I think it was back in June, we invested in a juicer. We'd watched various documentaries-
Food Matters,
Forks over Knives, and finally,
Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, and decided we wanted to be healthier, make better eating choices and we thought juicing would be a good way to start (and fun to get into).
We chose
this juicer and have been very happy with it! (Our's came from Bed, Bath and Beyond. Get your
20% off coupon here.) It is a centrifugal juicer v. a masticating juicer but we think it works well; I know you can find various opinions for and against each juicer type.
Some notes on juicing. Wash all ingredients prior to juciing. All citrus needs to be peeled prior to juicing, at least according to our juicer. All pits need to be removed, pineapple cores, and other hard centers. You don't want to destry your juicer!
Also, most juices need to whisked after juicing before drinking so the pulp and juice mix together. Oh, and its best and most nutritious to consume your JUICE within 30 minutes of making it.
Here are some of the recipes we like and use, or think we would like and intend to try.
Mean Green Juice (this is the one they use in
the Movie)
1 cucumber
4 celery stalks
2 apples
6-8 kale leaves
1/2 lemon
1 T. ginger
Wash all produce well. Peel lemon. Juice. Serve over ice, optional.
Below are some of our favorite juicing recipes from "
The Healthy Green Drink Diet Book" I really like this book. The layout. The gorgeous pictures so you know what it will look like. Warning: some of these juices turn out a green/brown color and do not look appetizing, but push through it for ALL the nutrition you'll be getting!
Green King
1 crown broccoli
2 green apples* (original recipe calls for 1)
1 bunch green grapes
2 handfuls spinach
2 stalks of celery* (personal addition)
2 large leaves collard greens
Juice.
Green Clean- the book says its one of the most aromatically appealing drinks in the book! And its true. It smells really nice, but tastes like what you think Pledge would taste like, unless you add our additions. Then its really good!
1 lime
1 lemon
1 large cucumber
1 handful basil
1 handful mint
2 handfuls spinach
2 gala apples (personal addition; do NOT use if you WANT the Pledge taste) wink wink
ginger to taste (we usually use a 1/2" cube and it's a bit punchy!)
Juice.
Ener-gee- is really good. Probably one of our favorite juices.
1 orange (peeled)
1 apple
2-3 kale leaves
1 bunch watercress or 2 oz. wheatgrass juice
2 cups spinach
2 carrots
1 small beet
ginger to taste (we usually use a 1/2" cube)
We didn't have watercress or wheat grass or beet, so we couldn't use those.
Juice.
Spring Sprout
1-2 cups chopped brussel sprouts
1 lemon (peeled)
1 quart strawberries (leave tops on) (original recipe calls for only 3-4 berries)
1 cup lettuce greens
2 oranges (peeled) (original recipe calls for only 1 orange)
Juice.
Popeye Punch- we haven't tried this one yet but it looks tasty.
2 big bunches spinach
1 cup raspberries
2 cups pineapple.
Juice.
Greens Lover
3 leaves kale
1 bunch cilantro
1 cup spinach
1 cucumber
1-2 carrots
1 green apple
Juice.
Hubby came up with these on his own (he's the Juice Master). They were good enough to want to make again so I wrote them down.
Home concoction #1
2 oranges, peeled
2 peaches, pitted
2 handfuls spinach
3 kale leaves
Juice.
Home concoction #2
3 apples
2 celery stalks
2 oranges
1 handful of red grapes
2 carrots
This recipe came from the instruction manual of our juicer.
Apple, carrot & celery juice
4 small green apples
3 medium sized carrots
4 stalks celery
2 handfuls spinach (personal addition)
Juice (using speed 5).
Strawberry, apple & pear juice
1 cup strawberries, hulls removed
1 small green apple
3 small ripe pears, stalks removed.
Juice (using speeds 1-5).
We haven't tried this one, but it looks tasty.
Asian Pear Juice
2 Nashi Pears
* can substitue for other pear or apple variety
2 green apples
* can substitute for other apple variety, zucchini, lime, kiwi
2-3 sticks of celery
* can substitute for cucumber, zucchini, lime, cabbage, spinach, kale
1 lemon
* can substitute for orange, lime, mandarin
We DO enjoy juicing. We go in spurts of juicing daily to a few times a week to "its been a while". Here's to getting us going again and letting you know some other fun, nutritious options that are out there!
