It’s time to get started with juicing. We’re four months into the new year- are you sticking to your resolutions? I’ll go first- sort of. I’ve been sick, so I have made some poor eating choices, but overall, I am sticking to my commitment to stay healthy.
One way that I am able to continue on my healthy eating journey is to juice fruits and vegetables. Are you interested in starting juicing yourself? You may be surprised at how simple and affordable it can be.
I first starting juicing when I was ten weeks pregnant with my son. I was feeling sick and the idea of eating a vegetable would make me nauseated. Concerned that I wasn’t getting the nutrients I and my son needed, my husband suggested I give juicing a try. He ordered me a juicer online and I gave it a shot. And long story short, I am still hooked!
First off, you’re going to need to purchase a juicer. I have this Black and Decker one- and yep, under $30! Of course, you could invest in a pricier model, but my intention was to try a cheaper model out to see how I liked juicing before purchasing a more expensive juicer. Honestly, after two years, I am still happy enough with my cheap model that I don’t see a need to replace it! If you check the Amazon reviews, you’ll see many other satisfied customers as well. My favorite thing about this machine is how dry the pulp comes out- meaning, it extracts nearly every drop of juice and making it drinkable.
Next, you’ll need to find some food to juice! This is totally up to your personal tastes. I prefer to juice mostly vegetables and then throw one fruit in the mix to sweeten up the juice. I typically mix and match 4 or 5 of the following:
- Apple
- Orange
- Grapefruit
- Pineapple
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Kale
- Tomatoes
- Berries
- Ginger
Then it comes to rinsing, peeling, and chopping any vegetables needed. I prefer to take the skin off for cleanliness reasons. Then each fruit and vegetable gets a rough chop so it will fit in the chute. I turn my machine on and drop in one piece of produce at once until I’m done. I stir my juice as soon as it’s done to mix it all together and drink immediately. I find it tastes best to drink it right away. Pretty simple, right?
I find I do truly feel better when I drink a fresh juice in the morning. It does take a few minutes- about 10, between prep and clean up, but the effort is worth it.
Do you love juicing? Share your favorite recipes below!