Citrus Smoothie

We are full blown into spring and that means one thing to me...more fresh produce is in season! I would never entertain the idea of being a raw foodie full-time, but I love fresh fruits and vegetables. I could literally eats pounds of each a day and be perfectly satisfied. My blood, however, would not be so pleased (I'm annoyingly anemic). Anyways, enough about my blood - let's talk about smoothies!

I have a Vita Mixer, which essentially pulverizes all parts of the fruits and vegetables (particularly those tiny berry seeds that get stuck in your teeth and no one bothers to tell you and you notice it hours later in the bathroom...), but this recipe (and pretty much all smoothie recipes) can be made in any blender you might have around.

This particular recipe, I snagged right out of my Vita Mix cookbook. It is one of Parker's favorites. Here are our ingredients (as well as the nutritional information if you're into that kind of thing): 1 medium carrot, 1 orange, 1/2 apple, 1 cup pineapple juice, 1/2 cup ice.



First, get all of your fruit and veggies ready (and yes, leave the skin on the apple and the pith on the orange).



This is the particular pineapple juice that I like to use because it's pressed pineapple juice instead of "from concentrate" so you're getting more of the real fruit.



Now, add all of your fruits and veggies and measure out 1 cup of pineapple juice and 1/2 cup of ice. ***If you happen to have a banana laying around, throw that in too. I made a second batch of this later in the day, added a banana and it was delish!



Now, turn it on full blast and let it blend for a full 30-60 seconds.



Pour into your glass (we have plastic ones naturally since Parker will always prefer to drink out of my glass instead of his own. Sippy cups are so last season)...



...and enjoy! This is particularly great for someone who isn't a big veggie eater because you can't taste the carrots at all. It just tastes citrus-y and refreshing. Because the pineapple juice needs to be finished within a week of being opened, I've been enjoying one of these every morning for the last three days. The fiber in the apple makes this a satisfying snack that stays with you while the sweetness of the pineapple makes it particularly enjoyable if you're craving some sugar.