Can Juicing Make You Fat?

Avocado smoothieI’ve been making a lot of smoothies lately.

If I’m not in the mood for a smoothie, I’ll chop up a bunch of veggies and juice up a tall glass of green juice.

Whipping up a green smoothie, or juicing a tall glass of veggie goodness, seems to be all the rage lately.

And yes, I’ve been caught up in the excitement!

Do you have a preference?

For myself, I often prefer a smoothie to juicing – I like that the fiber stays intact (am I the only one who hates throwing all that nutritious fiber down the drain?) – plus I find it easier to clean a VitaMix than a juicer

Sometimes it’s a Green Smoothie, other times it’s a little less green, depending on the ingredients – it’s a little like mixing a palette of paint, to see what color you end up with.

On the flip side of things, there are many detractors to the juicing craze.

Bottom line – while certainly delicious, juicing may not always be the healthiest choice.

According to the experts, when you drink a glass of juice – especially if it’s mostly fruit – you’re really drinking nothing but a glass of sugar.

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My Favorite Green Smoothie

Green Smoothie Extra SmallIt’s been a while since I’ve posted a recipe, so I decided this week that a new smoothie recipe was definitely in order.

Especially since I’ve been drinking this just about every day!

(It occurred to me – why not share?)

I created this filling and refreshing drink several weeks ago, and have since dubbed it my “Favorite Green Smoothie”.

(The days that I don’t drink this – whether I ran out of the ingredients, or just didn’t have time – I feel like something’s missing). 

So what’s so special about this particular smoothie?

Well, everyone is different, of course, so what seems special to me might not seem so wonderful to the next person.

Since I like my meals and snacks to be both satisfying and nutritious – this more to do, perhaps, with how I might feel afterwards.

You see, a smoothie is very easy on the digestion. (For anyone with compromised digestion, this is often the way to go).

It’s also an excellent way to get your daily dose of greens – along with an amazing array of nutrients, antioxidants and fiber.

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Juice or Smoothie – Which Will It Be?

Juice SmallI’ve been making a lot of smoothies lately.

If I’m not in the mood for a smoothie, I’ll chop up a bunch of veggies and juice up a tall glass of green juice

Whipping up a green smoothie, or juicing a tall glass of veggie goodness, seems to be all the rage lately.

And yes, I’ve been caught up in the excitement!

Do you have a preference?

For myself, I often prefer a smoothie to juicing – I like that the fiber stays intact (am I the only one who hates throwing all that nutritious fiber down the drain?) – plus I find it easier to clean a VitaMix than a juicer.

Sometimes it’s a Green Smoothie, other times it’s a little less green, depending on the ingredients – it’s a little like mixing a palette of paint, to see what color you end up with.

On the flip side of things, there are many detractors to the juicing craze.

[Read more…]

Healthy Breakfast Ideas to Kickstart the New Year

Avocado smoothieWelcome to 2014!

Over the past few days, it occurred to me that the start of a New Year isn’t all that different from how one starts a new day.

In both cases, it often seems that the day – or the year before you – is an open slate.

Anything could happen, right?

(And often it does.)

How you begin your day sets you up for everything you will encounter by days’ end – including how you will handle the stresses that will inevitably come your way.

Hence the question:

What do you eat for breakfast?

Do you grab a bowl from the cupboard, snatch a bag of cereal, and call that a meal?

If you’ve included some fruit – such as fresh, organic berries – that’s terrific.

Truth is, you’re doing exactly what most Americans do, starting the day with a bowl of cereal and fruit.

(And while that’s OK, it’s not ideal – I’ll tell you why in a moment).

Breakfast is often one of the most challenging meals once you switch to a gluten-free diet.

At first, it might seem easy – all you need to do is trade your favorite breakfast cereal for a gluten-free substitute.

And that works just fine, until you hop on a plane and travel to a strange city.

Now what do you do?

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