Regular Juicing - Amanda

Since my juicer arrived, I've slowly been trying to incorporate at least one juice a day into my diet. I haven't succeeded in doing so every day, because I juggle a full-time job, being a student 3/4 time, and I have a family and home to run. But I do what I can!

About a week ago, my husband I went on a huge produce shopping trip to Wegman's. They have a really huge produce selection and they're produce is always really fresh. Not to mention they have a large variety of organic and non-organic. Some things that I do not buy organic: bananas, grapefruit, oranges, lemons, limes, or anything else with a thick skin. I've read on multiple sites that pestitcides typically do not penetrate through thick skin. Anything you should buy organic is thin-skinned fruits & veggies or anything you consume the skin of: cucumbers, apples, grapes, peppers, celery, etc etc.

I haven't made any "funky" juices yet with ingredients that I haven't tried. A lot of recipes I've found include ginger root and I really am not a fan of the taste of ginger. It's very potent and tends to over power a lot of other flavors. The best juice I've made yet (taste wise) was this morning.

3 small carrots
2 small oranges
1/4 large grapefruit
1 small lemon
1 medium peach
1 cup pineapple chunks

Someone recommended a website to me, which has really helped me determine a more accurate nutritional count for my juices. If you haven't checked it out before, go to www.myphytos.com and "Build a Juice." After I build my juices, I go to My Fitness Pal and enter them as a meal. Sometimes I'm content with just a juice, despite how low calorie it usually is, and sometimes I eat something with it.

I have noticed a difference in my energy level just from 1 juice a day. Most times I drink 16 oz of juice in one sitting and my energy is usually higher for 2-5 hours afterwards depending on how physically active I stay. If I lay around afterwards, I feel myself getting more sluggish sooner as expected.

My husband has been loving the juices so far, but my son (who is almost 4) hasn't liked a single one. He doesn't like the 'foam' that is on top and even after drinking juice through a straw to bypass the foam, he still thinks they are gross. I've tried just oranges, so my next trial will be just apples. I'm determined to get him to drink my juices even if it means putting them in the blender with ice to make him think he's drinking a smoothie. I will get my baby healthier!