Saturday, June 29, 2013

Our Juicing Challenge

What happens when you don't have cable or satellite...only Netflix & Hulu?  You discover programs like "Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead" with Joe Cross, a show giving an in-depth look at a 400 lb man on prescription drugs, whose body was failing.  He looked at how our bodies have an innate ability to heal itself, when we bring it back to nature and cut out all processed foods from our diet.  How can we consume enough nutrients from these healthy foods?  Juicing!  By juicing, we are able to consume far more of these nutritious foods than by eating them as they are.  Also, since we do not need to cook them, all nutrients are retained & consumed.  Dan & I were caught up in the common sense and evidence of the message we heard.  We aren't fat, sick, nor nearly dead, but could we be healthier?  Could we have more energy?  Could we prevent cancer?  YES!  And then...could WE do this?  Those who know us best know that Dan & I love a good challenge.  We decided to juice for 1 week.  For one whole week, we would consume only juice from fresh vegetables and fruits for every snack & meal.  (My exception:  coffee!  It's healthy for you, & frankly, this new mom NEEDS it!)  So here we go....June 29, 2013....day 1 of our 1 week detox juicing diet!

Here's what's going into our juicer...Celery, cucumbers, kale, green apples, 1/2 lemon, 1 pear...Mean Green Juice!

Our new juicer...a masticating juicer by Breville which does NOT heat or oxygenate the food.

Dan beginning the juicing process.

Mean Green Juice!  His & Hers  :)

Dan is excited & optimistic!

Taking the first sip!

Connor is the first child who wants to try it!

The verdict...Connor likes it!

Hannah volunteers next!

Hannah likes it!

Cameron wants to try!

Cameron likes it too!

Even Gabby tries the Mean Green Juice!!!  She proclaims it to be good!  (at least 1 sip of it is!)

I look worried...because I am!  I've never eaten kale.  I don't like cucumbers at all, nor do I care for celery.  But, this is lunch, & I'm committed to the good health & challenge.  Through the lips, over the gums, watch out taste buds...here it comes!

Well, if you like cucumbers, it was delicious!  I, however, don't, but it wasn't as bad as I thought.  It had a strong taste of cucumber.  I never tasted kale or celery, & the apples sweetened it.  The verdict?  I'm committed!  (Just way less cucumber, please!)

So, meal one on day one was a success!  The children wanted to try our drink because of the novelty of the experience, but it is only Dan and I who are doing the juicing detox for a week.  At the end of the week, who knows...maybe we'll continue it on for another.  After detoxing our bodies, we will return to eating solid foods....but no processed foods!  I will go back to the vegetarian diet I use to enjoy years ago, with the occasional salmon & rare occurance of chicken thrown in.  Dan will not go vegetarian, but we are both committed to only eating foods from nature.  No more processed foods.  Any foods made in a factory will no longer be a part of our lifestyle choice.  Though we ate healthy before, we will no longer buy crackers, baked chips, etc.  Fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts....things straight from nature....are our choice of foods now!  So, what becomes of the juicer after our 1+ week detox?  We keep juicing, of course!  Just not exclusively, but rather in addition to eating vegetables and fruits.

I challenge each of you to simply watch the show "Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead" for yourselves. Even if you never choose to juice, your eyes will be opened for the better.