201 Organic Smoothies and Juices for a Healthy Pregnancy: Nutrient-Rich Recipes for Your Pregnancy Diet (7 page)

Helps boost energy levels

This smoothie is modeled after gazpacho, a delightful cold soup prepared from a tomato base with onions, cucumber, bell pepper, and garlic. If you missed your vegetable servings for the day, this is the perfect smoothie for a nutrient and energy boost. Remember, you and your baby both need your veggies!

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup watercress

2 tomatoes

1 cucumber, peeled

1 stalk celery

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red onion

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green pepper

3 cloves garlic

1 small jalapeño (optional)

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons basil leaves, chopped

1 cup purified water, if needed

1. Combine all ingredients except the purified water in a blender and blend until thoroughly combined.
   
2. If needed, slowly add purified water while blending until desired texture is achieved.
   

Good for your baby’s nervous system

As a delightfully sweet morning starter or equally enjoyable afternoon pick-me-up, this smoothie’s combination of cabbage, carrots, and apples will have you wondering why you never considered cabbage a treat before. All fruits and vegetables, including cabbage, which is full of folate and antioxidants, allow your body to heal and grow, as well as help ensure that your baby’s nervous system develops appropriately.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup cabbage

3 carrots, peeled

1 apple, cored and peeled

1 cup purified water

1. Combine cabbage, carrots, and apple with
   ¹
   ⁄
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   cup water in a blender and blend until thoroughly combined.
   
2. Add remaining
   ¹
   ⁄
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   cup water slowly while blending until desired texture is achieved.
   

Helps boost energy levels

The strong beta-carotenes in this smoothie will help keep you energized and focused throughout the day. Whether you’re looking for a great morning start or a quick and healthy lunch between doctor’s appointments, this smoothie is a great go-to!

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup Savoy cabbage

1 beet, peeled (can be boiled or raw)

1 carrot, peeled

1 apple, cored and peeled

1 banana, peeled

1 cup vanilla soymilk

1. Combine the cabbage, beet, carrot, apple, and banana with
   ¹
   ⁄
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   cup of the soymilk in a blender and blend until thoroughly combined.
   
2. Add remaining
   ¹
   ⁄
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   cup of soymilk while blending until desired texture is achieved.
   

SAVOY AND VITAMIN K

Cabbage is packed with vitamin K, whose most well-known benefit is its large responsibility in blood clotting; however, it also plays an important role in the growth and development of your baby-to-be during pregnancy. By consuming just 1 cup of Savoy cabbage, you’ll be getting more than 90 percent of your RDA of vitamin K. Your vitamin K needs do not increase during pregnancy, but you’ll want to make sure you’re receiving adequate amounts.

Helps boost energy levels

You can’t compare the energizing effects of the natural sugars (fructose) found in the sweet fruits and vegetables used in this recipe with the short-lived effects of energy drinks or junk foods that may contain chemicals and stimulants. This smoothie is a guilt-free natural energy booster that will keep you going even into your third trimester.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup spinach

2 pears, cored and peeled

1 cup cherries, pitted

1 banana, peeled

2 cups almond milk

1. Combine spinach, pears, cherries, banana, and 1 cup of almond milk in a blender and blend until thoroughly combined.
   
2. Add remaining cup of almond milk while blending until desired texture is achieved.
   

Good for your baby’s nervous system

Beet greens and beets are not only delicious, they’re especially good sources of folate. And this purple smoothie is not only attractive, it’s an amazingly fresh way to sneak plenty of fruit and vegetable servings into your diet—and help boost your baby’s forming nervous system. Don’t be alarmed if you discover red or pink in your urine after drinking this smoothie, though. Ten to fourteen percent of the population have this experience.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup beet greens

3 beets

1 banana, peeled

2 cups purified water

1. Combine beet greens, beets, banana, and 1 cup of water in a blender and blend until thoroughly combined.
   
2. Add remaining cup of water while blending until desired texture is achieved.
   

Good for fighting infections during pregnancy

The sweet tang of oranges, strawberries, and blueberries in this smoothie develops a deliciously refreshing treat that protects your body from bladder infections, which can be especially common when you’re expecting. The berries in this smoothie are also good sources of fiber and can help your digestive system do its job well.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup romaine lettuce

2 oranges, peeled

1 cup strawberries

1 cup blueberries

1 cup vanilla almond milk

1. Combine the romaine, oranges, berries, and
   ¹
   ⁄
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   cup of almond milk in a blender and blend until thoroughly combined.
   
2. Add remaining
   ¹
   ⁄
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   cup of almond milk while blending until desired texture is achieved.
   

CITRIC ACID AND FLAVOR

Lemon, lime, and orange juices are commonly used in foods and drinks with the main purpose of enhancing the flavors of the main ingredient. A small amount of acidic citrus juice can add a depth to the flavors of fruits or vegetables, and the result in smoothies containing berries is an amplified sweetness of the berries’ natural flavors.

Good for healthy skin and hair

If you love peaches and berries, combining them with the baby greens in this smoothie delivers sweet tastes with an incredible number of vitamins and nutrients. Vitamin A, C, and E can curb any damage to your skin caused by pregnancy stress and can also help smooth and firm skin and strengthen your hair. This smoothie can help repair damage to your hair or skin possibly caused by stress during pregnancy. Just peachy!

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup baby greens

2 peaches, pitted and peeled

1 cup strawberries

1 banana, peeled

¹
⁄
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tablespoon ginger, sliced or grated

Purified water, to taste (optional)

1. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until thoroughly combined.
   
2. Add water if necessary while blending, if smoothie is too thick.
   

ORGANIC ALERT!

Peaches are an important fruit to purchase organic. Because of their thin flesh, they are more susceptible to the pesticides and preservatives used in the nonorganic growing process. Although more pricey than nonorganic varieties, buying organic peaches is important for your health and your soon-to-be baby’s.

Good for pregnancy cravings

This satisfying smoothie can fulfill your sweet or salty cravings, and if you’re not a huge fan of ginger, you can always vary the amount so it’s more suitable to your palate. In addition, the protein and fiber combination found in this recipe is perfect for balancing your blood sugars and energy levels between meals.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup romaine lettuce

2 apples, cored and peeled

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" nodule of gingerroot, peeled

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cup Greek-style yogurt

1. Combine romaine, apples, ginger, and
   ¹
   ⁄
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   cup yogurt in a blender and blend until thoroughly combined.
   
2. Add remaining yogurt while blending until desired texture is achieved.
   

CRAVINGS FOR SWEETS

Every pregnant woman is familiar with the common craving. Cravings may vary from person to person—you may crave salty or sweet, for example. Either way, apples have been known to curb most cravings, and also create a feeling of fullness. When a craving hits, eat an apple with a full glass of water and wait 30 minutes. Chances are your craving will have subsided and you will have replaced a higher calorie option with a nutritious snack!

Good for pregnancy cravings

When you’re looking for a sweet treat, beets are vitamin and nutrient packed. Beets are packed with fiber to balance blood sugars, energy levels, and cravings. In addition, it is recommended to have at least one source of vitamin A every other day, and beet greens are the perfect choice.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup beet greens

3 beets

1 banana, peeled

1 cup almond milk

¹
⁄
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cup ice cubes (optional)

1. Combine beet greens, beets, banana, and
   ¹
   ⁄
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   cup almond milk in a blender container and blend until thoroughly combined.
   
2. Add remaining almond milk and ice (if desired) while blending until desired texture is achieved.
   

BEET GREENS

While the actual beets are what have the reputation for being sweet, nutritious, delicious little veggies, the roots and greens of the beet are also edible and highly nutritious. Packed with calcium, potassium, and vitamins A and C, the roots and leaves of these powerful deep-purple veggies are a healthy addition to your diet during pregnancy.