Blushing Beet Red

It’s amazing when you start eating whole, nutrient dense foods all the time, how good you feel.  I’m starting to get to the point in the morning where I don’t feel completely energized off of just a couple paleo Lemon Poppyseed Muffins alone.  Afterwards I find myself craving vitamin-rich greens like kale and spinach, or vibrant nutrient packed produce like tomatoes, carrots, or berries.

Paired with some protein and fat, nutrient dense fruits and veggies in are becoming my favorite way to start the day.  Paleo breakfasts have historically been the hardest transition for me.  I’m not perfect (and never will be), but I’m slowly figuring out what works for me.  I do love my little muffins on occasion though, especially on the go.  So when I do, I prefer to pair them with a nutrient packed juice.  Having just made my Lemon Poppyseed Muffins, I wanted to add a hint of lemon to my juice this time to complement.

I’ve been scribbling down ideas for juices with beets because they’re so packed with nutrition.  I had already decided on beets plus a citrus, because the citrus tartness really balances out the earthiness of the beets.  I added lemon to match the muffins, but you could also try it with an orange or a lime.  Similar to the ingredients in my Clean Green Juice, I usually have green apples and celery on hand.  I knew they worked as a combo so I threw them in.

The taste was sweet and tart in the front from the green apple and lemon, and the back is that slightly earthly beet flavor, but it’s really not that strong in this combination.  I wouldn’t go so far as to say that if you’re not a beet lover this will convert you, but if you’re even a mild fan of beets, you will like this recipe.

My trick for handling beets and not getting stained red is to wear rubber kitchen gloves while I peel and chop the beet.  I also wear them when I strain and squeeze the pulp from the juice.