One hundred percent fruit and vegetable juice can help you reach your daily recommended totals for produce as well as providing beneficial nutrients. Mixing fruits in with vegetables helps create a sweet taste that neutralizes strong or bitter flavors. However, MayoClinic.com recommends balancing juice with eating whole fruits and vegetables, because juicing removes much of the fiber that produce contains. Fiber is an important nutrient because it helps keep your digestion regular and keeps cholesterol in check. So relying solely on juice may create a dietary deficiency.
Step 1
Wash the fruits and vegetables you will be using. This will help prevent a food-borne illness. Some solutions are available specifically for washing produce, but plain soap and warm water will do the trick as well.
Step 2
Peel and cut the vegetables. Since you are juicing raw vegetables, you may need to cut them into smaller pieces, especially crunchier ones such as carrots. Some juicers are able to take them whole -- follow the manufacturer's directions. Peel any vegetables with skin that can't be eaten; you may also want to peel bananas, melons, avocados or apples. Chop vegetables such as leafy greens, celery and tomatoes.
Step 3
Put your fruits and vegetables into the juicer or blender, and follow the product's directions about which buttons to push and what speed to use. Juice the softer ones first. When you juice the crunchier fruits and vegetables, they will help push the softer ones through the blades. If you are using a blender, you will probably need to strain the juice once it is finished to remove any bits of fruits and vegetables.
Step 4
Try a variety of fruit and vegetable mixtures. As you experiment with juicing, you will find many combinations you enjoy. Some that pair well include apples with carrots, and leafy greens with kiwi. Try anything you want to taste, and you will create several go-to recipes that you can use to make a healthy juice drink.
Step 5
Clean your juicer or blender immediately after use. This helps prevent bacteria growth that could make you sick the next time you make juice. Use warm water and dish soap, or run the pieces through the dishwasher if they will safely go through the cycle.
Things You'll Need
- Juicer or blender
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Peeler
- Warm water and soap
Member Comments