Juice It Baby!

One comfort I've found in my new lifestyle is freshly juiced fruit/vegetables. Gone are the days where I pop open an ice-cold can of Diet Coke or reach for a steaming hot java laced with cream & sweetener. Now it's water, water and more water! I'm getting used to it but a few times a week I treat myself to a new indulgence. Carrot/Apple juice.
If you've had any experience with juicing, you will know that there are some great benefits but there are also some challenges too.
I was introduced to juicing as a child when my mom travelled through her own healthy lifestyle pursuits. I remember pulling out her juicer occasionally in my teen/young adult years. I bought my own juicer from Sears in my early 20's but quickly returned it when it struggled with carrots & apples. Having used a good juicer, I knew this wasn't a good sign.
My next juicer was purchased early in my marriage to Shawn. He wanted me to get one with an indestructible motor so we bought a "Champion". We got a good deal on one in the States and it was identical to it's Canadian counterpart except it didn't have a protective screen to prevent fingers from accidentally reaching up to the juicing blade. I never hurt myself but that detail always bothered me.
I went through an intense juicing phase which Shawn enjoyed. This came to an abrupt end when I realized how much work juicing was and that I was actually gaining weight instead of losing! The Champion was relegated to the cupboard and finally when I was in the depths of my low-carb diet, it was sold.

"Are you sure you're never going to juice again?" Shawn asks. "No way!" I say with all the certainty in the world. "Okay, but I'm never buying you another one," Shawn warns. "No problem, sweetie..."

Well, I did go a very long time before I regretted that decision. My next juicing phase happened in the middle of our Total Money Makeover. I was doing some fasting and wanted to juice during certain days where full abstinance from food was impractical. No money to go out and buy one. A dear friend offered her used Juiceman for me to use and keep indefinitely. This juicer was missing the pulp collector and was as ugly as all the previous juicers I've used in my life but it was solid quality and produced great results. Once the fasting phase was over, the juicer ended up in my cold storage.
Now, the Juiceman is back in action, but my eyes have wandered. Costco sports a Jack Lalaine stainless steel/black juicer that got my attention immediately. It was on sale for $99 in the New Year but I was just starting out tentatively and wasn't sure how long I was was going to last at eating healthy. Now it's $139.99, but I'm watching for it to go on special again or for a clearance sale. Is it possible to stalk a juicer? I go to Costco twice a week. Did you know that they've moved it's location 3 times? Oh yeah, I'm in trouble.
I could get a Jack Lalaine juicer on Kijiji in white/stainless steel for much less but if you look carefully, you can see the orange tinge. Any experienced juicer knows that a white or off-white juicer will look horrible after you've used it--major staining!

Benefits of Juicing:

1) Juicing is supposed to be healthy because you can consume the essence of many more fruits/veggies than you would likely eat.
2) Lots of great vitamins and minerals.
3) Tastes good.

Challenges of Juicing:

1) Yes, you consume more fruits/veggies, but you don't get the fibre which slows the absorption of the natural sugars and helps with keeping your digestion/elimination system healthy.
2) Lots of vitamins and minerals but also a lot of natural sugar/carbohydrates depending on what you juice. It's not a free food. There are calories. Also, depending on whether you are juicing organic or not, you could also be getting a good dose of pesticides too. Yum!
3) Tastes good....depending on what you juice. If you're juicing parsley, spinach and squash...maybe not so much.
4) Prep & clean up. This is killer. Look for a juicer with a generous feed tube that doesn't require significant chopping of your produce to fit it in. No matter how much you want to kick up your feet and enjoy your juice, put it on ice and clean the juicer right away. Nothing stains and cements like fresh juice & pulp.

So why do I do it? My carrot/apple juice tastes sweet and refreshing. It makes me feel healthy and it makes for great conversation. The tedious prep and clean up prevents me from becoming overly addicted and well...that stainless steel/black Jack Lalaine juicer is going to look fab in my newly renovated kitchen!

Carrot/Apple Juice

2 Granny Smith apples, washed and chopped to fit into your juicer's feeding tube.

4-6 carrots, peeled and chopped to fit into your juicer's feeding tube.

Ensure that your juicer is clean, your pulp collector is in place, and that you have a clean glass with a bit of ice under the juice spout. (A non-slip mat under your juicer will be helpful too if yours has a habit of shimming across your counter during the job)

Start juicer and feed produce in steadily and firmly, alternating between apple & carrot pieces. Stop juicing when your glass is full. Put aside. Clean up your mess. NO SOAKING YOUR JUICER PARTS WILL NOT MAKE THE CLEAN UP JOB EASIER LATER!

Stir your fresh juice with a straw, put your feet up and enjoy.