Cilantro, Lemon and Apple Juice

Celery, Cucumber, Kale and Apple Juice

Carrot and Ginger Juice

Orange Juice

Apple, Beet, Carrot and Ginger Juice

Cucumber, Kale, Spinach, Celery, Apple and Lemon Juice

Apple and Lemon Juice

Beets, Grapefruit, Apple and Carrot Juice

Celery, Carrot, Orange and Lemon Juice

Tropical Bliss

My ‘Everything’ Juice

My ‘Everything’ Green Juice

Romaine, Apple, Broccoli and Lemon

Bright Orange Goodness

Thanksgiving Juice

Not-so-green Juice

Lean Green Juice

Green to-go Juice

Three Greens Juice

Joyful Juice (2 recipes)

Cucumber, Romaine, Pineapple and Orange Juice

Orange Glow

Saturday Morning Green Juice

Keeps-the-doctor-away Juice

Juice Recipes from China! (9 recipes)

Amazing Mint Green Juice

Romaine, Celery, Apple, Spinach, Lemon and Mint Green Juice

This green juice is AMAZING. It is award-worthy, dream-of-it-in-your-sleep AMAZING. I’ve never had a green juice like it and I can’t help but get incredibly excited when the ‘magic’ happens in my kitchen. I live for these moments. If all else (material possessions) fades away, I only need my juicer and my greens to remain. Life has felt especially busy these last few weeks and I feel like I’m constantly playing catch up. I revel in simplicity, quiet and consistency in my life. I have a stay-cation coming up and I look forward to catching up mentally, emotionally and physically with myself. It sounds awfully strange but I’m sure someone out there gets it! This past Saturday morning I had one of these beautiful moments and this recipe was the outcome. I made this in my Omega J8006.

• 1 romaine Heart
• 4-5 celery stalks
• 1 green apple
• 2-3 cups of spinach
• 1/2 lemon
• 4-5 mint leaves

Perfectly green, perfectly organic, perfectly sweet, perfectly refreshing, just perfect in every way.

~Juice, juice, juice & don’t stop juicing!~

5 Juice Recipes for Weight Loss

Many of us have a few (or more) extra pounds that we have and just can’t seem to get rid of. It’s annoying. We want to look and feel our best so why not take a chance and add 2-4 glasses of fresh fruit and vegetable juice to your daily diet and see what happens! I highly recommend starting your day with these juices. It sets the tone for the rest of the day which makes it more likely for you to make healthier choices throughout the day.

Here are 5 Juice Recipes for Weight Loss you will want to make to help you become the most healthful version of yourself you can be. These recipes yield 2-4 glasses.

1. Apple and Grapefruit Juice

Grapefruits are available year round, have lots of potassium, vitamin C and aid in digestion. The combination of grapefruit juice’s sour and tart taste with the sweetness of apple juice is fantastic. I make this juice for family and friends and it’s always a hit.

-2 apples
-2 grapefruit

2. Celery, Romaine and Apple Juice

This is one of the most simple and tasty green juices you can make. Almost any green juice I make will have celery because it is a powerful diuretic which means it’ll get rid of excess water you may be retaining and help you look leaner in no time! Go celery!

-4 celery stalks
-2 apples
-1 romaine heart

3. Celery, Cucumber, Kale and Apple Juice

Green juices are the most powerful juices you can make if weight loss is your primary goal. Greens pack a ton of nutrients, are low in calories and are very filling so they can help you get in shape. Juice those greens away. I highly recommend a masticating juicer like an Omega J8006 if you want to get the most out of your greens.
-4 celery stalks
-1 cucumber
-2 kale leaves
-1 apple

4. Apple, Beet and Carrot Juice

It just wouldn’t be right if this juice recipe wasn’t on the list. I make it so incredibly often (like today!) and I have happily released a few pounds in the past few weeks. It’s filling, it satisfies the craving for something sweet so well and it’s loaded with vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, potassium and a slew of other nutrients.
-1 apple
-2 beets
-5/6 carrots
-feel free to add a 1/2 inch of ginger for an extra kick!

5. Cucumber, Romaine, Pineapple and Orange Juice

To round out this list I just have to add yet another green juice recipe. They are that amazing. Greens rock! Get creative in the kitchen and don’t be afraid to throw in a few extra greens or fruits. Many a recipe posted on this website were highly experimental. You might just create a masterpiece. Here is juice recipe #5.

-1 cucumber
-1 head of romaine lettuce
-1/2 pineapple
-1 orange

 

If you’re ready to start juicing but don’t have a juicer yet please read Types of Juicers to figure out which one will work best for you.

Do you have a juice recipe you really enjoy and seem to make over and over? Has juicing improved your health? Kindly share…

9 New Juice Recipes from my vacation in China

I spent last week on vacation in China. Yup! I said China. My beloved cousin/sister-from-another-mother/BFF/maid-of-honor/ok… I think y’all get it, lives there. There is simply no other reason I would go to China. Don’t get me wrong, I love to travel, but my preference is almost always to go to a place with sun, white sand, clear blue waters and cute English-speaking beach boys. That aside, I had THE time of my life! I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there (Shanghai and Nanjing) and took time to really soak in all the sights and sounds. China is a beautiful country, with a fascinating history and is quite the experience when it comes to food. As it pertains to this blog, I am so excited to share with you the incredibly delicious juices I enjoyed during my 6 day adventure there.

I did not look for all the great juice bars my cousin and I came across. They were simply everywhere. Everywhere. In malls, train stations, the airport and were street shops on busy roads. It was such an incredibly exciting find for a juice-lover like me. All the juices were affordable and ranged in price from $2-$4.

As soon as I arrived in Nanjing from Shanghai, with luggage in hand at the train station we came across this juice bar. My excitement was palpable. I thought I’d died and gone to juice heaven. He had what looked like an Omega VERT 350 and a Vitamix. Some of the juice recipes were combos of fruits juiced and then blended in the Vitamix i.e. my first juice was apple and mango. He juiced the apples and then blended the juice in the Vitamix with the mango. I hardly ever do this at home because I only want to clean one appliance but this juice was such a delicious treat and I appreciated his effort to make my first juice in China!

LEFT: Apple and Mango 

RIGHT: Orange, Pear and Lemon

Our second juice bar encounter was in Fashion Lady Shopping Center. We got our juices much faster at this juice bar because they had everything prepped and sitting in many different stainless steel bins waiting to be juiced/blended. They were both super tasty!

LEFT: Papaya and Orange (the oranges were juiced and then blended with the papaya)

RIGHT: Watermelon and Strawberry (this was just blended)

Our third juice bar experience was in a mall. I got to finally enjoy a green juice, I noticed that almost all the juice bars had recipes with just fruit which is ok because it’s better than no juice but I was craving something green and was thrilled to find cucumber on the menu. We enjoyed…

LEFT: Apple and Grapefruit

RIGHT: Carrot, Apple and Pear

BELOW (green juice): 2 Cucumbers and 1 Lemon, I actually paid attention to the proportions when they were making this one:-)

It was nice to see that they used my first and one of my favorite juicers, a Breville Juice Fountain Plus.

Our fourth and last juice bar encounter was on my second to last day in China. It was the perfect breakfast!

LEFT: Orange and Mango

RIGHT: Watermelon and Mango

Anyone travel to a city/country with lots of juice bars? Kindly share… 

~Juice, Travel & Be Merry!~

A green juice (recipe #33) a day keeps the doctor away

It’s midnight and I should be fast asleep but I just had to put up this green juice recipe. It was a superb tasting green juice and I would definitely make it for any first timer. I’m seriously drowsy 🙂 so without further ado here’s the recipe…

• 3 large organic celery stalks
• 1/2 head of organic romaine lettuce
• 2 pears
• 1 large handful of cilantro
• 3 cups of organic baby spinach
• 1 organic lemon

~A green juice a day keeps the doctor away!~

Feel free to follow me on Instagram (@mapleavenuejuice) for these and other recipes. I’m new to it and it’s a fun place to connect with so many other like-minded individuals. There’s so much creativity, talent and inspiration out there!