I’m back. Finally on terra firma after being blown across the Atlantic on a the jet torrent (‘stream’ sounds too quaint). But I am not quite myself, having been awake all night variously thinking up plots for two novels (which will of course remain in my head.), noodling around on my Kindle (I know, I know), listening to the 70 mph winds batter our garden, and generally being the slave to jet lag that I have come to expect.
I am not a brilliant traveller.
Sleepless on even the longest flights, I morph into a meerkat on planes, my head peeping up for any sudden noise, to spy on fellow passengers brushing past, for nascent sunrises though frozen windows – the tell-tale, blood-red ribbon slipping between velvet-black nothingness.
I may not be a brilliant traveller, but I am not unhappy. I devour books and films – something I find I have less time for in the real world of land-based living. I scribble. And I also just listen to the hum of the steel can surrounding me, weirdly comforting in its own way.
But jet lag. Bah. It reminds me so much of the old American PSA* from the 1970s: Your Brain On Drugs. The egg (“This is your brain”), the pan of hot fat (“This is drugs”), followed by the egg cracked on the pan’s lip and into the hot fat to sizzle and pop (“This is your brain on drugs”).
This is my way of ducking out of today’s planned juice (below – December-tested and delicious), smoothie and soup blitz. I was so ready for it too. After weeks of less than restrained eating I came off the plane, had a nap, then went out with my list (written on the plane) to get all my Jumpstart 2015 fixings for the next couple of days. And what have I had today? Porridge. Warm, date-enriched, cashew nut-swirled porridge. Not a bad breakfast, of course. But not what I planned, or was looking forward to.
So, at least for this morning, I am saying Jumpstart, Schmumpstart.
I may be up to juice in a wee bit. I will try and conjure up a soup. But to be honest my fine motor skills are that impaired just now (hence the ‘brain on drugs’ analogy) I fear I may harm myself doing the prep.
Hmm, I may just stick to porridge…
Happy Tummy Tonic Juice
Pineapple, ginger and mint are great for digestion, with mint especially being known to help calm indigestion and symptoms of IBS. Pineapple helps to break down food protein in the stomach. All of the ingredients are high in various anti-inflammatory compounds so are great for overall health. NOTE: You can make this up as a smoothie, just add some water or perhaps coconut water, to thin it out.
- 1/4 pineapple – skin removed but core kept {it is very nutritious}; cut into chunks or wedges
- 1/2 cucumber – cut into chunks
- 1 lime, peeled
- 2 stalks of celery
- 2 handsful of spinach
- 10 mint leaves {more to taste, once you have made the juice}
- 1 ‘thumb’ of fresh turmeric root or ginger root – both are highly anti-inflammatory and great for gut health
- 1 tsp matcha (Japanese green tea powder) – optional but has the ‘brain tonic’ amino acid, L-theanine (boosts alertness and energy but without jitters), and helps lower mild anxiety and blood pressure, too
- 1 tbsp chia seeds (to stir in and let sit for 10 minutes then blend – or not) – optional
Run the ingredients through your juicer in the order recommended by your juicer’s instruction manual. My Froothie 600 Whole Fruit Slow Juicer doesn’t give a preference, but yours might. If you are adding the chia seeds blend these in with a hand blender or wait a bit to let them thicken up.
Drink immediately for best taste and nutrition, but you can cover and chill the remainder and drink within 24 hours. Or freeze as ice cubes and use to chill another juice – especially of contrasting colour and taste.
* as nearly every man knows, PSA now stands for Prostate-Specific Antigen, but it used to stand more for Public Service Advertisements: the anti-smoking, anti-drinking, anti-drugs, anti- pretty much everything short films put out by the US government since WW1.
More juices from me: Beetroot Zinger (our perennial favourite); Kale and Cranberry Juice (The Red Reviver); Pomegranate, Berry and Pear Juice ; Juicing 101 (cancer-focussed but with lots of mini recipes)
Latest posts from fellow Jumpstart 2015 bloggers:
Tinned Tomatoes – What I Ate And What I Lost {Jac has a great visual diary of her last week}
Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary – Slow-Roasted Tomato Garlic Soup
Smarter Fitter – Pumpkin Soup with Homemade Curry Powder
Veggie Desserts – Beet, Cranberry and Ginger Juice
Franglais Kitchen – Jumpstart and Food Trends for 2015
London Unattached – Low-Calorie Creamy Leek Soup
Maison Cupcake – I Quit Sugar Too
Utterly Scrummy Food For Families
The juice photos look gorgeous (with the exception of celery which I’d happily ban from the universe) but I’d probably go for the brains on drugs breakfast of egg cooked in fat. Or porridge with lots of honey. Oh dear, I’m not very good at being good!
Sometimes a bowl of porridge is just what is needed. I hope you recover from your jetlag soon, and do get those book ideas down on paper!!! Lovely juice recipe too, by the way!!
Organic, healthy, such amazing and important for us – Thank you for sharing it!
That is my kind of smoothie. I love green smoothies. I haven’t added celery yet, but I must and I have some in the fridge. I haven’t experienced jetlag and neither do I want to.
Reblogged this on Nadira's Locs and commented:
Don’t just take my words about healthy eating, and in this case drinking, as gold. By all means, explore the great big world of healthy, fun and delicious food and drink ideas on your own.
Oh, I’m with you on the air travel. 14hrs on a plane back from Indonesia and I slept nary a wink. I did put a good dent in the reading queue on my e-reader, though, and watch a couple of choice movies. And when I got back I did a grocery shop, slurped a smoothie, and then could manage nothing more than a takeaway falafel for dinner, my intended salad be damned! I think you’ve got to ease yourself out of holiday eating and back to reality. Love this tummy tonic! I’ve bookmarked it and shall be making it as soon as I acquire a pineapple and some mint, though it’ll be smoothie style for me. That’s how I roll!
Yum, these look great! Nothing like a good juice to jump-start a healthy New Year 🙂
Great juice recipes! Thanks for sharing!
Oh my goodness, I love this… the addition of pineapple perked up my interest! And a great introduction as always! Welcome back xox
This sounds a really good recipe, the kind of recipe that I might give it a try! Thank you.
Welcome home Kellie, hope the jet lag passes soon…..love the sound of this green drink….but have to confess to cravings for warm comfort food. I’m blaming the weather!
Hope this juice, that amazing sounding cashew swirled porridge, and maybe a promising soup or two has helped you get back to feeling like yourself again. This juice looks really refreshing and cleansing – I’ve not been juicing much since it turned cold but I should really have this one soon!
Welcome home xx
looks delicious 🙂
I’m one of those lucky (lazy) people that can sleep absolutely anywhere – I even slept through an earthquake in Japan once – but I have to say jetlag is still a killer no matter how much sleep you get.
The juice looks vividly gorgeous, and would surely make my tummy very happy indeed 🙂
Janie x
Such a gorgeous green, and filled with so much good stuff! I’m hoping you had a wonderful vacation with your family 🙂 I am not one to sleep much on planes either. Besides all the distractions you mentioned, I love playing Scrabble on my iPhone, even though the computer beats me 90% of the time!
Gorgeous photography!
I made this yesterday and it was terrific, Kellie. I loved the mint with it. I don’t eat pineapple often but when I do I know it’s doing me good with it’s particularly powerful enzymatic activity and ability to thin mucous secretions.
Fab! I am so glad you like it, Katie. I don’t often have pineapple either but I find it goes so well in a smoothie like this. This one too http://kelliesfoodtoglow.com/2014/02/18/a-green-smoothie-for-the-green-phobe/
Being a picky eater my whole life, I’m trying to break that habit & learn to consume more fruits + veggies to help with my goal for a healthier lifestyle. After watching Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead 1 & 2 recently, I’m thinking juicing might be a great way for me to introduce new veggies to my diet. This one sounds great because it’s got some veggies I don’t normally consume added to some of my favorite flavors (pineapple + ginger).
Can’t wait to try this when we get our juicer!
Great stuff! I hope you enjoy the juice. Or even make it as a smoothie for more fibre 🙂
Great blog! This recipe sounds absolutely delicious! 🙂 if you get a moment, you may be interested in following my blog at http://www.iamchefblog.com x
This just sounds so fresh Kellie! Great way to jump start any day!
Reblogged this on Glenda the Good Foodie.
Looks really lovely – I’d happily drink this for breakfast.