So many people assume green juice is not for them. They claim they don’t like vegetables. They fear it won’t be yummy. The color is off-putting. Sipping something you normally use a fork for is just…weird.
And die hard green juicers seem nutritionally elite, right? Willing to compromise their taste buds in the name of super fuel, they’re like the Ironmen of healthy eating, and casual joggers feel, well, inadequate.
But here’s the real deal. You don’t need to be an Ironman. You can simply have a cute pair of running shoes in your closet that you break out for a slow walk on a sunny day, and the nutrition community will love you all the same.
So yes, while there is definitely a continuum of green—from beginner to advanced—there is a place for you on the spectrum.
1. You do need a juicer to make a green juice, but you do not need to buy the fanciest one out there. A blender can work for some recipes, but cannot separate the pulp from the juice, making it thick and less juicy and technically a smoothie.
2. Even if you don’t care for cooked broccoli, kale, collards or cucumbers, for example, you may like them in a raw juice—many times the flavors are more mild raw and combined with other ingredients.
3. Choose produce that is fresh and healthy in appearance.
4. Try to juice immediately prior to drinking. Once the juice is made, it starts losing its nutritional powers. Green juices are sensitive to time (how long from when they are made until consumed), temperature (heat can diminish some of the vitamin potency) and storage (air and clear glass containers can also make the juice less potent).
5. You can find commercially prepared juices in stores nationwide. But beware: to preserve their integrity on the shelf, there is often added sugar, usually in the form of juice, so choose selectively. The key here is to find a bottle with greens in it—not a green bottle with sugar in it.
6. A juice can be a great break from salad boredom but shouldn’t replace chewing your veggies. Try one in place of a snack with a handful of nuts. Or, if you’re not much of a breakfast person, a green juice and an ounce of cheese can be a great start to the day.
Beginner Green Juice
Clean all produce well. Toss in the juicer in order and drink immediately.
Intermediate Green Juice (while the ingredients may seem intimidating, the flavor is mild)
Clean all produce well. Toss in the juicer in order and drink immediately.
Advanced Green Juice
Clean all produce well. Toss in the juicer in order and drink immediately.