Juicy Cindy

"When you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out - because that's what's inside. When you are squeezed, what comes out is what is inside." 

-Wayne Dyer

My new best friend, the Breville Juicer JE98XL

Certainly, embracing vegetarianism and experimenting with vegan-ism has been a learning experience for me. Although I am not seeking to lose weight, my fiance is trying to lose a few lbs on a new eating plan. Just like most Americans, no one in our family is consuming enough fruits and vegetables daily. The juicer seems like a wonderful way to provide additional vitamins and minerals or "micro-nutrients" from fruits and veggies back into our diets. After watching the documentary "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead", which chronicles one mans journey through a 60 day juice fast and over 100 lbs. of weight lost, my fiance and I decided to invest in a juicer. 

"Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" (Movie Trailer)

We consulted a very trusted (and juicy) friend who is an experienced juicer to find out how the machine held up over time and what model she should recommend. There are many models of juicers and bullet-type blenders, so it can be confusing and pricey! We chose the Breville JE98XL. It has 2 speeds, is a manageable size for our small kitchen and it's also easy to take apart and put back together for cleaning. This model runs around $150 on amazon.com and is very highly rated among previous buyers.

We also bought a copy of The Juicing Bible by Pat Crocker. This book has been a wonderful resource! My favorite feature of this juicer's manual is the section that suggests foods/herbs according to ailment or health concern. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a change in their health through diet. Even if you aren't juicing, this would be a terrific addition to any chef's library! Today's juice was pressed from a blend of about 6 large carrots, a hunk of ginger root, 2 red delicious apples and a peeled organic lemon....and it was delicious!