Juicing for the first time: 3 Recipes for beginners

Juicing is trendy; however, it is also a great way to increase your daily consumption of fruits and vegetables. As a registered dietitian, I recommend fresh juice in addition to a well-balanced diet. For example, fresh juice can be an energizing afternoon beverage — rather than reaching for an additional cup of coffee. To help you have the best juicing experience, try these simple recipes and helpful tips.

Tips for juicing for the first time

1. Start simple: Juice two to four ingredients. A juice that has too many ingredients and takes too much of your time to prepare may leave you feeling overwhelmed and that juicing is just not worth the effort. Simple recipes, on the other hand, take less time to prepare and have less clean up, so you’re able to enjoy your fresh juice.
2. Add fruit and lots of greens: Add a piece of fruit to your juice, such as an apple. It will sweeten up the flavor and be more desirable for new-to-juicing palates. However, make sure to always add in some greens! Juicing greens is an excellent way to consume more veggies in the day.
3. Chill it: Let your juice chill in the freezer for 3-5 minutes prior to sipping. Cold juice tends to be more desirable than room temperature juice. However, drink your juice within 30 minutes to receive optimal health benefits.

Spicy orange juice

Makes one 12-ounce juice

Ingredients:

• 1 medium orange
• 2 large carrots
• 1 one-inch piece of ginger, chopped

Directions:

1. Peel the orange and feed the segments through the juicer.
2. Add the carrots and chopped ginger through the juicer.
3. Drink immediately, or let chill in the fridge or freezer for 3-5 minutes and then enjoy!

Pear cucumber juice

Makes one 12-ounce juice

Ingredients:

• 1 pear
• 1 small cucumber
• Large handful of spinach

Directions:

1. Wash the pear, cucumber and spinach and feed through the juicer.
2. Drink immediately, or let chill in the fridge or freezer for 3-5 minutes and then enjoy!

Green apple juice

Makes one 12-ounce juice

Ingredients:

• 1 apple
• 1 lemon
• Large handful of kale

Directions: 

1. Wash and slice the apple and feed through the juicer.
2. Peel the lemon and add the lemon segments through the juicer.
3. Feed kale through the juicer.
4. Drink immediately, or let chill in the fridge or freezer for 3-5 minutes and then enjoy!

More on juicing

Juice Cleanse: Pros, cons and 5 healthy recipes
Health benefits of juicing vs. blending
5 Mixed juice drinks to boost your immune system