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 theslave to jet lag that I have come to expect.
I am not a brillianttraveller.
Sleepless on even the longest flights, I morph into a meerkat on planes, myhead peeping up for any sudden noise, to spy on fellow passengers brushing past, for nascent sunrises though frozenwindows – the tell-tale, blood-red ribbon slipping betweenvelvet-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 ownway.
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 myselfdoing the prep.
Hmm, I may just stick to porridge…
Happy Tummy Tonic Juice
- Servings: 1-2
- Difficulty: easy
Pineapple, ginger and mint are greatfor 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 ingredientsarehigh 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), andhelps 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 Juicerdoesn’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 tostand more for Public Service Advertisem*nts: 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)
juices at food to glow
Latest posts fromfellow 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
