If you’re not eating the recommended five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables daily (and the majority of Americans are not), pull out the blender and whip up some cool, irresistible smoothies or other delicious juice drinks in a jiffy.
You’ll find plenty of refreshing, indulgent flavor combinations and creations including Silken Strawberry Whip, Raspberry Cream Pie, Mango Berry Fusion, and more in Wai Lana’s Favorite Juices by Wai Lana.
Wai Lana, a yoga teacher and television personality (seen locally on KOCE, Channel 50, at 8:30 a.m. weekdays), features more than 80 juice, smoothie, and dessert recipes with gorgeous color photos that transport you to an island paradise.
“Juices and smoothies are often more satisfying and more of a pick-me-up than a sandwich or a bowl of pasta,” says Wai Lana, adding that she often has juice or a smoothie for an energizing meal, especially for breakfast. Wai Lana, emphasizes that “the fresher your drink is, the better. Fresh juices and smoothies are loaded with nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and enzymes. Fresh tastes better, and it’s healthier.”
Make your own juice (fruit or vegetable) with a good-quality juicer whenever possible, and dilute fruit juices (with up to half water), especially for children and those in frail health, she advises. “Nothing beats fresh from the garden or off the tree.”
Although most smoothies contain ice, Wai Lana opts to make hers without any. “There are some frozen fruits in some of my recipes, but they’re combined with other nonfrozen ingredients so that these drinks aren’t overly cold,” she points out, noting that she tries to minimize the amount of iced cold drinks in her vegetarian diet.
—L.A. Daily News, February 2004
