September kick starts our 30 day juicing challenge. To add in one juice a day (or more if you like) for a day for a month. It really is that easy.

And if you haven't got a juicer (ask around - lots of people have one then store it in the back of a cupboard somewhere, check out second hand pages - or maybe treat yourself) you could always try out green smoothies for a month.

I've some recipes on my site (Nutrition/Recipes/Juices) and there's loads about now online and in books but what I love people to do is gain their confidence in making their own. Start simple - 2 or 3 ingredients and maybe add in a few once you've worked out what you like. We're all different too - what I like may not be what you like. I stopped at a street juicer the other day and asked for my favourite juice (of the moment, at that time... I'm now craving green juices!) - carrot, beetroot and orange. He suggested swapping the carrot for apple as thought it'd be too sharp. Both done loads of juicing, both like different things. Obviously. So don't take my word for any of it, play, adapt and discover for yourself.

And come join us in September for a juicy month :) Join the facebook page if you want to take part here.

Love and sunshine,

Em x

Two juicers. Half a kilo of carrots. One woman. One amazing camera assistant. What would the verdict be?

So... dropping the Hollywood voice over, and getting back to Fruity HQ realities :)
Btw did anyone else used to do the Hollywood voice over with the credits of films...? We used to love it. OK, really moving on this time.

I'd decided after my juicer broke to treat myself to a new machine and as I'm helping out a client at the moment thought I'd look to avoid aluminium, get the maximum out of the juice and have a less oxidised, slower juiced version.

All credit to the Philips to be fair - it's not been a bad machine to have - it's been a real workhorse, many times making 4-6 juices a day and used plentifully over the last 4-5 years.  It's reasonably priced, now a fair bit more than back when we got ours but I guess people have jumped onto the fact juicing is popular now.  It does use an aluminium mesh which I'd not thought about til recently when a friend questioned me on it. And does oxidise the juice more as is a much faster process, working as a centrifugal juicer, which means ideally you should drink it sooner as it's already exposed to the air and losing nutrients faster.

After a LOT of deliberation, and very nearly purchasing a Hurom masticating juicer, I (with the Hurom in the shopping cart online) I went off to look at the Kuvings Whole Fruit Juicer. Attracted as I was mainly to the size of the chute. It's important to me! I'm currently making 5 juices a day and make them in my 7-8.30am breakfast stretch whilst I'm getting up and ready for the day, making (vegan of course) pancakes or porridge for Isla, smoothies for another client, lunch for my daughter, breakfast for me and my lunch if I'm to be away from home that day.  Chopping a load of veg to get into the juicer is something I can really happily live without on a morning. So after reading reviews, asking around, I plumped for the Kuvings. And I'm so happy that I did! 

The subtle differences are big for me too. It's easier to take apart. Not totally sure if it's easier to clean (should have done a timed take apart and clean. Next time...) but it's definately not harder. It's smaller, or at least feels it although may just be the different shape. It's quieter. There is a handy tap on the chute. So if you're occasionally dopey like yours truly, there's a cut off tap for you!

The juice on the left is the Philips - the centrifugal juicer and the right is the shiny new Kuvings. The jugs are different sizes so it's not about the yield here but you can see the separation of juice and the froth due to the faster process.

The yield for the Kuvings is advertised as being up to 35% more than a centrifugal juicer. I'm not sure it's that much but it was more. This was pure carrots in my juice here. I have a feeling that softer fruits you may get even more too - the pulp is much drier than the pulp I used to get from the Philips.

A friend was around for dinner and was a great taster. She felt the Philips juice (on the left) was somehow creamier - maybe as a result of the froth on the top. The Kuvings she thought tasted fresher and liked the Kuvings one more. It's pulp-ier and for me this makes quite a refreshing juice. It's somehow more filling and there's something to chew on instead of being really easy to just swallow it down. And if you want less pulp then you just need to sieve.

On the whole - I think buy what you can best afford. If you've never juiced before, are the type of person who gathers gadgets then the gadgets gather dust then I'd probably not run out for a masticating juicer just yet. If you love your juicing and are looking to upgrade then I think the Kuvings is a great machine.