JUICE!

There is no better way to get crazy amounts of nutrients into your family than fresh juice. The health benefits of fresh juice are immeasurable, there is really no reason not to juice at least once a week. The only down side is fresh juice only lasts up to 3 days in the fridge before it needs to be tossed. So if you only make 2 batches a week your not only set but your kids will be so healthy other moms will be knockin your door down for your secret.

Equipment. That's the number one excuse I hear, "Oh I wish I could but I don't have a juicer and I know they are expensive." The second  is, "It's so time consuming, if it were easier I would do it." Where there is a will, there is a way. Juicers range from $30 and up. There may be some cheaper ones but you want to make sure you purchase a juice extractor. The cheaper ones may not be able to handle leafy greens and the more expensive ones can probably get water from a rock. Mine is in the middle of the spectrum and it still has a hard time with leafy greens~ you know I have a trick for that..

Juicing can be frustrating, you probably wont get anything tasting like V8 (for the sodium content alone, thankfully) but the more you experiment the more comfortable you will get. It's just like cooking. For kids there are a couple codes I live by when it comes to juicing.

1. Get as many vegetables that they will not regularly eat in there. and,
2. Never dilute. 

I despise beets. Can-not-stand-them. So I don't know if Olive would like them, they are too much of a hassle to cook just for her. However beets are SO good for you I can't just delete them and their benefits from both our diets, so juice it is. The best trick I have to mask strong flavors (like beets) is pair them with a really sweet heavy fruit, most fruits in the tropical family would do the trick such as pineapple, papaya or mango.  The following two recipes are a couple of our favorites. If they seem too crazy for you a great beginner one is 2 apples and 6 carrots. 

The best way to get started is peel and cut up whatever needs to be, place them all in a bowl near your juicer. Put a straw in the container your juicing into so you can taste as you go, this helps you not have the need to dilute your juice and risk less nutrients per oz. You want as much bang for you buck!

2 small Organic Red Beets (size of lrg radish)                                 1 Medium Organic Cucumber
2 medium Organic apple                                                                   1 Medium Organic Apple
3 Medium Organic Carrots                                                               1 Organic Pear
3 Organic kale leaves                                                                        1 cup Organic Spinach
1 Medium/ Large Organic Mango                                                     Organic raw Ginger to taste
Organic raw Ginger to taste

So the way I get around my juicer lacking the gusto to take on the leafy greens is: Wrap up an apple slice in 1 kale leaf and jam it in there. The apple helps hold the kale in place instead of it getting sucked away from the blades.

Ginger is a digestive aid and I like to add it to all my juices, this is where your straw may come in handy, only add as much as you and your baby will tolerate. If they don't like it, omit it all together. Beets trump ginger.

Most baby books tell you to dilute the juice you give your baby, for the sugar content I assume. You would not want to dilute this type of juice for them. Olive has been drinking fresh juice since I have been feeding her real food. She downs it, barely comes up for air. I whole hardheartedly believe this helps their palate develop and become more accepting of fruits and veggies to eat.   


If you think you don't have the time, make time. Prep all the ingredients you can the night before and keep them in the fridge. Make your batch of juice while the kids are at daycare, asleep, school, recruit your husband to make it! Give him the bowl of ingredients, cant mess it up after that. Even better, if your kids are old enough get them involved~ supervised of course. 

juice never goes out of season. No matter the time of year there is always something you can juice. There are endless combinations to experiment with as well. Fresh juice is also very filling, it would make a perfect breakfast on the go for mom, breakfast or lunch for your baby maybe with a piece of whole grain toast. Last but not least make your own Popsicles with fresh juice in the summer time!