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1.23.13

We’re in love with Megan Markey’s adorable food blog, Whole Family Fare. Finding your way through the blogosphere can, at times, be as daunting  as a Barney’s warehouse sale – so much hunting, so few treasures. We love doing some of that hunting for you by bringing you stories from a few of our own favorite bloggers. Whole Family Fare is an intimate little site by a mother and home cook who whips up raw and vegan treats that are simple, seasonal and accessible. Here are Megan’s insights and recipes on juicing for a fresh and clean New Year.

If you’re new to juicing, incorporating it into your everyday life can seem a bit daunting. With the holidays behind you and 2013 just beginning, now is the perfect time for a fresh start. Here are just a few reasons you should consider drinking raw juice daily:

Juicing helps you absorb all the nutrients from fruits and vegetables. You’ve probably heard that juice goes directly to your bloodstream because it lacks fiber to slow its digestion. This is true, but that’s also precisely the reason it can be a healthful part of your diet – it’s quick, pre-digested energy and nutrients for you body. In other words, your body doesn’t have to work to digest the fiber of the fruits and vegetables, so you’ll get the maximum nutrition, without any waste.

It’s satisfying. Since it’s bursting with nutrients and enzymes your body craves, it will keep you satisfied longer. The typical diet is full of empty carbohydrates and sugars, which have very little nutrition. When you drink vegetable juice, it provides your body with the fuel it needs, which in turn keeps you feeling full longer.

It’s easier than you think. Most people are pleasantly surprised by how easy juicing actually is. Yes, juicers are notoriously painful to clean and they can make quite a mess, but it doesn’t have to be that way. It usually takes me about 30 minutes (from start to finish) to make my daily juice and clean my juicer. Just 30 minutes. Once you start, I think you’ll find that the benefit far outweighs the cost.

These three juice recipes are great for beginners, because the taste is more mild and palatable than the vegetable juice you may have tried in the past. Once you’ve become accustomed to the taste, try reducing the sweeter fruits, like apples, and focusing more on veggies and low-sugar fruits such as lemons and limes.

Cheers to your health!

Ultimate Green Juice

I drink this juice daily, and with good reason. The base is celery, which is a little known nutritional powerhouse. It’s loaded with potassium, folic acid, magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus and essential amino acids. On top of all that, it’s one of the most alkalinizing things you can put in your body. To the celery, I add kale, green apple, parsley, lime, lemon and ginger, creating an extremely potent, detoxifying cocktail.

1 bunch celery
4-5 kale leaves (preferably lacinato)
1 green apple
one big handful of flat leaf parsley leaves
1 lime
1 lemon
1 inch of fresh ginger

Beet, Apple and Blackberry Juice

Beet juice is a powerful cleanser of the blood, and highly nutritious. It’s full of folate, manganese potassium, iron and Vitamin C. To the beets, I add apples, blackberries and ginger, creating a deep red and delicious elixir.

3 small beets
2-3 apples
8 oz. blackberries
1/2 inch fresh ginger

Carrot, Golden Beet and Orange Juice

Carrot juice is full of vitamins E and B, beta carotene and various minerals. Oranges are bursting with vitamin C, which is oh-so important in these winter months. Golden beets are rich in potassium and calcium, two vital minerals.

4 carrots
2 golden beets
3 cara cara navels
1/2 inch of fresh ginger

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Comments


  1. Just started juicing using the Bullet, quick and easy to clean. Can I use the stems and leaves of the beets? Made my first smoothie yesterday, and was energized for hours. Enjoying your recipes!

    Sandy Shapiro | 01.24.2013 | Reply
    • Hi Sandy, you CAN use the beet greens! They are crazy nutritious! Save them for your next green juice/smoothie!

      The Chalkboard Team | 01.24.2013 | Reply
    • …..I was wondering the same thing the other day……the leafs looked so fresh and nutritious :)…..thanx for the Q & A 🙂

      Martina | 01.31.2013 | Reply
  2. I cannot wait to try that beet juice recipe. Sounds so delicious!

    Sister Disco | 01.24.2013 | Reply
    • Let us know how the recipe turns out! xo

      The Chalkboard | 01.24.2013 | Reply
  3. Is it overkill to do two or more of these juices a day?

  4. do you need to cook the beets before juicing?

    Lynda | 01.31.2013 | Reply
  5. Cooking the bCuba is not good they lose same of there nutrients.

    Sally Adler-Luna | 02.01.2013 | Reply
    • Beets, sorry for the miss spelled word.

      Sally Adler-Luna | 02.01.2013 | Reply
  6. Are there any suggestions on TCM for what juicers are best? or comparison of models?
    Especially one that compares quality and prices, for people who are just starting out with juicing.
    Trying to find the best for an initial investment.
    Thanks

    Claire | 03.14.2013 | Reply
    • I bought the Breville Juicer – its’ great but takes time to set up clean, etc. I also bought the Nutribullet which seems to be more of a blender – and I love it – but I have to add water or juice to my spinach/kale/fruit/flaxseed concoctions help emulsify it. But wanted to make sure the recipes above are for a juicer (no liquid required) and not the bullet? Thank you!

      Patricia | 05.09.2013 | Reply
  7. Hey Chalkboard. Question re. the Ultimate Green Juice Recipe: When you say a bunch of celery, do you mean an entire head of celery or a few stalks?

    amy p | 04.25.2013 | Reply
    • Hi Amy! We recommend starting with a small head of celery (a few stalks) and add to taste!

      The Chalkboard | 04.25.2013 | Reply
  8. I like your recipes. They’re simple and easy to remember. Special love to CARROT, GOLDEN BEET AND ORANGE JUICE:) I’d like to hear from you how you’re able to prepare the juice for just 30 min! I can prepare my veggies and fruits for 30 min only:). Thanks for great tips. Hope to hear from you soon.

    David | 07.19.2013 | Reply
  9. I do not like Kale so I use Baby Bok Choy – Yummy

    Jody | 09.01.2013 | Reply
    • What a great idea for a swap, Jody – thanks for sharing!

      The Chalkboard | 09.03.2013 | Reply
  10. Just started juicing, and I came across The Chalkboard. My first go with the Ultimate Green Juice did not work out so well. Too citrusy, and I only used 1/2 of the lemon and lime. Should I not have included the rind?

    My effort with the beets, apple and blackberries was very refreshing. I’ll definitely be making this one again. I added some club soda to the juice and poured it over ice. So nice.

    Brian | 10.15.2013 | Reply
    • Hi Brian – So glad you enjoyed the second juice! If the green juice had too strong of a citrus taste, try only adding 1/4 of each next time. Good luck!

      The Chalkboard | 10.16.2013 | Reply
    • Hi Brian, we love that you’re giving juice a try – it’s great to include the rinds of the citrus you’re using. Our suggestion would just be to use less. Also, try using either lemon OR lime, together they can be overwhelming. Also it may be that it’s just one of them that you’re not enjoying. Cheers!

      The Chalkboard | 10.16.2013 | Reply
  11. If we want to add these into our healthy food diet, what order would you recommend? Start with the green juice, food, beet juice, food, carrot juice? Thanks!

    Marina | 01.24.2016 | Reply
  12. Thank you for sharing, the Beet and Blackberry juice was amazing!

    Adam | 04.26.2017 | Reply

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