Juicers I Recommend

Here is a short list of juicers that I recommend.  There are several other juicers on the market that most likely work just fine.  This list that I am sharing with you all are juicers that I have either used personally, or someone close to me has used and I know it works.  I also listed juicers that are reasonably priced.  There are definitely juicers on the market which are more expensive that are probably fantastic!  Again, this is just a small list of juicers that I know get the job done. 

The biggest thing to look out for when purchasing a juicer is that you are buying a JUICE EXTRACTOR and not a BLENDER.  

The Breville Juice Fountain Mulit-Speed $199.99 at Bed Bath and Beyond (make sure and use the 20% off coupon)

This is the one that I have used for over a year! 

The Jack Lalane $99.00 at Bed Bath and Beyond (make sure and use the 20% off coupon)

The Juice Bullet by Magic Bullet $79.00 at Target 

The Black and Decker $29.99 at Wal-Mart 

***Just a heads up with this juicer... the mouth (where you enter the fruit/veggies) is VERY SMALL.  You have to cut your fruit into very tiny pieces in order to get everything through.  I warn you about this only because juicing is a process and the more cutting you have to do, the longer it is going to take.  I only recommend this juicer because of the price ... not because of the efficiency.  If you decide to go with this juicer, please keep in mind that juicing would be WAY easier with another juicer that has a wider mouth! 

*** All of these juicers can also be found on amazon and craigslist! 

BLENDING: Everyone always asks me about the Nutribullet, Vitamix, and the Ninja.  Both the Nutribullet and the Ninja are smoothie makers.  What goes into them is exactly what comes out. There is no extracting involved. The main difference between a blender and juicer is the final product.  The texture and taste of a juice and smoothie are completely different. I've tried the same recipe in both a blender and a juicer and they tasted completely different. With a smoothie you are going to be getting more fiber because all of the pulp is left in the drink. 

Majority of the recipes on my blog are designed for juicers not blenders.  If you try to duplicate a recipe in your blender, it will most likely overflow! You will need to cut the ingredients WAY down in a blender and the taste for my recipes will be completely different as a smoothie because they were intended to be made as juices. 

JUICING: The sole purpose of a juicer is to extract the water and nutrients from fruits and vegetables. The produce will be fed through a strainer, which extracts all the liquid nutrients, and vitamins. Once the juicing process is done, you’re left with a liquid version of all your fruits and veggies, making it a lot easier to get your daily dose of nutrients. (Plus, it’s a lot easier to down a quick glass of veggies rather than trying to sit down and eat an entire plate full of vegetables!)  Juicing fruits and veggies provides us with a hefty dose of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that immediately nourishes our cells.  When you are juicing your final product should be 100% liquid with no pulp. 

I hope this clears up some of your questions.  I personally JUICED in order to lose the 40 pounds I lost, which is why I am so passionate about juicing.  There are benefits to both juicing and blending.  Like anything in life, balance is key! A good balance between juicing and blending will be life changing! 

Thank you for reading & keep sparkling!

xoxo 

Ashley 

Juicing on a Budget

Squeeze the Most Out of Every Dollar! 

There is a little rumor going around that juicing is outrageously expensive.  Can it be pricey? Well, yes of course it can be... but it doesn't have to be! There are ways to squeeze the most out of every dollar when it comes to purchasing produce.  

Here are my 10 tips on how to juice on budget! 

1. Purchase produce that has a high water content. Fruits and Vegetables that have a high water content tend to produce a lot more juice.  This weekend I juiced 1 medium sized watermelon and it made 6 16oz jars of juice.  Some other items that juice well are cucumbers, celery, apples, pears, and lemons. 
2. Cut back on the berries.  They don't produce a lot of juice and they are expensive.
3. Purchase your produce at a farmers market.  You can also save money by buying in bulk at places like Sam's Club or Costco.  They are now starting to offer organic produce. 
4. Buy produce that is in season. Produce that is in season typically costs less and is usually on sale.
5. Purchase a mint leaf plant (I got mine at Walmart)  I use a lot of mint leaves in my juices and the containers at the store can be pricey.  
6. Plan ahead.  It's easy to get excited when you go the grocery store but if you make a list ahead of time and stick to it, you can cut down the cost of your grocery bill.   
7. Grow Your Own Garden. I by no means have a green thumb but you can save a lot of money growing your own produce.
8. If your produce is about to go bad, juice it and then throw it in the freezer.  You can preserve the juice for a few weeks in the freezer without it going bad. 
9. Keep your produce in the refrigerator, it will help preserve the life of your produce. 
10. Stretch Juice out with sparkling water, coconut water, or ice cubes! It's very tasty and if you like carbonated drinks like diet coke, sparkling water is a great substitution.

 Low Budget Recipes  

 Recipes with minimal ingredients are typically less expenisive.  If you are a new juicer, these might not be the greatest juices to start off with because they are not as tasty as the recipes with a bunch of fruit. Check out my 50+ juicing recipes post for more creative ideas! 

Juice for $1.35 per Glass 

1 Beet, 3 apples, 1 lemon 

Juice for $1.65 per Glass 

15 carrots 

8 Celery Stalks 

2 Apples 

Juice for 1.45 per Glass 

2 1/2 Cups of Kale 

3 Apples 

1 Lemon 

Juice for $1.30 per Glass 

10 Carrots 

2 Apples 

Inch of Ginger Root 

Juice for $1.30 per Glass

1 Beet 

1/4 Watermelon 

Juice for $1.25 per Glass 

2 1/2 cups of Spinach 

3 Apples 

1 Lemon  

*** A Few Things to Keep in Mind***

We invest a lot of our time, money, and energy into things like clothes, shoes, an apartment, maybe a house, a car.... the list goes on and on.  The majority of the time our health is something we put on the back burner because we get so caught up in life.  When you start juicing, consider it an investment for your own health.  Just like with clothes, usually the more expensive the shirt, the better quality it is.  Food works the same way and it is SO important to always remember "benefits over cost" and I truly believe that juicing is one of the best ways to maintaining a healthy lifestyle! 


If you enjoyed this blog you might want to take a little look at "How To Get The Most Out Of Juicing" which will also help with juicing costs and my "50+ Juicing Recipes" blogs. 

Much love, 

Ashley 

For Daily Tips and Recipes follow me on: 

Instagram: ashleynicolemora1 

Twitter: MissAshleyMoora 

The Facts

The Facts

Happy Thursday Everyone!

I hope you all have enjoyed the first week of the NEW YEAR!  I have received so many encouraging messages after my first blog and let me just say… I am so excited!  If you leave a comment or message I promise I will get back to you.

So first… What kind of juicer do I use?  I use The Juicer Fountain Multi-Speed Breville Juicer.  It was around $200.00 from Bed Bath and Beyond (that's without the 20% off coupon).  I know it’s pretty pricey however this is an investment for your health, which I believe you cannot put a price on.  There are several different types of juicers out there and I am sure they all work fantastic as well.  My grandma owns a Jack LaLanne Juicer and LOVES it!  Her juicer was originally $99.00 on sale for $79.00 and then she also used a 20% off coupon from Bed Bath and Beyond.   Make sure and print the 20% off coupon from Bed Bath and Beyond if you decide to go out and purchase a juicer.  They also sell juicers at Wal-Mart.

Here is a picture of mine..

 

Link for BREVILLE JUICERS

 http://www.brevilleusa.com/beverages/juicers.html

Link for the JACK LALANNE JUICER
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/jack-lalanne-power-juicer-express/126472?device=c&network=g&matchtype=&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_kitchenelectrics_&gclid=CKDAqb3d8bsCFbQWMgod1kwAow


There is huge difference between Juicing and Blending.  The first difference being the taste...  Blending fruits and veggies tends to be extremely thick in texture and in my opinion (in comparison to juicing) the taste of a "Smoothie" is dull.  When you are juicing fruits and vegetables you are extracting the juice from the natural ingredients producing a rich flavor.  When you are blending, you are using the entire fruit and/or veggie.  Juicing requires very minimal digestion and although I am no health expert... I know that giving my digestive system a break is something my body desperately needed!  I have digestive problems... just breaking down the peel of an apple is hard on my stomach which is why juicing is better for me than blending.  Smoothies are very high in fiber which is an amazing health benefit however for me, high fiber meals cause me to bloat, can cause gas, and gives me really bad stomach aches... mostly because I have digestive issues.  For most people incorporating high fiber smoothies into your everyday diet is something that would be extremely beneficial.  Also, prior to my lifestyle change I did not eat anywhere close to the amount of vegetables and fruits that are recommended daily.  I probably did not even consume half of that amount.  Juicing provides me away to increase my intake of fruits and vegetables.

Would you eat all of this in one sitting?... Or even one day? I know I wouldn't!

Like I said earlier, I am no health expert.  I am just simply sharing what worked for me.  After trying just about every diet out there (Seriously... Every single diet) I finally found something that worked for me, something I love, something I feel is easy to maintain, and most importantly something that makes me feel so great on the inside.  I started off drinking one fresh juice a day and then slowly started to add more juices into my diet.  After I went on a vacation I felt so gross from all of the poor food choices I had made and decided to try a cleanse.  I juiced for 3 days and felt SO GREAT.   I started doing more research on what was safe and then I started incorporating more juicing into my everyday diet.  I also watched the "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" Documentary and was so inspired by Joe to continue my juicing cleanse. I have found that for me personally it is important that I juice for breakfast and dinner.  My biggest meal has to be lunch, that's just the way my body works.

Is the juice to lose weight?  My answer to that is NO... Juicing should be used first and foremost to live a healthier lifestyle.  If you hate cucumbers and never eat them, juicing provides a way to mask that taste with other delicious fruits and veggies.  When juicing you are able to eat fruits and vegetables you would never want to eat or maybe even try.  As humans, we were intended to eat the natural foods we are naturally provided! Unfortunately, we live in time where all natural foods are almost a thing of the past.  We should be eating "Clean" 98% of the time and occasionally enjoying a precooked meal out instead of the other way around.  Even the juices they sell at most health food stores are loaded with preservatives.  It's so important to be careful when grocery shopping!  The best way to ensure all natural and fresh ingredients is to make your own juice ;)  

What I typically do when preparing for the week is make a ton of juices on SUNDAY and then again on WEDNESDAY (I prepare two days a week so that the juices stay fresh)  I make enough for three juices a day (Breakfast, Morning or Afternoon Snack, and Dinner) and I keep them in Mason Jars. (Picture Above)  


Today's recipe is SO DELICIOUS! It taste like liquid candy... this is a good juice to start off with because its sweet.

• 2 Green Apples 
• 1/2 Pineapple
• Mint Leaves 
• Lemon 
• Kale (Optional) I like to add Kale so there's some green in there :) 

Enjoy!!!

xoxo
Ashley Mora 

For Daily Tips and Recipes follow me on: 

Instagram: ashleynicolemora1 

Twitter: MissAshleyMoora