Remember the slogan, “Obey your thirst?” from the Sprite campaign a while back? Well, this drink puts a twist to a lemon beverage. It is made out of healthy, real fruit from your juicer, but it tastes similar to the caffeine-free lemon-lime soda. Tartness from the lemon combined with sweet grape and apple juice quenches your thirst in a hurry.

See all the C

We are quite lucky to have an abundance of citrus fruits all year round. It’s interesting that they are in full season in the winter — maybe Mother Nature is providing us a very important immune booster on purpose.
Vitamin C is required for the growth and repair of tissues throughout the body. As an antioxidant, it helps fight the common cold in any season. And it assists in the making of collagen for skin, which can become dry and brittle during the summer months — or during winter months, depending on your climate.

Inside scoop on fruit

Lemons are predominately used for their juice. A single lemon is very low in calories but provides a fistful of vitamin C (40% RDA) — a little bit of lemon juice can go a long way. You can dilute the lemon tartness with the sweeter juice from a Meyer lemon, when in season. Thanks to Alice Waters for introducing the ornamental tree into the kitchen!
Grapes — and wine — are a staple from the Old World. However, it is thought the Concord grape is actually native to the United States. One cup of grapes provides only 104 calories, mainly from carbohydrates and sugars, but provides 27% of our RDA of vitamin C and 28% of vitamin K.

In addition, resveratrol, a phytochemical found in grapes, has been shown in studies to improve heart health. So, if you don’t partake in moderate alcohol — grape juice is a heart-healthy alternative.

Refreshing C Twist 1of7

There are so many apples to choose from when preparing this juice. I prefer the punch of Granny Smiths. Their juicy crispness balances the sweetness of the grapes and tartness of the lemon. They are high in water content and only have about 80 calories but provide 20% RDA of vitamin C and five grams of fiber.

Refreshing C-Twist

Ingredients

  • 2 apples
  • 2 large clusters of grapes
  • 2 lemons
  • optional: ¼ cup sparkling water for fizz

Instructions

Make sure you remove the zest from the lemon, and the stems from the grapes and apples. Alternate fruits as you feed them into the feedtube. This allows all the flavors to combine naturally. Run the sparkling water through the juicer at the very end to ensure all the juices come through. Pour over ice and enjoy with a straw. Your thirst will soon subside and your energy will increase.