Tips and Tricks for Juicing, Blending or Mincing Whole Foods

Do you know the pros and cons of juicing, blending and mincing? If you’re on board with the juicing movement, check out these simple tips and tricks to help get you from a novice to an expert in no time.

Juicing Fruits & Veggies

This method removes all the fiber from the produce, leaving just the juice behind. If you don’t yet own a juicer, do some research and read reviews for plopping down your hard-earned cash.

• Stick to a 2:1 ratio of veggies to fruit to keep the sugar content down.
• Look for in-season and on-sale fruits and veggies to keep your costs low.
• Drink your juice slowly and swish it around your mouth to allow it to mix with your saliva—this will aid the digestion process. Do this with smoothies as well.
• If your citrus is organic, experiment with leaving the rind on—it’ll change the taste, but some like the flavor.
• Peel any produce that has had a waxy layer added.

Blending Fruits & Veggies

Make smoothies using your good, ol’ fashioned blender. You can use any combo of fruits and veggies—as long as it blends smoothly in your machine.

• Watch for pits! A sure-fire way to ruin your blender (or juicer for that matter) is to toss a peach in there. Always cut up your fruits and veggies first.
• Pour in liquid first—whether it’s tea, water, coconut water—this helps to blend the ingredients by pulling the fruit and greens into the blades.
• Instead of adding ice, freeze all your fruit—this will make your smoothie frosty without watering it down.

Mincing Raw Veggies—“Slaw”

This lesser-known option is a great way to get a good variety of veggies into your diet—and can be easier on your digestive track than munching on their whole counterparts. Make a slaw by mincing veggies as finely as possible and add organic extra-virgin olive oil or balsamic vinegar, and use as a meal, a side dish, or a salad or sandwich topping.

• Try different combinations of veggies. Some great options: peppers, cabbage, cucumber, spinach, kale, radish, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots—you name it!
• Be sure to mince the veggies as finely as possible to help aid digestion.
• Use a food processor to mince your veggies. You can also use a blender that has a pulse setting