How do you get kids to devour veggies? Hide them behind fruit. It's a tactic Regeania Hunter-Coleman swears by – and the one-two produce punch of her irresistible smoothies at Jungle Juice Bar in Grosse Pointe Park.
"Live wild!" she likes to tell young customers. That's also the idea behind her independent store's 11 signature blends, all named for famous jungles.
Jungle Juice Bar
"Just because it's green doesn't mean it doesn't taste good," says Hunter-Coleman of Detroit, a vegetarian who opened JJB with her niece last May. Still, "Kids are gonna go for the purple one."
That's why masking works wonders. Like blueberry and banana with a hit of kale. Or bright beets to beat out telltale broccoli. Beyond helping your family eat healthier, these concoctions boost kids' immunity as those winter colds hit classrooms.
Resolved to eat better in the New Year? JJB shared three of its easy, delicious "meals in a cup," all doable in about five to 10 minutes (clean-up included). If you'd rather have JJB do the work, try one of its 11 main offerings for $4.99 each – or snag a three-ingredient smoothie of your choice for the same price (it's 75 cents for each additional ingredient beyond that).
The Congo
This rainforest produces a key ingredient for this smoothie: cacao! Requires a blender.
Ingredients
- 1/2 medium frozen banana
- 1/2 tsp. cocoa or cacao powder
- 1/2 cup frozen pineapple
- 10 oz. of filtered/distilled water
- 1/2 tsp. raw agave
Directions
Place 10 oz. of filtered/distilled water in a blender. Add all other ingredients and blend 30-45 seconds or until smooth.
The Vampire
Created by Inspire Health Coaching of Grosse Pointe Farms for JJB, this detox smoothie is named for its purple-red hue! Requires centrifugal or masticating juicer.
Ingredients
- 1/4 medium lemon (include rind)
- 1/4 medium beet
- 3 medium carrots
- 1 medium apple
- 1/2 inch of ginger (the taste is spicy, so limit the amount for children)
Directions
Thoroughly wash all ingredients. Turn on juicer before inserting ingredients to minimize clogging. Insert lemon, with rind; follow with beets, apple, ginger and, finally, carrots (they help push through more of the other ingredients/maximize flavors).
The Serengeti
One of JJB's most popular (and simple!) smoothies. Requires a centrifugal juicer.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. or 4 cups of red or green grapes
- 1/4 medium lemon (include rind)
Directions
Thoroughly wash all ingredients. Turn on juicer before inserting ingredients to minimize clogging. Add lemon, with rind; follow with grapes (helps push through more lemon and maximize lemon flavor).
Note: Place excess juice in Popsicle molds and freeze for a frozen treat!
