201 Organic Smoothies and Juices for a Healthy Pregnancy: Nutrient-Rich Recipes for Your Pregnancy Diet (5 page)

Good for your baby’s bones and development

While endive is more commonly found in salads or as a garnish, this green is a wonderful base to this smoothie. The cantaloupe and honeydew melon add sweet nectar that will quench any need your body may have and they also add vitamin C, which will help your baby grow strong teeth and bones. In addition, endive provides an abundance of vitamin A to promote your baby’s overall development.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup endive, chopped

1 cantaloupe, peeled and seeds removed

1 honeydew, peeled and seeds removed

¹
⁄
₂
cup ice cubes (optional)

1. Combine endive, cantaloupe, and honeydew in a blender and blend thoroughly until desired texture is achieved.
   
2. If a thicker consistency is desired, ice can be added while blending until desired consistency is reached.
   

Good for your baby’s nervous system

The sweet yet tangy twist that results from the combination of the cabbage, tomatoes, celery, and peas is an inviting savory treat that can be enjoyed morning, noon, or night. It is recommended to have two servings of dark green leafy vegetables per day during pregnancy, so this smoothie gets you halfway there. In addition, the folic acid from the cabbage, tomatoes, and celery found in this smoothie help to ensure that your baby-to-be will have a strong, healthy nervous system.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup cabbage

2 tomatoes, skin intact

1 stalk celery

¹
⁄
₂
cup sweet peas

¹
⁄
₂
cup purified water

1. Combine cabbage, tomatoes, celery, peas, and half of the water in a blender and blend until thoroughly combined.
   
2. Continue adding remaining water while blending until desired texture is achieved.
   

PASS THE PEAS, PLEASE

There’s no veggie easier than the pea! Sweet and refreshing, you can serve them hot or munch on them cold. They require little prep time and taste great in a variety of dishes. This tiny veggie packs a punch in terms of all of the vitamins and nutrients it delivers. One cup of peas provides 50 percent of your daily value of vitamin K, which optimizes your baby’s growth and development.

This combination of greens and rich vegetables offers a healthy dose of fiber; vitamins A, B, C, and K; and a wealth of minerals like iron and potassium. In addition, the presence of celery—traditionally used as a diuretic—can help you get rid of excess fluid, including the puffiness that can build up under your eyes and in your feet during pregnancy.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup spinach

3 stalks celery

1 cucumber, peeled

1 carrot, peeled

1 cup purified water

1. Combine spinach, celery, cucumber, carrot, and
   ¹
   ⁄
   ₂
   cup water in a blender and blend until thoroughly combined.
   
2. Continue adding remaining water as you blend until desired texture is achieved.
   

Good for your baby’s nervous system

If you’re not in the mood for a huge bowl of salad, or if you’re suffering from morning sickness, this Very Veggie smoothie can provide you and your baby with the same level of nutrition in much less time. Spinach acts as the green base to this smoothie, and the plentiful colors and tastes come from the addition of celery, carrots, tomato, green onion, and parsley, which are all good for your baby-to-be’s nervous system.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup spinach

2 stalks celery

2 carrots, peeled

1 tomato

1 green onion

1 small sprig parsley (optional)

1 cup purified water

1. Combine the spinach, celery, carrots, tomato, green onion, parsley (if desired), and
   ¹
   ⁄
   ₂
   cup water in a blender and blend until combined thoroughly.
   
2. If necessary, continue adding remaining water while blending until desired texture is achieved.
   

THE POWER OF PARSLEY

That green garnish that arrives as a decoration on the side of your plate is not given the attention it deserves! This green leafy herb is rich in vitamins and minerals. In just one serving of this cleansing green, there are impressive amounts of vitamins K, C, and A, as well as iron and folate.

Good for strengthening your immune system

Yes, garlic is a great addition to your smoothie for a variety of reasons. One component of garlic contains allicin, a phytochemical that strengthens your immune system during pregnancy by fighting off free radicals in your body that can cause cell damage. Garlic can also be used to treat hypertension during pregnancy, which is a major concern in the third trimester. The bonus benefit of garlic is that if you eat large amounts of it during pregnancy, your baby may exhibit a preference for the flavor. In addition, the tomatoes and basil found in this recipe contain vitamin C, which acts as an antioxidant to help strengthen your and your baby-to-be’s immune systems.

YIELDS: 2 CUPS

1 cup romaine lettuce

2 tomatoes

¹
⁄
₂
cup basil leaves

3 cloves garlic, crushed and left to sit for 1 hour

¹
⁄
₂
cup purified water (if necessary)

1. Combine romaine, tomatoes, basil, and garlic in a blender and combine thoroughly until all garlic is emulsified.
   
2. Add water while blending, if needed, until desired consistency is reached.
   

Good for your baby’s nervous system

Although basil has become more and more common as a main ingredient in things like pesto and pasta sauce, this herb still doesn’t get the attention it deserves for the health benefits it offers you and your baby-to-be. Basil provides vitamin K, vitamin A, manganese, and folate, all of which work together to strengthen your baby’s immune system and support the growth of your baby’s heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes, and bones.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup iceberg lettuce

¹
⁄
₂
cup basil

1 cucumber, peeled

1 clove garlic

¹
⁄
₂
cup purified water

1. Combine the iceberg, basil, cucumber, and garlic in a blender with half of the water and blend until combined thoroughly.
   
2. If needed, continue adding remaining water while blending until desired texture is achieved.
   

Good for morning sickness

This delicious blend of crisp watercress, refreshing melons, and zippy ginger deliver a taste combination that will refresh your body and mind while relieving your morning sickness.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup watercress

2 cups watermelon, deseeded

¹
⁄
₂
cantaloupe, rind and seeds removed

¹
⁄
₂
" ginger, peeled

1 cup caffeine-free raspberry tea

1. Combine watercress, watermelon, cantaloupe, ginger, and
   ¹
   ⁄
   ₂
   cup tea in a blender and blend until thoroughly combined.
   
2. Add remaining
   ¹
   ⁄
   ₂
   cup of tea as needed while blending until desired consistency is achieved.
   

Good for fighting infections during pregnancy

One beautiful benefit of this blend is better circulation and reduced swelling in the legs—bye-bye, cankles! In addition, this smoothie works to fight infections ranging from the common cold to a bladder infection during pregnancy. The vitamin C in this smoothie can assist in healing your symptoms that follow infections by acting at an antioxidant to help your body fight back. Pregnancy stress can often put you at risk for infections, so this smoothie will help bring you back to yourself.

YIELDS: 3–4 CUPS

1 cup watercress

1 grapefruit, peeled

¹
⁄
₂
cantaloupe, rind and seeds removed

¹
⁄
₂
pineapple, peeled and cored

1 cup strawberries

1 cup caffeine-free raspberry tea

1. Combine watercress, grapefruit, cantaloupe, pineapple, strawberries, and
   ¹
   ⁄
   ₂
   cup tea in a blender and blend until thoroughly combined.
   
2. Add remaining
   ¹
   ⁄
   ₂
   cup tea as needed while blending until desired consistency is achieved.