Spring is here. But this year it’s a little more complicated. Typically, we emerge from winter eager to bask in warmer weather, soak up sunlight, and marvel at new life springing forth from the ground. Everything’s fresh and green, and we’re here for it. But when spring’s long-anticipated arrival coincides with an unprecedented global health crisis that requires social distancing, our thoughts are elsewhere; we’re not exactly “here.” 

To get back to the “here” of spring, focus on what’s within your control. Get outside to enjoy the spring sunshine, maintaining six feet of distance from others, of course. Keep a gratitude journal or start a few new mindfulness practices. Abide by a healthy daily routine. Make regular phone and video calls to loved ones. Take breaks from the news. Be gentle with yourself. And eat well. Spring is fresh and green; your diet ought to be, too.

If spring had a signature beverage, it’d be green juice—a super fresh and nutritious vegetable-centric drink that’s perfectly color-coordinated for the season. New to this vibrant beverage? We’ve got you covered in this post. Learn the basics of green juice along with its benefits; and get recipes and tips that are perfect for beginners. 

Green Juice Basics

Green juice is extremely nutrient-dense. In just a few sips, most of the vitamins and minerals found in a heap of veggies are yours for the drinking. And since getting enough vitamins and minerals is beneficial for your health and immune system, it’s a good time to make consuming green juice and other nutrient-dense foods a regular habit.

To get from Point A—a pile of produce such as spinach, cucumber, and celery—to Point B—a sippable vitamin, you don’t necessarily need a juicer. Instead, use what you likely already have: a blender and a fine-mesh strainer. It should work for all but the toughest and hardest veggies. After blending, strain the puree into a glass, and enjoy some green juice!

Should green juice become your thing, it might be time to consider a juicer. It’s a pricey counter space hog that can be hard to clean, so do your research and choose wisely. We suggest a cold-press model, which produces raw juice. When eaten raw, you absorb the maximum amount of many vegetables’ vitamins and minerals, so try to drink them raw, too.

Green Juice Benefits

First things first: not all green juice is created equal. A store-bought bottle of green juice is likely loaded with lots of extra sugar and may contain surprisingly few actual vegetables. So when we describe green juice benefits, we’re referring to varieties that are additive-free, with minimal ingredients.

Key green juice benefits include:

• Lower sugar content: Composed primarily of vegetables, green juice contains less sugar than fruit juices.
• More vitamins and minerals: Most green juice varieties contain lots of beneficial micronutrients. Spinach packs more blood pressure-lowering potassium than a banana. Kale, collards, and turnip greens are some of the best plant-based sources of vitamin A, which is essential for cell division and healthy vision.
• Heart protection: Kale juice may improve cholesterol levels, which lowers the risk of heart disease.
• Decreased disease risk: Glucosinolates—an anti-inflammatory compound found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, collards, and bok choy—is linked to a reduced risk of certain cancers.

If you want a concentrated dose of vegetables’ many health benefits, green juice is the way to go.

But be sure to play it safe. While green juice is great, its shelf life is not. Since most cold-pressed juices aren’t pasteurized, they last only about three days before harmful microbes begin to grow. To avoid bacteria-borne illness, carefully clean and dry all veggies, and make just enough green juice to last a day or two.

And as with most foods, green juice is beneficial, but it isn’t a cure-all. With juice alone, your body won’t get the fiber, fat, and protein it needs. Your diet should have lots of variety, with green juice being one of the many healthy foods you enjoy.

Green Juice Recipes for Beginners

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a beverage lover looking for a restart that includes health-boosting drinks and more vegetables in your diet. With less sugar and tons of nutrients, green juice fits the bill. But because it lacks an overly sweet taste, adjusting to the taste is just that: an adjustment. Here are some tips for making green juice more palatable, followed by some of our favorite green juice recipes for beginners.

To improve the flavor of any green juice recipe, add something... 

• Sweet: Cut the sometimes bitter flavor of all that green with a bit of apple, pear, melon, or pineapple. 
• Aromatic: Ginger is a favorite. Also, consider fresh herbs like mint or basil.
• Bright: Peel and throw in whatever tangy citrus you have on hand—lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit.

Beginner Recipe #1: Easy Green Juice from Minimalist Baker

• 1/2 head celery, chopped
• 1 cucumber, chopped
• 1 handful parsley, chopped in half
• 1/2 bundle kale, chopped in thirds
• 1 3-inch piece ginger, chopped
• 1 small green apple, stem removed, sliced
• 1 medium lemon, peeled and sliced 
  

Beginner Recipe #2: Get Up and Glow Juice from The Blonde Chef

• 2 cucumbers, chopped
• 5-6 sprigs of fresh basil
• 2 mint leaves
• 2 grapefruits, peeled and sliced
• 1 cup of cold water
• 1 TBSP coconut sugar
• ¼ cantaloupe
  

About the leftover pulp: Do your part to stop food waste; don’t throw it away. Instead, use it to make all sorts of creative recipes. Here at Thistle, our juice pulp becomes feed for farm animals!  

Green Juice at Thistle

Thistle got its start with cold-pressed juices. They were once our only product, and over the years, as we’ve added full meals to our menu, we are proud to still offer cold-pressed juices, our first love. 

Many juice companies have just one green juice. Thistle currently offers four. First up is hydrating Refreshing Greens. The coconut water and other refreshing ingredients make it perfect for a post-workout snack. Next, we have restorative Intense Greens, our greenest of green juices. Vibrant Veggie with a zesty fennel-pear medley to settle and revitalize. And finally, replenishing Hearty Greens.

These cold-pressed juices are available as part of Thistle’s robust and delicious subscription meal delivery service. You can also find them at several local markets. With zero added sugar and no additives, our (mostly) organic green juices are perfect for anyone who wants healthier beverages and more veggies in their diet.

Beverage lovers: Say no to soda, ditch energy drinks, and put the kibosh on desserts disguised as coffee. Instead, up your vitamin and mineral intake with green juice. Vegetable seekers: Sure, you can eat your veggies, but give drinking them a try, too. With health and wellness being a chief concern these days, now’s the perfect time to enjoy the spring-in-a-glass health benefits of green juice.