Doin' Some Cookin'... Green Cheer Juice

There's something about a green juice that makes me feel so great. I'm sure it's because we're hounded about eating fruits and veggies everyday of our lives and juicing is a delicious way to do so.

My wellness journey continues and I'm currently on day fifteen of my second round of Whole30.

I know, I know. Most people despise doing dishes and now I'm suggesting you not only dirty the juicer but also the blender. Trust me, it's so worth it for this refreshingly creamy green juice. I loved it and so will you.

Green Cheer Juice

Adapted From: JuicingRecipes on Instagram

Stars of the Show:

• 5 sweet red apples
• 1 1/2 cucumber
• 1 inch ginger
• 1 orange, peeled
• 2 handfuls spinach
• 1 avocado

And Action:

Run the apples, cucumber, ginger, orange, and spinach through the juicer. Pour the juice in a blender and pulse with the avocado until smooth. Enjoy! 

Doin' Some Cookin'... Cucumber Salad with Chia Seed Strawberry Vinaigrette

As you can see my all of my recent blog posts salads have become my go to because of the endless possibilities of flavors and textures. With the weather warming up I find myself craving cooling foods.

I love salads with fruit in them. There is something refreshing about biting into a juicy strawberry with a forkful of greens. Ah-mazing!

This salad is a bed of spinach topped with crisp cucumbers, juicy strawberries, and drizzled with a chia seed strawberry vinaigrette.

The vinaigrette is liquid gold with fresh strawberries, zesty lime, and crunchy chia seeds... superfood sneak for the win!!!

Cucumber Salad with Chia Seed Strawberry Vinaigrette

Adapted From: Food Faith Fitness

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show for the Vinaigrette:

• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/3 cup strawberries, chopped
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp chia seeds
• dried cilantro, to taste

Stars of the Show for the Salad:

• 1 large cucumber, quartered
• 2 cups spinach
• 1 cup strawberries, quartered
• 1 tbsp fresh mint

And Action:

Add all ingredients for the vinaigrette in a small container with a lid and shake until well combined. 

Mix salad ingredients together in a bowl. Toss evenly with the vinaigrette. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Green Ale

This Green Ale juice is tart from the lime and granny smith apple but it's worth the pucker face because it's filled with a plethora of nutrients.

Green Ale

Adapted From: Juicing Recipes on Instagram

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1 lime, peeled
• 1 granny smith apple
• 2 celery stalks
• 1 cucumber

And Action:

Run all ingredients through the juicer and stir to combine. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Tomato Cucumber Salad

Last night I was stalking some of my favorite Instagram accounts and while on the Official Whole30 Recipes page I came across a photo of for a Tomato Cucumber Salad and instantly thought of Summer. I'm so happy that I've made the commitment to my second round of Whole30 because swimsuit season is right around the corner and I am no where near being ready to hit the beach or pool. Hell, most nights I'm not ready to hit the shower and avoid looking at my naked self in the mirror. Ha!

After a recent grocery haul at Costco I had an abundance of tomatoes and cucumbers so making this recipe was a no brainer and I was craving a taste of Summer for a boost of motivation to keep pushing through.

This salad is fantastic on its own but would make the perfect accompaniment to any Summer meal, especially grilled protein of choice.

I love the crunch of the cucumbers but the liquid that draws out of the cucumbers and tomatoes from the salt when mixed with the olive oil and vinegar is the absolute best. If I wasn't on a round of Whole30 I would sop it up with crusty bread.

Feel free to get creative and add alter this recipe with other Mediterranean ingredients you may have on hand... kalamata olives, artichoke heart, and topped with feta. Yum!

Tomato Cucumber Salad

Adapted From: Official Whole30 Recipes on Instagram

Stars of the Show:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• sea salt and black pepper, to taste
• dried dill, to taste
• 5 Roma tomatoes, quartered
• 2 cucumbers, cut into 1/2" chunks and then quartered
• onion powder, to taste

And Action:

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss gently to combine. Enjoy! 

Doin' Some Cooking... Cucumber Avocado Caprese Salad

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT!!! make this the night before. I learned that the hard way and ended up with slightly softened veggies tasting concentrated with vinegar. Nonetheless, this made for a delicious lunch to take to work. Per serving this salad is about 250 calories with 10 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, making this a healthy option when following this 30-Day Meal Plan. This is a meal your skinny jeans won't hate you for.

Today marked Day 24 of 30 and I am now down a total of 6 lbs with diet alone... even my mom visiting for four days did not derail my healthy eating as I continued to make healthy choices when eating out and tracked every calorie.

Cucumber Avocado Caprese Salad

Adapted From: PopSugar Fitness

Makes 2 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1 cucumber, remove seeds and cut into bite size pieces
• 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes (or whatever you prefer), cut in half
• 1 avocado, cut into cubes
• 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
• 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste

And Action:

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss lightly to coat well. Serve immediately. Enjoy!