Easy & Affordable Green Juice

I fell off the juicing wagon for awhile. I think this was the first time in over four years that my juicer sat in a corner of the kitchen, unused for over six weeks.  And for some reason, I felt compelled to pry myself out of bed at 6 am on a Sunday and rush to the market to find some veggies for juicing. Now that's dedication.

This morning I was thinking about the struggles I hear from folks around juicing. Most of the time, challenges are associated with time and money so today I wanted to create a simple and easy green juice with only 3 ingredients (but packed full of nutrients!) and was affordable.

Here's how this juice breaks down in terms of cost:

• 1 small bunch (about 8 stalks) organic celery: $2.68
• 2 large organic kale leaves: $.99 ($2.98 for the bunch)
• 1 organic lemon: $.99

This comes to a total of $4.66 for a 16-oz juice which isn't that bad considering you are essentially getting two 8-oz juices for $2.33 each. I bought my produce at the market closest to me out of convenience, but I know that the co-op a few miles from my house has celery that is about $.50/lb cheaper than what I bought and Whole Foods often has deals on kale for 2 for $4 and sometimes 2 for $3. With this calculation, this could actually bring the price down to $2 (or less) per 8-oz of juice. That's more affordable than a morning latte!

A typical juice bar here in Seattle can run you around $6 for an 8-oz juice and around $10 for a 16-oz juice. Yikes. Juicing at home is much more affordable option over time, especially if you pick the right juicer. (If you're just getting started with juicing, see my guide for Picking The Right Juicer For You.)

So now that we've solved those dilemas, let's drink some juice!

Read more »

Mean Green Juice [Video]

It's time for another green juice! In January, I became addicted to juicing and it's been exciting to connect with all of you on a similar juicing journey! I've gotten several emails from folks who were inspired by the juicing posts so this is something I will continue to keep up. (If you have recipes or photos to share, please share them with me over on the Facebook page or on Twitter.)

Today I have a special juicing video to share with you that includes a special (unplanned) guest appearance from my cat. And, for anyone that's curious, you'll also get to see my Hurom Slow Juicer at work. Let's get juicing!

Read more »

Picking The Right Juicer

(Image sources: Jack LaLanne's and Hurom Slow Juicer)

This month I have been focusing on adding more fresh juices into my routine and I have to say that I am loving all the feedback and excitement from our blog community! I’ve gotten so many comments, emails, and messages with your photos, recipes, and questions! Keep ‘em coming!

One of the things that I know everyone is curious about is picking the right juicer so I hope to explore this topic a bit more in-depth in this post. (Please know that I am only sharing my personal experience here and am not being paid to mention the brands I compare below.) I first began juicing in 2007 when I was working at a vegan and raw foods restaurant. I started my juicing journey using an industrial-sized centrifugal juicer. It was a beast! When it comes to juicers, there are two basic kinds: centrifugal juicers and masticating juicers.

The basics:

Centrifugal juicers are usually upright models with a rapidly spinning blade and mesh basket. The blade shreds the vegetables/fruits into pulp while the spinning motion pulls the juice through the mesh filter and out into the chute. 

Masticating juicers can be horizontal or vertical, but the newer versions tend to be vertical. Masticating juicers are all a little different, but they generally work by slowly crushing the vegetables/fruits and pushing the juice out through the screen.  

Cost: Centrifugal juicers are common because they tend to be more affordable (they generally range from $80 - $160).  On the other hand, masticating juicers are more expensive and generally start around $200.

Time: Centrifugal juicers are fast and efficient. If you are looking for a speedy juicer that juices efficiently, a centrifugal juicer is for you. Masticating juicers are much more time-consuming to produce juice and to clean. Since the juice is produced by crushing the fruits and vegetables, they must be chopped into smaller pieces and the juicer will take much longer to produce juice. 

Juice Quality and Quantity: The differences in cost and time are important, but perhaps the most important factor is the juice quality and quantity. That is the whole point of juicing, right?

One of the things to consider is that slow juicers produce better quality juice. Since the blade and basket in the centrifugal juicer rapidly spins, this adds a lot of oxygen to the juice, causing it to oxidize at a much-quicker rate. Hurom has a great picture that shows this oxidation (see below). If you are using a centrifugal juicer, you must drink the juice right away because it will immediately start losing nutrients. Since masticating juicers crush the fruits and vegetables, this helps to retain nutrients so you can make the juice in the morning and drink it later in the day.  

Read more »