Fun With Juicing

Recently I acquired a juicer and was very eager to enjoy some fresh carrot and beet juice (one of my top seasonal juice picks). My son, Oskar, was game. He loves the power of pressing produce into pulp. And, the loud motor only adds to his excitement.

So we scrubbed 6 organic carrots and 3 beets and what resulted was the most gorgeous eye-pleasing juice I’ve ever laid my eyes on. Oskar wiggled in anticipation of sampling our fresh concoction. His delight was so inspiring that we quickly devoured a full glass each of the ruby orange/red liquid.

Wait a minute. I didn’t even think to dilute little Oskar’s serving of juice. Beets tend to have a laxative effect when a significant amount is consumed. Let’s just say it went right through him.

I wasn’t worried as it is a natural reaction, but I certainly felt foolish forgetting this important characteristic of beets. He didn’t feel bad at all—in fact he wanted more! He didn’t get any more until the next day when I properly diluted it and he had no issues.

We had fun making juice! I really felt great after drinking it too—it gives you a feeling of vitality like nothing else.

Helpful Juicing Hints:

1) For kids, dilute at least 1:1 water and juice when juicing beets.

2) Introduce fresh juices as early as 6 months in small 1 oz doses (and be sure to follow first food guidelines) and dilute 1:1. Fresh, clean juice is far superior to any store-bought juices which are all pasteurized and therefore have lost their vitality and much of their nutrition. They also contribute to spikes in blood sugar which can, in time, lead to various disorders.

3) Add some pulp back into the juice to take advantage of the health benefits of fibre.
4) Add some quality fat to your juice (approx. 1 tsp per 8oz serving) such as coconut oil/milk, cold-pressed olive or sesame oil or organic ghee or even avocado. *If your child doesn’t like carrot or beet juice see what they think after adding some rich, luscious coconut milk to it.

5) If it's a cool day, consider adding cinnamon, cardamom, or ginger to 'warm up' your juice as well as add additional nutrients and stoke digestion.

Nutrition Facts about Beets:

1) Excellent source of vitamin C, folate and a good source of manganese and potassium.
As a root vegetable they are deeply nourishing and restorative, providing storage energy and deep nutrition when we need it most.
2) These deeply colored root vegetables contain powerful nutrient compounds that help protect against heart disease, birth defects and certain cancers, especially colon cancer.

3) We must think beyond the breakdown into vitamins and minerals too and recognize the energetic of fresh, clean nutritious foods – they add energy and vitality to our body’s minds and spirits and our children will only flourish if we give them these kinds of foods daily.