Once the new year kicks off, most of us are scrambling to jot down a couple of resolutions. Whether we make it to February with our resolutions still intact is another story, but let’s give everyone the benefit of the doubt and believe that a healthier you is one of the resolutions you’ll actually keep this year.
We’ve all heard of green juices and green smoothies as part of a healthier lifestyle. We know they’re packed with vibrant ingredients that provide our bodies with needed nutrients. We know we should be chugging back the green juices on a daily basis as an addition to our diets. But we also know how tedious it is to clean that pesky juicer/blender that stands on your counter, smirking at you. Fear no more — I’ve got a couple of easy-to-clean juicer and blender recommendations, as well as an insight on juicing vs. blending.
Let’s talk about the main difference between a green juice and a green smoothie: fiber! When juicing, you’re extracting all those nutrients and vitamins from the produce, leaving behind the fiber. When you’re blending, you throw everything in the blender and go! So you’d instantly assume that blending is healthier, right? Not so fast.
Juicing is great for those of us that can’t digest fiber as well as others, and it’s also fantastic for people who want a quick nutrient boost. Since you don’t have to handle fiber, nutrients rush directly into the bloodstream and give you that quick fix. Just be sure to have a good balance of fruit and vegetables — too much fruit means you’ll get a sugar rush and ultimately crash.
Blending is great on occasions when your green smoothie is your only breakfast. Because of the added fiber from fruit peels and vegetable skins, you’ll be satisfied for a longer period of time, and might even make it until lunchtime without mindless snacking. Blending is also a more inexpensive option, because you’ll need less produce per serving.
So it’s up to you to decide what your body needs: a quick, nutritious boost to get the morning started with a green juice, or a heartier green smoothie that will keep you satisfied until lunchtime.
Healthy Green Detox Juice
Makes 2 servings
2 small apples, quartered
3 stalks celery
2 stalks rainbow chard
1 cup baby carrots (or 2 medium carrots)
1 inch fresh ginger root
1 large orange, quartered (not peeled!)
2 small cucumbers
Make sure to wash everything.
Run everything through the juicer and drink immediately.
Simple Green Smoothie
Makes 2 servings
1½ cups nut milk
1 handful fresh spinach leaves
1 banana, chopped
½ cup chopped strawberries
½ avocado, peeled
1 tablespoon raw local honey
Blend the nut milk and spinach leaves until fully mixed.
Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth.
For moderately priced juicers, check out the Waring Pro JEX328 Health Juice Extractor or the Hamilton Beach 67650A Big Mouth Pro Juice Extractor. For moderately priced blenders, look at the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Multi-Function Blender or the Ninja Professional Blender 1000. Be sure to stop by LeRoux in Vineyard Haven to check out their juicer and blender offerings!
For more recipes by Marnely Murray click here.
