Kid-Friendly Juicing: Getting Started!

Last month, my husband and I watched this documentary on juicing. I was mostly convinced we could do a scaled-down juicing regimen, where I would substitute either my breakfast or lunch with juice and it would be a supplement to the kiddos' meals. Since I don't naturally gravitate towards snacking on vegetables and fruits all day, I figured juicing couldn't hurt... as long as it wasn't gross. You just never know, right? V8 just isn't my thing.

  I also had high hopes that this would be an easy and quick routine. All in all, it really is an easy process. Here's what I've learned so far:

::Buy a well-reviewed, reputable juicing machine. My parents gifted me this Jack LaLanne juicer, having heard from several sources that it's really comparable with the popular Breville. I've no complaints so far, but I'm also being realistic, as my machine is one of the cheapest options of the nicer brands. It's probably a safe bet that the more expensive models perform better, are easier to clean, etc., but my machine is only $90 at Costco and works just fine.

::Give yourself some time to prepare the veggies and fruit. I like to wash, chop, core (when necessary) and remove the stems (except for grapes) of all the produce I plan to juice before I start the machine, so it's all ready to go. Since I don't peel anything, this isn't as time-intensive as it would seem. I also bough pre-washed kale and sugar snap peas from Costco, which is a big time saver. You'd probably be surprised that peeling is optional, which is another time saver. I doubt I'd be as thrilled to juice if I had to peel everything. I spent less than 5 minutes preparing everything you see below, which includes apples, pears, a mango, a lemon, 8 carrots, grapes, a tomato, kale and sugar snap peas.

::Set yourself up for success. One of the best tips I was told was to save those plastic produce bags you get at the grocery store and use them in the pulp catcher, like this:

That way, the pulp goes straight into the bag and you can simply toss it out at the end. It means one less component to wash, too. If you notice the bag getting full mid-juicing, you can also stop the machine, dump out the contents and reuse the bag until the end. It's super nifty!

Look at all of that pulp!

I've also found my 4-cup Pyrex measuring bowl to be the best juice catcher. It fits right under the spout and holds the perfect amount of juice for me and my two kiddos. If I'm juicing for my husband, too, I just pour the juice from the Pyrex bowl into a larger pitcher when it gets too full, then carry on.

::Clean up, first-thing! I can't say I've let the components sit around and become all impossibly-crusted with pulp, but I wouldn't recommend that. Instead, just clean-up immediately and it's a piece of cake. I timed myself, and it took all of two minutes to thoroughly clean all of the components. Voila!

::Then, sip away! The juice will quickly lose nutritional value the longer it sits out, so be sure to drink it right away. I usually pour my kiddos their cups, then pour mine over ice (I like it better that way), then enjoy my cup after I clean the machine.

  I think that's the extent of my newbie knowledge! I'd love to hear from you if you are juicing, whether you're a rookie or juicing rock star. If you have tips, favorite recipes, or anything juicing related to share, please do so in the comments section below!

Up Next: Favorite Ingredients and Recipes! (...and they aren't gross!)

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