One look at the fuzzy green goop that was slowly seeping out of the juicer and our stomachs started doing back flips. We’re a little embarrassed to admit that we (some more than others) really dislike vegetables. When Paige was a baby, she took one taste of green pea baby food and decided that she wanted absolutely no parts of it. Penn, especially as a child, was rather carnivorous until a nearly decade long foray into vegetarianism spurred an obsession with every incarnation of the potato. But after clicking through Pinterest and being surrounded by health conscious family members (especially the vegan contingent, shout out to you Treena!) we began to take note of the health and beauty benefits of juicing raw fruits and vegetables.
Our first juice experience (and yes they happened simultaneously) were chock-full of kale, ginger, spinach, granny smith apples, and lemon. We held our noses and down the hatches the slimy green concoctions went. Much to our surprise, and our delight, they were delicious. All of the flavors mixed together to create a taste that was unexpected and wonderful. That first experience inspired us to make juicing a part of our lifestyle. Last summer, we spent every morning scouring the tri-state area (mostly Brooklyn, the Lower East Side, and Hoboken) for the best juices. For the most part, they were all delicious, crisp and they left us feeling refreshed and energized. But, and this was a major but, the costs were adding up and starting to outweigh some of the benefits. At between $6 and $8 per juice, twice a day, our pockets were starting to ache. We had become juice junkies so we decided to invest in some hardcore juicing paraphernalia.
This quest, unlike the one before it, was time-consuming and not nearly as delicious. We searched high and low for the perfect juicer. There were so many different brands and so many features to choose from. The fear of juice failure was paralyzing and the non-committal reviews from Amazon were discouraging. We decided to go with something efficient and economical that, from the reviews, seemed to get the job done. Our Waring Pro, although it’s difficult to clean at times and the pulp builds up rather quickly, works well enough for us.
Top 3 Benefits of Juicing
Weight Loss: Like any health trend, juicing promises weight loss, which it delivers. Incorporating one fruit and veggie juice into your diet per day can promote fat loss. It allows you to increase your daily nutrient intake, while oxygenating your brain and almost every cell in your body.
Energy: Juicing puts us, at least, in a great mood. It gets all of our creative juices flowing and it gives us the energy we need to be active.
Detox: Juicing has so many benefits, its hard to only name three. Some of the most important are its detoxing properties. It improves digestion, helps manage blood pressure, boosts immunity, and can even improve brain function.
Our Favorite Juice Recipes
*Everything should be chopped to fit your juicer and washed before use
Va-Va-Verde (Basic Green)
1 knob of ginger, peeled
2 cucumbers, coarsely chopped, unpeeled
2 green apples, coarsely chopped, unpeeled
1 red apple, coarsely chopped, unpeeled
2 heaping handfuls of spinach
1 lemon, coarsely chopped with rind intact
*Add a splash of green tea for an extra caffeine boost that will help kick those caffeine cravings
Down With O.P.G. (Orange, Pineapple, and Ginger)
3 Oranges, coarsely chopped, unpeeled
2 cups of pineapple juice
1 knob of ginger, peeled
Get Juicing and Get Healthy!
