While we don’t advocate replacing dinner with juice, finding the perfect juice blend can uniquely complement your end-of-day meal. Breakfast and lunch juices are designed to bump your energy up by a few notches; dinner juices are meant to help you wind down after a long day, aid in digestion, and improve sleep. Plus, if you drink a well-selected juice with dinner, you’ll have a healthy, flavorful, and non-alcoholic drink to accompany whatever meal you’ve cooked.
Dinner juice ingredients are split into two categories: digestion aid and relaxation inducers. Digestion aids are surprisingly common, and you likely already have a few in your pantry. Bananas, for example, are rich in electrolytes and potassium, which allow them to be exceedingly effective in treating gastric problems. Similarly, ginger will add spice, flavor, and an added digestive kick to any juice you want to make with dinner. Here are a few of our favorite digestion-improving foods.
- Bananas
- Ginger
- Apples
- Sweet potato
- Avocado
- Beetroot
- Blueberry
- Kiwi
- Cantaloupe
- Papaya
Dinner juices should sooth both your stomach and your mind. Fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin C and carotenoids, may promote better, deeper sleep. Fruits like cherries, which are rich in these anti-inflammatory antioxidants, are known to promote sleepiness and relieve insomnia. Seeking foods with high melatonin levels, such as grapes, broccoli, and asparagus, are also popular strategies for improving sleep. With that in mind, consider adding these foods to your nighttime juice.
- Cherries
- Broccoli
- Grapes
- Asparagus
- Kiwi
- Oranges
- Pineapple
- Corn
- Cucumber
As with most evening snacks and drinks, moderation is key to a successful dinner juice. You don’t want to drink too much, as that may result in frequent bathroom trips throughout the evening. Conversely, you don’t want to drink too little, as that will hinder the effect of your carefully-selected fruits and vegetables. With dinner, a 12-16oz glass of juice is the perfect amount.