Recipe: Early Morning Eye Openers

In some cultures, an early morning shot before breakfast is recommended to awaken the senses and get you ready to face your day. This does not have to be an alcoholic beverage. On the contrary, we find that an ‘eye-opener’ made with fresh vegetables and nutritious ingredients is the best way to kickstart your day.

Like a pint-size smoothie, you can make these delicious eye-openers at home in a juicer or blender each morning, or make them in bulk to be used by the whole family. Ensure that you get a quick nutritional boost and follow these simple recipes for inspiration. Here are a few of our favourites:

Viva Forever: Combine the following in a juicer or processor:

• 1 Carrot, peeled
• 500 ml Coconut water
• A sprig of Coriander
• Fresh Ginger – grated
• 1/2 lemon, peeled
• 1/2 lime, peeled
• Pinch of Cayenne Pepper
• Pinch of salt

Something Tropical: Add the following to your bender:

• 1 Mango peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks
• 1 Large banana peeled and sliced
• 1 cup Undrained pineapple chunks (Canned fruit packed in 100% fruit juice.)
• ¾ cup Low fat vanilla frozen yogurt
• 1 cup Ice cubes

Citrus Love: Add this to your juicer:

• 2 Oranges, peeled
• 1 Grapefruit, peeled
• 1/4 cup Almonds, raw, ground or chopped
• 1 tsp Cinnamon, ground

Try a combination of your own favourite ingredients and experiment with your own unique eye opener combinations to suit your tastes. Cucumber and mint make for a more cooling combo while turmeric and cayenne pepper will give you an instant kick of heat to boost your energy levels. Include fresh fruit and vegetables and ensure you get a good dose of vital nutrients and vitamins in every shot.