Well since I am finally going to open my VitaMix now, let's start a juicing thread

music-city-missy

Well-known member
What all juices, smoothies, etc. do you make? I want to get beyond bananas, strawberries, yogurt.... I discovered The Food Hospital last night on The Cooking Channel and LOVE the show but wish I knew what was in those drinks the guy with Type 2 diabetes used to lose so much weight in just 6 weeks. I have almost 6 weeks until my 50th birthday and I am DETERMINED to get this weight off and sugar under control by then. These last 20 pounds are hard.

 
Here's one

There are a bunch of natural alternative folks on another board I read. I know I've seen more from them. i'll keep looking.

handful of Kale, handful romaine, 1 cucumber, 1 lemon, 1 green apple, thumbnail sz. piece of ginger, 3-4 celery stalks.

 
Here's some of the basics I found when I got mine...

Lea Ann (who owns the VM Y! group I'm in) tips on ratios and fruit/veggies:
http://blenderlady.com/green-smoothies/ click around her site for lots of info and demo videos when she does shows at Costco and such (plus recipes from her shows).

Guidelines for green smoothies (a must read if for nothing else to find out the need to rotate your greens)
http://greensmoothiesblog.com/guidelines-green-smoothies/

How to make a green smoothie tasty every time
http://greensmoothiesblog.com/how-to-make-a-green-smoothie-tips/ This tells you about the ratio needs of soluble vs. insoluble fiber and how it can turn a smoothie into a foamy grass tasting yucky thing.

15 Green Smoothies in 3 minutes:
http://www.rawfamily.com/films/15-green-smoothies-in-3-minutes

For a newbie palette recommendations are to start with a 40/60 blend of veggies to fruit and gradually work up to more veggies as your taste changes. Spinach is the easiest green to start with as the taste blends out to next to nothing, but as mentioned above, you must rotate your greens to avoid alkaloid build-up.

Personally, I follow Victoria Boutenko, who wrote Green for Life, recommendation and not add protein powders or anything besides water to a green smoothie (though I do add chia seeds at time). Also, I stick to organic only for raw food smoothies.

Another site I like for smoothie ideas is:

http://blenditandmendit.com/ she does lots of videos.

 
Ordered Mine

I have just ordered my Vitamix. However it will take a few days before I receive it UPS. In the mean time, I'm interested in recipes and ideas.

 
An inspiring list to help you use your Vitamix to its fullest extent

I hope this inspires you to use your Vitamix machine to its fullest extent...This is from Lea Ann, Vitamix Instructor and group owner of Vitamix Enthusiasts on Yahoo

I MAKE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING IN MY VITAMIX MACHINE:

Green Smoothies (my YouTube Video)

Cold Green Soups http://BlenderLady.com/recipes/
Hot Green Soups
Blended Salads V-8 "type" Juices
Tomato Sauces like Marinara and Spaghetti
Process Tomatoes for canning
Salsa http://BlenderLady.com/recipes/
Raw Applesauce http://BlenderLady.com/recipes/
Hummus
Puddings
Quiches (chops the veggies and or meats and scrambles the eggs at the same time)
Omelettes (chops the veggies and or meats and scrambles the eggs at the same time)
Cole Slaw
Hash Browns
Chop Veggies for salad toppings, stir-fry, or recipes like casseroles, chili, chunky veggie soups (you can chop: carrots, celery, onion, peppers, parsley, cabbage, etc.)
Chopping Nuts, Dates, Apples, Cranberries, Cheese, Chocolate, etc.
Salads like Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad, Egg Salad, Broccoli Salad, Carrot Salad, etc.
Chicken Salad http://BlenderLady.com/recipes/
Mayonnaise http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/VitamixEnthusiasts/links/Recipe_Links_001298558025/Sauces_001327151516/
Marinades http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/VitamixEnthusiasts/links/Recipe_Links_001298558025/Sauces_001327151516/
Salad Dressings http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/VitamixEnthusiasts/links/Recipe_Links_001298558025/Salad_Dressings_001327151506/
Home Made Butter from raw cream
Whipped Cream
Froth the cream in your coffee! http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/VitamixEnthusiasts/message/31070
Hot Fruit SyrupsBatters: Pancake, Corn Bread, Cake, Brownie, Muffin, and Quick Breads http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/VitamixEnthusiasts/links/Recipe_Links_001298558025/Batters___Muffins_Pancakes_Breads_etc__001327151767/
Bread Dough from freshly ground grains - Whole Wheat and a non-gluten Rice Bread
Liquify Flax Seeds They can be put in a smoothie whole and become liquified right in the drink! (This is important because flax seeds begin to go rancid immediately upon grinding)
Grind Flax Seeds when recipes call for them ground
Cracked Grains for things like cooked grain cereals
Corn Meal for corn bread, batters for frying fish, corn grits, and polenta http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/VitamixEnthusiasts/message/33426
Nut Butters: Peanut, Almond, Cashew, Mixed Nut, Tahini, Almond/Peanut, etc.
Coconut Butter: ($12 a jar from the store, $2-4 when I make it myself!) http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/VitamixEnthusiasts/links/Recipe_Links_001298558025/Coconut_Butter_Info__and_Recipes_001327151665/
Fruit Roll Ups (I puree the fruit in my Vitamix, then dry in my dehydrator)
Chips (the batter is made in my Vitamix, and the chips are dried in my dehydrator)
Cashew Cream: http://talronnen.ca/recipes/cashew-cream/
Cold Compost from left over veggie scraps: http://mysisterspantry.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/garbage-smoothie-anyone-cold-composting-a-tutorial-22-2/
Organic Bug Spray from halapeno peppers http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/jalepeno-bug-spray.htm
Dog Food Gravy blending cooked chicken carcasses with water! http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/VitamixEnthusiasts/message/33573
These are just things I've made (and I've probably forgotten plenty)!

 
Hi Marsha!! Good to see you! I always have trouble scraping butter like stuff out of Vita container-

Is there a tool that you use to make it easier?

Also, I remember you had some trouble with kale-- are you ok now? do you just use less and rotate your greens?

 
Thank you, MoNJ, more inside....

MoNJ, I put kale in smoothies and chop it small into salads. I used to like to saute it with garlic and onions but I keep it raw now. Yes, I do rotate my greens.

For the VM container my favorite are very flexible spatulas. LeaAnn, VM demonstrator likes VM spatulas...she gave me a free set....they don't bend at all. She likes them because she makes things in her VM and doesn't mind residue from other foods, she feels it adds to what she's making....anyway, I use very flexible spatulas and get most of my food out of the container. That said.

VM has a brand new VM 7500, I believe that has a wider base and is much easier to remove food from...Lea Ann says this new VM is her dream machine.

 
Here's a link for a smoothie recipe in your email every day, with nutritional info

http://www.letstalkfitness.com/

This wk. he shared cherry smoothie recipes.....

Pineapple Mango Black Cherry Smoothie

by Veronica Grace of LowFatVeganChef -
(makes 1 large or 2 medium servings)

• 2 cups mango (frozen or fresh)
• 2 cups pineapple (fresh or frozen)
• 2 cups pitted black cherries (frozen or fresh yet again)

Bonus Health Fact
Some interesting facts about mangoes from
LunchBoxBunch:

• Mangoes are high in Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Potassium, Copper and Vitamin A.
• Mangoes are indigenous to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Southeast Asia. In 2007, the most mangoes were grown in India, followed by China and Thailand.
• Mangoes contain beta-carotene which may help slow the aging process, reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer, improve lung function, and reduce complications associated with diabetes.
• Mangoes also contain several important phytochemicals including: Cryptoxanthin, Lutein, Gallic Acid and Anacardic acid.


One Hot Cherry Smoothie
makes 1 serving)

• 5 oz. (or 1/2 10 oz. bag) frozen cherries (use fresh pitted if you can find them) • 5 oz. fresh or frozen strawberries (a large handful)
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1 teaspoon raw honey (can also use coconut nectar, other sweetener of choice, if desired)
• pinch cayenne
• 1 1/2 cups filtered water

Some interesting facts about cherries from Stemilt Family Farms:
• Cherries rank among the top 20 foods with the highest concentration of antioxidants. In fact, the standard one-cup serving of cherries has the capacity to carry 4,873 antioxidants!
• Great news for arthritis sufferers! A bowl full of cherries may help alleviate pain and inflammation associated with arthritis and gout, the most severe form of arthritis.
• One cup of cherries has just 90 calories and is a good source of fiber and is high in vitamin C.
• Cherries are one of the few foods that contain melatonin. In addition to helping regulate sleep patterns, melatonin is an important antioxidant that helps maintain optimum brain functioning and may deter the onset of age-related chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s


Cherry Chocolate Smoothie
by Christine of Just Glowing With Health
(makes 32 oz)

• 12 oz frozen cherries (2 cups)
• 1 1/2 cups of coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons toasted carob powder
• 3-4 medjool dates, pitted
• 1 very ripe banana
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 capful pure vanilla extract (optional)

Health Facts About Dates
Some interesting facts about dates from Nutrition and You:
• Fresh dates compose of soft, easily digestible flesh and simple sugars like fructose and dextrose. When eaten, they replenish energy and revitalize the body instantly.
• Dates contain health benefiting flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants known as tannins. Tannins are known to possess anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hemorrhagic (prevent easy bleeding tendencies) properties.

• Dates are rich in minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, copper, and magnesium.
• Dates are an excellent source of iron, contains 0.90 mg/100 g of fruits (about 11% of RDI).
Today is day 2 of cherry week! This smoothie combines a few different fruits with cherries for a powerful energy kick. I definitely think adding the optional cinnamon or vanilla will give this smoothie an extra burst of flavor.


Cherry Date Smoothie
by Angie of Raw Mama Nature
(makes two small servings)

• 2 apples
• 1 cup of water
• one 10oz. bag of frozen cherries
• 3 dates
• cinnamon or vanilla powder (optional)

Some interesting facts about dates from Nutrition and You:
• Wonderfully delicious, dates are one of the most popular fruits packed with an impressive list of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are required for normal growth, development and overall well-being.
• Dates are rich in dietary fiber, which prevents LDL cholesterol absorption in the gut.
• Dates are an excellent source of iron, contains 0.90 mg/100 g of fruits (about 11% of RDI). Iron, being a component of hemoglobin inside the red blood cells, determines the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.


Cherry Green Superfood Smoothie
(makes 1 serving)

• 1 cup frozen cherries
• 1 frozen banana
• ½ knob of ginger
• 2-3 handfuls of spinach
• 8 ounces water
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric
• 2 teaspoons Maqui Berry powder

Some interesting facts about maqui from Health Diaries:
• The powerful antioxidants in maqui help prevent free radical damage to the cells and DNA, a known contributor to a variety of cancers.
• Initial studies show that maqui berry may have antibacterial properties, which may make it useful in warding off foodborne illnesses.
• Maqui berry is a low calorie, nutrient rich food and therefore a healthy addition to any effective weight loss program. Its potential to help balance blood sugar levels may also help prevent the body from producing new fat cells, which may in turn also help prevent gaining unwanted weight.
• Consumption of maqui berries and juice has been shown to increase insulin production in the body. This may be beneficial to diabetics trying to balance glucose levels after meals.

 
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