Shown Above: Purple Power Juice (left), Sunrise Juice (center), Blended Watermelon Juice (right).
If you enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, homemade juice is a fun way to get your fruit and vegetable servings. The variety of juice blends you can make are only limited by your imagination. It does involve a little bit of work and clean-up time, but no more than if you were to dirty a few pots and pans.
To get started, you need to choose an appliance that works for your lifestyle:
Smoothie Blenders: these are great for people who want the least amount of work and clean-up time. The pulp is not extracted, so the texture will be thicker and less smooth than a juice, but the fiber benefits will not be lost either. Brands to consider: NutriBullet - Average Price $89.99, Vitamix $349 and up.
Centrifugal Juicer: these are high speed juicers that use a spinning metal blade to extract the juice and throw the pulp into a separate container. These juicers are great for juicing just about everything except wheatgrass. There is some debate about the nutrient value of the juice being reduced by the heat that this juicer produces. Requires disassembly and cleaning of various parts after use. Brands to consider: Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer Express - Average Price $99.99, Breville Juice Fountain - Average Price $149.99
Masticating or Slow Juicer: this juicer is considered superior for it's cold-press, nutrient dense juicing capabilities. It extracts more juice than a centrifugal juicer, but tends to be more expensive. It is great for juicing greens, herbs, wheatgrass and soft fruits, though stringy fruits such as pineapple can cause it to become clogged. Requires disassembly and cleaning of various parts after use. Brands to consider: Omega Nutrition Center Masticating Juicer - Average Price $180+
Beginner's Recipes
These recipes are mild, combining just a few ingredients. You could also start with just one ingredient, such as watermelon, which can be used in either your blender or juicer.
Sunrise Juice
Ingredients:
1 orange, peeled and halved
1/4 cup papaya, diced
3 large carrots, diced
4 romaine lettuce leaves
Directions:
One-by-one, run each ingredient through the juicer. Serve immediately.
Purple Power Juice
Ingredients:
1 cup seedless purple grapes
1 cup strawberries
1 lime, peeled
Directions:
Add each ingredient to the juicer. Serve immediately.
Workday Green Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 cup spinach
1/2 banana
1 cup frozen mango or pineapple
3/4 cup almond milk
Directions:
Using a blender, combine all ingredients until smooth. Pour into a thermos and take it to go.
To get started, you need to choose an appliance that works for your lifestyle:
Smoothie Blenders: these are great for people who want the least amount of work and clean-up time. The pulp is not extracted, so the texture will be thicker and less smooth than a juice, but the fiber benefits will not be lost either. Brands to consider: NutriBullet - Average Price $89.99, Vitamix $349 and up.
Centrifugal Juicer: these are high speed juicers that use a spinning metal blade to extract the juice and throw the pulp into a separate container. These juicers are great for juicing just about everything except wheatgrass. There is some debate about the nutrient value of the juice being reduced by the heat that this juicer produces. Requires disassembly and cleaning of various parts after use. Brands to consider: Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer Express - Average Price $99.99, Breville Juice Fountain - Average Price $149.99
Masticating or Slow Juicer: this juicer is considered superior for it's cold-press, nutrient dense juicing capabilities. It extracts more juice than a centrifugal juicer, but tends to be more expensive. It is great for juicing greens, herbs, wheatgrass and soft fruits, though stringy fruits such as pineapple can cause it to become clogged. Requires disassembly and cleaning of various parts after use. Brands to consider: Omega Nutrition Center Masticating Juicer - Average Price $180+
Beginner's Recipes
These recipes are mild, combining just a few ingredients. You could also start with just one ingredient, such as watermelon, which can be used in either your blender or juicer.
Sunrise Juice
Ingredients:
1 orange, peeled and halved
1/4 cup papaya, diced
3 large carrots, diced
4 romaine lettuce leaves
Directions:
One-by-one, run each ingredient through the juicer. Serve immediately.
Purple Power Juice
Ingredients:
1 cup seedless purple grapes
1 cup strawberries
1 lime, peeled
Directions:
Add each ingredient to the juicer. Serve immediately.
Workday Green Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 cup spinach
1/2 banana
1 cup frozen mango or pineapple
3/4 cup almond milk
Directions:
Using a blender, combine all ingredients until smooth. Pour into a thermos and take it to go.
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