201 Organic Smoothies and Juices for a Healthy Pregnancy: Nutrient-Rich Recipes for Your Pregnancy Diet (4 page)

Good for your baby’s bones and development

If you love strawberries, you’ll be happy to enjoy one of your favorite fruits while also fulfilling your daily requirement for an entire serving of greens. In addition, strawberries contain folate, which is important for the prevention of spina bifida. Consider buying organically grown strawberries to avoid exposure to synthetic pesticides.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

¹
⁄
₂
cup dandelion greens

2 pints strawberries

1 cup vanilla soymilk

1 tablespoon agave nectar, to taste (optional)

1. Add dandelion greens, strawberries, and
   ¹
   ⁄
   ₂
   cup soymilk to a blender and blend until combined.
   
2. Slowly add remaining
   ¹
   ⁄
   ₂
   cup soymilk while blending until desired consistency is achieved.
   
3. Stop blending periodically to check for desired sweetness, and, if desired, drizzle in agave nectar until desired sweetness is achieved.
   

STRAWBERRIES FOR SIGHT

Rich in the antioxidants that give them their vibrant red color, this sweet berry is also rich in vitamins A, C, D, and E; B vitamins; and folate which are the most important vitamins to consume during your pregnancy for development, especially to support your baby’s eyes.

Good for strengthening your immune system

The tartness of the lemons and limes in this smoothie is cooled off with the crisp romaine and sweet agave nectar. The kefir gives a creamy texture with protein and essential vitamins. It also contains probiotics that have been shown to boost immunity during pregnancy. This smoothie should be eaten with a protein and grain, such as eggs and toast.

YIELDS: 2–3 CUPS

1 cup romaine lettuce

2 lemons, peeled

2 limes, peeled

¹
⁄
₂
cup kefir

1 tablespoon agave nectar

1. Combine romaine, lemons, limes, and kefir and blend until thoroughly combined.
   
2. Add agave nectar slowly while blending, stopping periodically to taste, until desired sweetness and texture are achieved.
   

Good for pregnancy cravings

Packed with green spinach and apples, this creamy green smoothie will kick off your morning with a boost of essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and an absolutely amazing taste. Since it has been said that 10 percent of pregnant women crave green apples, this smoothie may come in handy.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup spinach

2 green apples, peeled and cored

1 banana, peeled

1 cup purified water

1. Combine spinach, apples, and banana with
   ¹
   ⁄
   ₂
   cup of water in a blender and blend until thoroughly combined.
   
2. Continue adding remaining water while blending until desired texture is achieved.
   

Good for your digestive system

Pears give this smoothie its unique sweetness and taste while the banana adds a sweet, smooth texture. The pectin in pears may also act as a diuretic and mild laxative, which will help regulate your bowel movements throughout pregnancy. In addition, the folate found in pears helps prevent neural tube defects, especially when consumed early during pregnancy.

YIELDS: 3 CUPS

1 cup spinach

2 pears, cored and peeled

1 banana, peeled

1 cup almond milk

1. Combine spinach, pears, banana, and
   ¹
   ⁄
   ₂
   cup almond milk in a blender and blend until smooth.
   
2. While blending, continue to add remaining almond milk until desired texture is achieved.
   

Helps boost energy levels

This deep-purple treat gets its color from the vibrant beets and deep-colored radicchio. The combination of vitamins A, B, C, E, and K and the protein from the creamy Greek-style yogurt, helps boost energy levels. The vitamins help your metabolism work more efficiently and the protein helps balance your blood sugars and energy levels. This smoothie also can help boost your iron levels during your last trimester, which can be tricky when your blood volume increases even more and your baby begins to store minerals.

YIELDS: 2–3 CUPS

1 cup radicchio

3 cups sliced beets

1 cup Greek-style yogurt

1. Combine the radicchio, beets, and
   ¹
   ⁄
   ₂
   cup Greek-style yogurt in a blender and blend to combine thoroughly.
   
2. While blending, add remaining
   ¹
   ⁄
   ₂
   cup yogurt until desired texture is achieved.
   

Good for your baby’s bones and development

With the variety of fruits coupled with the romaine lettuce, this smoothie packs a whopping amount of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants—including vitamins A and C—that provide your body with unsurpassed nutrition to pass on to your baby.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup romaine lettuce

2 pears, peeled and cored

1 apple, peeled and cored

1 banana, peeled

¹
⁄
₂
cup purified water

1. Combine romaine, pears, apple, banana, and
   ¹
   ⁄
   ₄
   cup water in a blender and blend thoroughly.
   
2. While blending, add remaining water until desired texture is achieved.
   

FIBER EFFECTS OF PEARS

Fiber helps keep your digestive tract functioning optimally. Why not enjoy a smoothie that packs a whopping amount of fiber from greens, pears, and apples? This delicious smoothie can get your digestive system working at its best during pregnancy, especially when you experience cravings caused by unbalanced blood sugars or constipation, common pregnancy side effects.

Good for morning sickness

This smoothie is packed with the delicious sweet and spicy flavor of ginger and the amazingly powerful taste of cloves. The addition of ginger can ward off morning sickness, nausea, and vomiting. In addition, the combination of vitamin-rich baby greens and potassium-packed banana will help you maintain hydration when morning sickness is dehydrating you. You may want to start enjoying this smoothie during your first trimester.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 large nodule ginger, peeled and sliced

³
⁄
₄
cup almond milk

1 teaspoon cloves

1 cup baby greens

1 banana, peeled

1. Combine the ginger slices and half of the almond milk in a blender and combine thoroughly.
   
2. Once ginger has thickened the almond milk, add the cloves, baby greens, and banana.
   
3. While blending, add remaining almond milk until desired texture is achieved.
   

HARNESS THE POWER OF GINGER

Ayurvedic health practitioners use gingerroot as a treatment for an astounding number of ailments. By including the ginger with the greens and banana, the phytochemicals and antioxidants in this smoothie are powerful in boosting immunity for both you and your and baby.

Good for healthy skin and hair

The color of this smoothie is vibrant, and the beta-carotene and vitamins A and E will help your skin look and feel fabulous during pregnancy. Dandelion greens add vitamin A, calcium, and iron, which support cell repair, perfect for keeping your skin looking its best.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

¹
⁄
₂
cup dandelion greens

¹
⁄
₂
cup romaine lettuce

2 mangos, peeled and pits removed

1 banana, peeled

¹
⁄
₂
cup purified water

1. Combine dandelion greens, romaine, mangos, banana, and
   ¹
   ⁄
   ₄
   cup water in a blender and combine thoroughly.
   
2. While blending, add remaining water until desired texture is achieved.
   

Your stress levels are bound to increase during pregnancy, but the light taste of cucumber and the powerfully fragrant mint combine with the deep green romaine in this delightfully smooth and refreshing smoothie to help you regain your footing. It can be the sweet end to your day.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup romaine lettuce

2 cucumbers, peeled

¹
⁄
₄
cup mint, chopped

1 cup purified water

1. Combine romaine, cucumbers, mint, and
   ¹
   ⁄
   ₂
   cup water in a blender and combine thoroughly.
   
2. Add remaining water while blending until desired texture is achieved.