How to Make Your Own Fresh Fruit Drinks

Fruit is a necessary component of a healthy diet. Children should eat 1/2 to 1 cup of fruit a day, while women should eat 1 1/2 cups and men should have 2 cups. Half of meal plates should consist of fruits and vegetables. Maintaining a diet rich in fresh fruits will help lower your risk for heart disease, type-2 diabetes, certain types of cancers and obesity. You can incorporate fruit into your diet by enjoying a glass of fresh fruit drinks with your meals. Whether you choose to hand-juice or blend fruits, prep and clean up time is easy. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

Choosing Fruits

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Eating local fruits will help lessen seasonal allergies.

Shop local farm stands or farmer's markets when you can. Ask for organic. If organic is not an option, ask farmers what they use for pesticides. If you shop at a grocery store, remove the skins. Most pesticides cling to skins and rinds of fruits.

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Always choose firm but ripe fruits by feeling the skins or berries. Fresh fruits will give a little when you gently squeeze but should maintain their shape. Avoid fruits with imperfections such as bruises, dents or cuts.

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Purchase fruit combinations like berry-pineapple, kiwi-strawberry, cherry-lime, blueberry-apple, tomato-lime or mango-banana for unique drink flavors.

Flavor Boost

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Mint leaves help remove toxins from the body.

Sweeten fruit drinks with raw honey, pure almond or vanilla extract or one hundred percent agave or maple syrup. Stay away from artificial sweeteners.

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Add fresh vegetables for a nutrient and flavor boost. Vegetables that complement fruit flavors include cucumbers, carrots, celery, beets and radishes. Fruits such as strawberries and mangoes have such vibrant flavors they will mask most vegetable tastes if you want to include greens.

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Include a fresh sprig of mint, cilantro or mild herb to your fresh fruit drink. Green, white or other herbal tea will thin out a thick fruit drink and refresh the palate.

Thickening Agents

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Using all natural ingredients is a healthier alternative for making dessert drinks.

Blend the fresh fruit concoction with sherbet, low fat yogurt or all-natural ice cream to create a smoothie or shake. Add a 1/2 cup at a time until you reach the desired thickness.

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Blend lecithin powder, guar gum, pectin or carob bean gum as an alternative thickening agent.

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Add ice, one cube at a time, for all-fruit juice drinks.

Presentation

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Creating fancy presentations makes fresh fruit drinks even more enjoyable.

Choose glassware to fit the mood of the drink. Tall, narrow glasses should be used for an elegant presentation, margarita glasses will give a tropical vibe and a frappe glass works best for smoothies and shakes.

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Decorate the fresh fruit drinks with little umbrellas, bendy straws and swizzle sticks.

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Top the drink presentation with berries, grapes, cherries or sliced fruit as a garnish and tasty treat.