Good vegetable "juicing" mixes?

Question

Using this forum has caused me to research my chosen lifestyle again... it has been a few years.
:)
I have discovered the vegetarian/vegan food pyramids, which suggest I should be eating at least 3-5 servings of vegetables a day and a minimum of 3 servings of fruit a day. When you add the legume and grain categories, I should be preparing/ eating A LOT of food.

Because I work and go to school (both full time,) I don’t have time to prepare all that food. I am thinking of making juices because they will fit into my hectic lifestyle.

So,
-What are some great vegetable (or fruit) Juice mixes I can make at home to ensure I am getting all the produce and vitamins I need?
-Do I add seasoning?
-How long after making them can they last in the refrigerator?
-Also, vegetables can be pretty expensive this time of year; will I get the same nutrients from frozen veggies?

Please no anti-vegetarian comments… I’m just minding my business, trying to make some juice here.

:)

This might sound really stupid, but can I just use a blender? I mean, I would think it could work for carrots and broccoli etc..

Answer 1

Juicing is kind of time-consuming-- but if you can do it, it is certainly a wonderful way to get a pile of good nutrition in one glass. Best consumed very fresh-- shortly after making--- don't do a couple days' at a time, if at all possible.
For vegetables, you will need a juicer. Carrots will sweeten and make more palatable any other vegetable, like celery, spinach, any greens you have, beets, etc. I love a little fresh ginger juiced in mine--- ginger has all kinds of health benefits, and to me tastes yummy too.(spicy, though... so be careful ) Wheat grass juice, while really intense in flavor, supplies a whopping amount of vitamins--- you only need about 2 oz.
It is not so much about how many servings a day you eat, as it is about the potency and digestibility of what you eat.
I make a lot of vegetable soup when I am busy--- you can make for a few days at a time. Beans, whole grains (rice or barley) and lots of veggies--- fresh or frozen. Frozen have nearly as much nutrition as fresh--- especially if the fresh is actually not so very fresh. Transporting the fresh veg long distances, keeping it in your fridge for several days, etc, will lesson the vitamin contents--- whereas freezing while fresh (as most packers do) keeps most of the good stuff.
You do want to make sure you eat some raw foods every day, though... sprouts in your salad, raw cabbage etc... "live" foods contain subtle nutrients and enzymes that are very helpful.
For fruits, I love blender smoothies-- all kinds-- As long as you get sufficient Vita C, most of the other things found in fruit are also in vegetables-- so eat what you like or can get.
Sometimes these various websites make it seem like a really difficult thing to get enough proper nutrition---I disagree. I have not only been veg for over 30 years, I have raised a houseful of healthy veg kids. If you simply eat a little from all the (veg) food groups every day, don't consume empty calories (junk food) you will probably be just fine.

Answer 2

I love to make a tomatoe, celery, beet, and garlic mix and add a shot of hot sauce to it. But beware of bad breath.

Apple, carrot, and ginger is really good too. Or ginger and lime juice.

I would say that the juice would last about 3 days...on the long side. You should really juice it and then drink it right away, it tastes better that way.

As for making juice in the blender....no it wouldnt work. I suggest investing in a good juicer, it will be worth it in the long run.

And as for cost....I would say try going to a Sam's club, Costco, or Winco, or any other bulk food store. Buy the huge bag of carrots, and a big bag of oranges and other fruits that you like to juice. That way you can save some money and still have fresh juice. I would not use frozen veggies in a juicer. You could make a smoothie with frozen fruit, but make sure that it isnt sweetened.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

You can't juice with a blender. Juicers get the juice in and the fibers out, while blenders just mix everything together. Your "juices" would be gross (chunky, stringy, etc) if you made them in a blender.

My favorite fresh fruit juice is apple-orange-cranberry-ginger. That ginger just gives it such a zing!

If you're looking for veggie juices, try:

Diablo - an INSANELY healthy drink
4 carrots - 1/2 beet - 1/2 oz ginger - 1/3 jalepeno (seeded as you please) - 20 grams parsley - 1 garlic clove

Anasazi - that southwestern feel
1/2 sweet red pepper - 1/2 jalepeno (as per above) - 6 carrots

Fellini - antiviral
1 broccoli stalk - 1 celery stalk - 4 carrots - one garlic clove

Answer 4

Go to Vegan essentials and look under drink mixes.
You will find something called jouvo that is full of
greens, rare vegetables and roots from all over the
world. This goes really well with Boathouse or
Odwalla. If you're on the go and don't have time
to mess with blenders this is one way to go.

Otherwise if you really want to make some
just start with greens like spinach, spirunella
extract, chard, broccoli, etc and add a sweet
fruit like blueberries, dragon fruit plum, or
orange juice.

Good luck, hope you find something
that you like.

Answer 5

It maby be a little more exspensive and time consuming but you could buy wheat grass and a manual wheat grass juicer. 2 ounces of the juice has the equivilant nutrients of 20 pounds of vegetables. You can buy a juicer and a growing kit at wheatgrasskits.com

Answer 6

Don't use frozen veggies to make juice. They are just as nutritious as fresh (sometimes more!) but the taste will be icky. How about making vegetable soups instead? Way more palatable, I would think. You also need the fiber so don't strain the veggies out.

Answer 7

Well I like to drink the following

1.Apple & Carotts (Ginger root for a little kick)

2.Raddishes & Grapes

Answer 8

You should eat the entire vegetable you juice, not just the liquid. Otherwise you won't get the fiber.