Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details.
I haven't been juicing long. In all honesty, it's a relatively newer journey I've been on. For almost two years now I've stuck to a mostly plant-based diet, but last fall, I started seeking opportunities to not only broaden my plant-based diet, but to improve my nutrition and overall health.
Not that my already plant-based diet was leaving me feeling deficient in any way, I'm just a health nut and had been really enjoying geeking out about nutrition. I wanted to be better versed in plant-based nutrition and how to balance my diet as well as how to improve my already healthy diet, if that was even possible. And just like with all things I'm truly passionate about, I knew It was time to do some studying up Actions Speak Louder Than Words
As I'm sure many of you are, I'm someone who likes to be well informed when it comes to my actions. I don't think it's attractive to idly do things just because you see other people doing them or because it's easy to do or maybe even because it's simply exciting. Your actions represent your values and beliefs. Therefore it's extremely important to have well-researched opinions to back the actions you regularly perform.
Just like the old saying, your actions DO speak louder than whatever you say. It's imperative to think deeper than just about what's on the surface, and understand what your intentions are as well as the expected consequences of your actions. After all, your actions are the best opportunity to express yourself and oftentimes the first thing others have to form an opinion about you with. Actions are important for lots of reasons!
Who am I?
What do I stand for? Why am I performing this action? What's important to me? How do my actions portray my values?
These are all good questions to be asking yourself regularly, especially with regard to your actions.
Research, Research, Research...
So while keeping all this in mind, I began researching. After some digging around, I came across the book Main Street Vegan by Victoria and Adam Moran. It had been recommended to me by several friends already but after coming across it independently on my search for more info on plant-based diet nutrition, I finally decided to give it a read. This was the first book I'd ever read specifically about plant-based nutrition . It was educational, motivational, eye-opening, practical, and sure enough, there was WHOLE CHAPTER dedicated to juicing!
Once I'd finished this book (which wasn't long because I seriously couldn't put it down), I found myself intrigued by the art of juicing. I wanted to know more!
Was it expensive?
Was it worth it? What were the nutritional benefits? Was it a hassle?
That's when I came across the documentary Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead and it was just what I was looking for. This film is entirely based on the nutritional advantages of juicing and how juicing helps average people like you and me every single day. It covered real-life accounts of first-time juicers and their endeavors to incorporate juicing into their everyday lives. Their inhibitions, their motivations, their likes and dislikes...It was so inspirational; just the kick in the ass that I needed!
Time to Put It to the Test
After that, I knew I HAD to try juicing for myself. How else would I know if I liked it or if it was really all it'd seemed cut out to be? I mean it definitely couldn't hurt. Freshly juiced fruits and vegetables, getting a straight shot of all the rich nutrients these plants provide, all it could really do is help me, right?
But my main concern as a broke college kid? .....Cost!
Could I afford juicing?
How much was a juicer going to cost me? How much would juicing increase my cost of groceries?
Well what better way to find out than trying it for myself right? I was definitely going out on a limb, but my fingers were crossed.
So it was back to the google machine. I needed to find myself a reputable juicer that was within my price range (which was obviously very low). I was on a mission to find the best juicer for the best price! After reading tons of blog posts and customer reviews, I finally settled on what's become my favorite kitchen gadget: the Hamilton Beach 67601A Big Mouth Juice Extractor. This juicer not only had great reviews, but it was super affordable (however, I am still stashing pennies away saving up for my dream juicer: the Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain Plus 850-Watt Juice Extractor)!
Once that Amazon package got to my front door a couple of days later and I unpackaged my shiny new juicer, I set to work. I tracked my produce expenses for a whole month to see if it was really going to put a burden on my regular grocery budget.
But to my surprise, after 4 weeks of crunching numbers, I found that it barely made a dent at all! Produce is cheap, especially in bulk, and ESPECIALLY if it's local. What a relief! However, not only was it affordable, but rather than throwing my un-used produce in the compost, I could just use it in my juices before it started to go bad. I was reducing waste by using juicing as a means to finish off my left over produce and I was spending very little on some extra bulk produce like a bag of carrots, celery, apples, or oranges here and there. Super simple, super affordable. And the Verdict Is?!
So now I've been juicing for a little over a year (still admittedly somewhat of a newbie) and the satisfaction I've experienced as a result of my decision has only increased. I'm quite pleased with my decision to start incorporating juicing into my diet and I'm constantly recommending it to my friends and family any chance I get.
If you're feeling unsure about juicing, I recommend doing your own research and checking out Main Street Vegan and Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead. Being more well-informed can never hurt. Ponders & Reflections...
What resources helped spark an interest in juicing for you?
Do you have any questions about juicing? What hesitations do you have regarding juicing? How long have you been juicing? I hope this has been helpful and motivational. Feel free to share your questions/comments/concerns in the comments below! Happy juicing!!
tread lightly.
live fully.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorHi there, my name's Jennifer! I'm a tree-hugging, adventure-seeking, mid-twenties-something and I'm here to share my story with you! Follow me as I try my best to lead a natural and sustainable both everyday and while trying my best to see the world. Follow me on insta! @treadlightlylivefully
ArchivesCategories
All
Copyright © 2017. Tread Lightly. Live Fully.
|