Clean, Green, Juicing Machine

I think it's safe to say that everyone has heard the advise to EAT RIGHT at one time or another. Eating right typically translates to taking your diet more seriously by eating more fiber while limiting your saturated and hydrogenated fat intake. Don't pretend like you don't understand what that means, either... it means exactly what you think - eat more fruits and veggies and don't eat so much fried and fatty foods. Eating right can be really hard for most people though - especially when living in America: the land of fast food on every corner, overflowing schedules, media mind games, and the tendency to give in to our (often unhealthy) desires.

I'm no exception to these challenges that most people face. I like french fries... a lot, I like to eat a whole carnitas burrito in about 5 minutes or less, and I'd rather not bother with green leafy things that taste like what cows eat. On the other hand, I also like to feel great, look amazing and live a fulfilling life each and every day. 

Welcome to the land of JUICING!

Juicing (aka: extracting the juice out of fruits and veggies) is a great way to get all the nutrients from produce without actually eating them all day long. For someone like me who's on the go a lot and picky about the fruits and veggies I like to eat, juicing is AWESOME! Since I've recently purchased a juicer, started drinking more of my daily fruit and veggie intake, and been feeling fantastic because of it, I figured I'd share my experience thus far!

A week ago, today, I went to Target and bought a DASH Electric Juicer for $99. Before making my purchase, I'd been buying fresh made juices at LA Fitness and random spots around town for a few weeks and was really enjoying the feeling the juices gave me - I felt more full than I anticipated by drinking it, my body was more easily and rapidly discharging build up and my daily food intake (if you get my drift... I know boys like to think girls don't poop so I don't want to burst their bubble by saying it that bluntly), my skin was clearing up quickly, and I had more energy. After constantly spending $5-7 on one small juice drink, it seemed clear to me that spending a hundred bucks or so on a juicer of my own was the right choice. I did my research and found some things I was sure my juicer needed:

- A do not exceed price of $150 since it's my first one and it's just for me (for now).

- A more vertical design (versus a more horizontal design) so that gravity could play a roll in feeding the fruits and veggies into the blade/juicer mechanism of the machine and so it would take up less counter space.

- Not too many complicated parts and easy to disassemble and reassemble for fast and efficient cleaning.

- The ability to effectively juice both fruits AND veggies (not all juicers do this... most "specialize" in one or the other, it seems).

**My research also gave me the incredible tip of putting a plastic bag inside the pulp catch for extra easy cleaning**

So, I got my juicer that fit all my guidelines and found myself quite pleased! I went to the grocery store, loaded up on produce, and prepped for my new week and life as a juicer. There are tons of recipes out there for different ingredient combinations, but as usual, I just like everything all at once and didn't pay much attention to the fancy concoctions. My standard juice includes:

Apples
(1-2 whole - without the core since the seeds aren't good for you)

Pears
(1-2 whole - without the core since the seeds aren't good for you)

Oranges
(1-2 whole - peeled)

Lemons
(1-2 whole - peeled)

Spinach
(2-3 large handfuls)

Cucumber
(1 large - ends cut off)

Carrots
(3-4 large - tops cut off)

Celery
(3-4 stalks - ends cut off)


Before you even ask, YES, IT TASTES GREAT! My main trick is balancing the fruits and veggies (mainly citrus and greens) because the flavor is more complex and delicious. My favorite part about my standard juice is that it adds up to an entire day of the recommended servings of fruits and veggies. This means that all the fruits and veggies I actually eat, outside of my juice, are like extra credit! Needless to say, I feel like one CLEAN, GREEN, JUICING MACHINE!

This week, I'm revving it up even more to see just how much I can clean out my body and reboot my system, and I AM STOKED! I have my refrigerator stocked and my juice jug ready to accompany me through each and every busy day.

Join me and feel the joys of juicing, one sip at a time!