Crisp mornings, muddy walks, oversized jumpers and something fresh in the juicer. These are three simple autumn juice recipes I come back to as the season changes.
I love autumn.
There is something about those first properly crisp mornings that makes me want to change things at home. The jumpers come out, evenings become slower, and I start reaching for completely different ingredients in the kitchen.
I also find myself wanting to look after myself a little more. Not with a complicated wellness routine. I don't have the time or patience for that. Just small things that feel good. A walk outside. A face mask while I'm doing something else. A cup of tea before bed. And when I have fresh fruit and vegetables in the house, making a juice.
These are three of my favourites for this time of year.
1. Apple, Carrot & Ginger
This is autumn in a glass for me. It's sweet and fresh, with just enough warmth from the ginger.
You'll need:
2 apples
2 to 3 carrots
A small piece of fresh ginger
½ lemon
Run everything through the juicer and add the lemon at the end. I tend to be quite cautious with the ginger. You can always add more, but there's no rescuing a juice once you've enthusiastically added half the root.
Apples and carrots make this one naturally sweet, so it's also a good one if you're relatively new to vegetable juices.
Tilia tip: Make it fresh and drink it straight away. And if it's a cold morning, don't serve it ice cold. Autumn is not the time for brain freeze.
2. Beetroot, Apple & Blackberry
This is probably the most beautiful of the three. The colour alone makes it feel special.
You'll need:
1 small beetroot
2 apples
A handful of blackberries
½ lemon
A small piece of ginger, optional
The beetroot brings an earthy flavour, while the apples and blackberries add sweetness and a little sharpness. Lemon brightens everything up.
Blackberries make this particularly lovely in early autumn. If you've picked your own on a weekend walk, even better.
One piece of advice from experience: don't make this one while wearing white.
3. Spinach, Kiwi & Apple
This is my green one. Fresh, slightly sharp and just sweet enough from the apple.
You'll need:
2 green apples
2 kiwis, peeled
1 generous handful of spinach
½ lemon
A small piece of fresh ginger, optional
Run the apples and spinach through the juicer, followed by the kiwi, then finish with the lemon.
The apple balances the sharper kiwi beautifully, while the spinach gives it that wonderful deep green colour without making the whole thing taste like a salad.
If you like your juices with a little more kick, add a small piece of ginger. I usually do, particularly on colder mornings.
A Little Autumn Ritual
I don't think wellness needs to become another job.
We're surrounded by routines telling us what we should be doing. Supplements, workouts, morning routines, evening routines, ten step skincare routines. It can all become rather exhausting.
For me, feeling good is usually much simpler.
It's getting outside when I can. Eating and drinking things I enjoy. Taking a little more care of my skin when the weather changes. Making something with my hands. Finding ten quiet minutes when the house finally becomes quiet.
And autumn naturally makes me want to do more of those things.
It's also the season when my skincare changes slightly. My skin is naturally dry and sensitive, and once the colder weather and central heating arrive, I notice the difference quickly. I keep my routine simple, but I'm more consistent about hydration and reach for a face oil more often when my skin needs that little bit extra.
No dramatic seasonal transformation. Just listening to what my skin needs.
Maybe that's my approach to wellness in general.
Make the juice. Put on the moisturiser. Pull on the oversized jumper. Go for a walk.
Autumn has arrived. 🍂