Reader’s Request: Smoothies vs Juices
Hiiiii 😀 How are you? Hope you’ve had an amazing day <3
I’ve gotten a lot of questions about smoothies and juices, so I thought it would be a fun reader’s request 😀
A little video:
For the record, this combo:
doesn’t taste very good. (The grapefruit was a little bold)
But it looks pretty, right? 😉
Some FAQs that weren’t addressed:
What’s the main difference between smoothies and juices?
Smoothies are made in a blender and pulverize the fruit or veggies, keeping the fiber and all of the nutrients intact.Juices are made in a juicer, and the fruit/veggie’s juice is extracted from the pulp and skin- it removes the fiber and has *most* of the nutrients. For me, I like to think use juices as a way to get extra vitamins and nutrients that I wouldn’t be able to eat in one sitting, and smoothies as a protein boost.
Some of my favorite juice recipes would actually be more like a gazpacho or cold soup if I made them in the Vitamix.
Juice is also amazing for an energy boost from the live enzymes. I haven’t really felt the need to drink coffee lately because it’s been doing the trick 🙂 That’s not to say coffee won’t be back, but for now, it’s taken a back seat to the green juice.
How do you create juice recipes?
For juices, I like to *usually* have 3 components: something green, something sweet, and a kicker. The green can be anything (romaine, kale and spinach are lovely), for the sweet, an apple, carrots, berries (strawberries are fun), pineapple, a sprinkle of Stevia, and the kicker can be a nub of ginger, a sprinkle of cayenne, or some citrus to take the *green* flavor our.
Some of my fave combos:
-Carrot, apple, beet, ginger
-Spinach, parsley, lemon, green apple
-Green apple, romaine, cucumber, lemon
-Beet, pineapple, kale
-Orange, lime, spinach, cayenne
Tip: If your juice tastes funky, add 1/2 lemon and a little Stevia. That will usually do the trick 😉
What can I do with the pulp?
The pulp is excellent as a raw slaw (I’m pretty sure Gena has a post on what to do with pulp), and can also be used as a raw cracker base, raw dessert, or for composting.
With today’s carrot pulp, I made a raw carrot cake:
Carrot pulp, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, shredded coconut, topped with coconut butter
What other juicers do you recommend?
I’m a huge fan of the Jack LaLanne model, and have used the Breville when I worked at the restaurant and went to school at 105degrees. Both are fab.
Where can I find smoothie recipes?
Check out *this post* on making a meal out of your smoothie, and *this page* for reader recipes.
If you had to choose between getting a juicer or Vitamix, what would you decide?
I LOVE my juicer, but it pretty much only has one purpose. I use the Vitamix multiple times a day for so many different things- nut flour, smoothies, soups, hummus, homemade nut butter, salsa, etc. So I’d definitely invest in the Vitamix first, and then a juicer later down the line.
Want a Vita-mix? I’ve got one already (and take it everywhere with me), but if YOU would enjoy one, we’re giving away another Vitamix this Friday through my OpenSky page. (Current followers will be entered, too!)
I hope this helped a little! Have fun with it and get creative with your smoothies and juices- you may find a new combo lurve 🙂
Do you prefer smoothies or juices? What’s your favorite combo? Any other blenders or juicers that you’d recommend?
Enjoy your night and I’ll see ya later 🙂
xoxo
G
You might also like:
110 Comments
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
I don’t have a juicer, so I guess I’ll just stick with smoothies for now! 🙂
Great post! I was going to do a smoothie vs. juice post on my blog, lol….but now I will just send people your way! 😉 Have a good night!
thanks for the great post! I have one question about juice–do you find it gets really expensive? it seems like a lot more produce goes into juice than if you were to just eat it/make a smoothie (guess thats part of the point but seems like it would be very pricey!)
yes it is pricey, but way less expensive than buying the fresh juice at whole foods or a juice bar
I love making fresh juices! Thanks for the recipes.
I definitely prefer smoothies. I find them way more filling.
Love this post! Just last night I was laying in bed thinking “I’d like to get a juicer”. I don’t even really like juice, so maybe it was my sleepy subconscious telling me something is missing? I do like smoothies, though!
My dad just got a hand me down of the same juicer you have. I cannot wait to test out your recipes!
I have been making green smoothies for about 3 months and am OBSESSED! My fiance thinks I’m crazy for wanting a $400 blender, but I pine for a Vitamix!!! I can’t wait until the day I have one on my counter! Woo hoo for the giveaway!
BTW, Gina, I always have issues finding your storefront on Open Sky. I always get taken to the “who you follow” page, but when I click on your info, it doesn’t lead to your page. Any idea why or how to more easily access your store?!
here ya go! http://shopopensky.com/fitnessista
Thank you!
I prefer smoothies, but I like to have juices occasionally to have an extra veggie boost. Great video!
Apple and carrot juice well together!
cute video!
thanks!
I just recently buckled down and bought a vita mix. Let me just say this…
So..Freakin..Worth it! I use it like 3 times a day =] Needless to say I am one happy camper =] And that raw carrot cake looks yummy!
I really want a juicer because I’m actually interested to see if drinking more green juice would give me a big ol’ energy boost, or if that’s just a myth. I’ve never been a huge smoothie fan, personally- Ilike chew my food more than slurp it down. 😉
I have the Jack Lalaine, and I love it, except for cleaning it… I’d love to juice more, but I get LAZY! I definitely need to get over my laziness. Juicing is so energizing!
That being said, I love juices for quick energy and nutrients, but smoothies much more for filling meals and snacks!
xo
That’s the cutest little raw carrot cake ever! I use apple pulp and throw it in the dehydrator and make apple cookies:)
I would love a Vitamix 🙂 I’m a follower so hopefully I win this Friday!
I definitely prefer smoothies over juice — every time I’ve made juice it just didn’t taste too good — I don’t think I ever made a good combo. I actually sold my Juiceman on Craigslist last summer because I never used it!
When I was younger my mom used to make juices alll the time and I soo want to get a juicer, I have a great hand mixer to make smoothies with a cup and all that got handed down to me by my dad. I really need to use it more often!! Great Juice suggestions. I really like classics- just carrot juice but I should try some new ones, and really want to try your green juice!!
I prefer THICK smoothies – juices don’t agree with my stomach 🙁
Thank you for this post! I love the juice suggestions. I can never seem to get my juices just right.
I prefer smoothies, but I do love my juicer. I tend to use it more when I’m not feeling well (like today,actually). For some reason, the juice is revitalizing.
Thanks for the video! I need to get a juicer ASAP…yum!!
TOO funny. My juicer just came today! I made an apple, carrot, celery juice that was delicious. Cute video, G!
wahoo! happy juicing 🙂
I just bought a juicer this past weekend and LOVE it. After reading the Clean Sexy Diet book I’ve tried to drink my juice in the mornings before eating breakfast…apparently it’s a good time since your stomach is emptyish and you can absorb the most nutrients. When do you usually make juice? When you feel like it? Or when you feel like you need some nutrients?
i always have it first thing in the morning with breakfast, or as a mid-afternoon pick me up
I want a juicer SO bad! I love getting juice out sometimes, but it is so dang expensive! I drink a ton of smoothies though, and I love em!
I recently invested in a Vita-Mix and I can’t imagine not having it!! In fact, if my juicer broke, I’d probably try blending all my juicing ingredients, then straining it through a nut-milk bag! The Vita-mix is definitely an essential in my kitchen, but my Breville juicer does make juicing a bit easier. 🙂
Favorite juicing combo: Romaine, cucumber, kale, green apple and a lemon. YUM!
I LOVE my vita-mix. My next major kitchen purchase will definitely be a juicer. Thanks for the great video, it answered my questions about the mechanics of juicing!
Great post Gina and i totally agree w/ you that if it’s either a juicer or a vita, get the VITA!
I have a mac daddy breville juicer that was nearly the price of my Vita. Well 2/3’rds of the price. Anyway, I rarely use it. I hate cleaning it. And the ONLY thing it does is make juice.
The Vita, altho it’s possible to make a total sticky horrid mess of the blades…you can soak, spin, repeat. Til it’s clean. Without really ever having to hand scrub things too terribly much. And it does…everything.
I totally agree, Vita first!
I prefer drinking juice to smoothies but since i never juice much these days, it’s smoothies by default. Or just coffee 🙂
Crossing my fingers that one day following you all will actually reward me with a VitaMix. 😉 Our blender is a little outdated and making funny noises.
I have the same juicer and I love it too!! 🙂
Neither. I like to chew. How do you pronounce “socca” (I’m an iddiot)? It looks delish and nutrish, and I want to be able to prance about the kitchen and sing “socca it to me now, socca it to me now”……….
Oh yeah, also, you said for the socca that you used equal parts, so I am wondering what size of socca I’ll come up with for certain measurements. For example, was that 1/4 cup mixed with a 1/4 cup? 2 tbs mixed with 2 tbs? And so forth.
Thanks!
hahaha!!
it was 1/2 C mixed with 1/2 C
i *think* it’s soe-kuh. but don’t hold me to it 😉
That carrot cake looks delicious! It would totally satisfy my craving for it.
My parents have a Vitamix and I moved out in June and just have a regular old blender. Almost as bad as going from TV with a PVR to being a slave to regular programming schedules… haha. I wish I had room for a juicer in my apartment, I would love to have that option to squeeze in my recommended amount of vegetables and fruits.
i’ve never tried juicing, but i am on a smoothie kick right now! the combination that i’ve had the past couple days is: spinach, banana, frozen blueberries, vanilla protein powder, chocolate almond milk, and chia seeds. i top it with coconut butter + granola. it’s delicious!
My Breville Juicer rocks!!!!!!!
Thanks for the video post! I’ve always been curious about how to juice and how much work it would entail. From the looks of it, it’s not as hard as I thought! 🙂
I definitely like smoothies the best. My fave combo is chocolate peanut butter, banana, vanilla almond milk, and a little ice. Yum!
I love juice – especially apple, carrot, ginger and spinach – but I ended up abandoning my juicer because I just couldn’t deal with the cleanup.
I could live on smoothies! My favourite is orange juice, frozen blueberries, frozen mango, ground flax seed and spinach. So good.
i could live on smoothies too- LOVE them 🙂
This post is so neat!
I just had my first successful juice after two bad ones. It was green apples, romaine, and lime and it was so crisp and delicious!
That raw carrot cake makes me want to juice right now just so I can have that 🙂
great post!i like both smoothies and juices but i tend to make more smoothies so the fiber will keep my blood sugar in check.
I have a Hurom juicer and I love it! My hubby makes the best powerhouse juice around. A lot of ingredients but worth it. Also we make enough for breakfast and lunch (the Hurom doesn’t heat up as much so it can be saved in the fridge for awhile) And it even juices wheatgrass!
pineapple, kale, spinach, carrot, celery, cucumber, apple, grapes, lemon (the usual)
My fave combo is half a pineapple, head of red leaf lettuce, 2-3 cucumbers, lime
I love green smoothies just as much though!
Loved the video! 🙂
thank you!!
I can’t really pick, I love them both. I drink juice w/ something to eat usually..like a piece of toast or a rice cake with almond butter. I like smoothies as a meal replacement kind of thing 🙂 Great post you are a doll Gina!
How do you wash your vitamix blender? It’s so clean and mine has a white film inside of it. How do you get down in the blade area, too? Thanks.
put a couple of drops of dish soap in there, fill 3/4 with warm water, put the lid on and run it on high for about a minute. pour the water out, rinse, and BOOM- clean vita 🙂
I need to get back into my smoothies! I just don’t really want them when it is cold out! A juicer would benefit me in the winter months! I have a Vitamix and love it! It is the best appliance I have ever owned! I know I would not use the juicer near enough because of the cleanup! My Father-in-Law has one and it sits in his garage because he got tired of the cleanup! Would love to win a Vitamix for my daughter for a shower gift!
I think I enjoy juices more, but 1) I don’t think I’ve found the “right” smoothie yet and 2) I hate cleaning the juicer so I guess that would make me love smoothies more. Oh well they’re both fantastic.
I love both! I feel the very best generally after a juice though. They are a ton of fun in the summer. I hit up the $1 stand at the farmer’s market where they have bruised apples and almost-but-not-quite bad veggies and juice those babies up!
LOVE juice as a pick me up in the morning. When I wake up, I want something cold and refreshing before I can even think about eating breakfast. I only wish they made a juicer that would clean itself. That is one pain in the ass chore and the only thing that keeps me from juicing more.
seriously- it would make life so much easier!
i totally prefer smoothies! i love green smoothies with banana and berries!
I don’t have a juicer but I absolutely love smoothies- they are so filling and such a fun way to some extra nutrients 🙂
Cool post! That raw carrot cake sounds intriguing!!!