Tomato and Carrot Smoothy

2 cups (chopped) tomatoes
½ cup diced carrots
¼ cup (chopped) celery
(½ a diced onion if you want to add that - I do!)
½ cup tomatoe juice
¼ cup apple juice
Tabasco sauce to taste
2 cups ice

Place the liquid ingredients in the blender with the carrot and celery, and partially blend. Add onion if using, and tomatoes and blend till smooth. Lastly add the ice and and blend a further 15 seconds. Serve in tall glasses with a sprig of mint to garnish.

Berry Mix Smoothy (Non Dairy)

6 Strawberries
3/4 cup Raspberries
3/4 cup Pineapple
1 kiwi fruit
Orange juice

Blend the fruit ingredients, gradually adding orange juice until you have a smooth consistency.

Pineapple Smoothy with Icecream

1½ cups pineapple pieces
Chocolate or vanilla ice cream
½ banana (optional - add more pineapple if omitting)
½ cup coconut milk
2½ cups pineapple juice
½ cup of crushed ice

Pour coconut milk and juice and ice into the blender. Add fruit and blend on low for 30 seconds then on high until smooth. Place a scoop of icecream into each glass and pour blended mixture on top. Serves 4-6.

Fruit and nut smoothy

½ cup cubed watermelon,
½ cup halved strawberries
½ cup cubed canteloupe (rockmelon)
2 tbs honey
¼ cup almonds, crushed

Mix together and chill.

1 cup plain fat free yogurt
½ cup crushed ice
1 cup unsweetened apple juice
1 tsp. vanilla essence

Place yoghurt, vanilla, apple juice and ice in the blender. Process for about a minute. Add the fruit and nut mix and blend on high until the fruit is smooth. Serve in tall glasses and garnish with an orange slice.

Do you have trouble getting children to eat fruit or vegetables?

Fruit and vegetable smoothies and slushies are a great way to get them to eat those vitamin and mineral packed parcels. If they like fruit juice, you can start "introducing" a few extras into their breakfast juice. For example, blend a few strawberries into the apple or orange juice and pour it into the serving jug, (strain the seeds out first if your child is extra "picky").