Juice veggies but puree fruit?

[Pengyou]

I have read a number of posts on other forums that suggests that it is better to use fruit in the puree form, if you cannot eat it whole, rather than in a juice form because of the very high concentrate of sugars in fruit juices. The same forums suggest that veggies are ok to take in juice form because the sugar content is not as high - maybe even preferable to take in juice form. Do you agree?

[Traceyraw]

I like to eat my fruits. I either blend or juice my greens. I also use veggies to dip. Do what is right for you. If you want to juice your fruit then juice it. If you like it blended then blend it. This is how you prefer it. Your body will adjust.

[MysticTree]

I think there is an awful lot of over-thinking of things.

[DebB]

I have read a number of posts on other forums that suggests that it is better to use fruit in the puree form, if you cannot eat it whole, rather than in a juice form because of the very high concentrate of sugars in fruit juices. The same forums suggest that veggies are ok to take in juice form because the sugar content is not as high - maybe even preferable to take in juice form. Do you agree?

I agree with this and that's what I *try* to do. I try to stick with eating my fruit and juicing my greens. That way I'm getting the pulp/fiber with the fruit.

That's not to say that I don't drink fruit juice, I just try to keep that to a minimum.

Right now I'm making a dandi-tonic nightly. 1/2 bunch dandelion greens, 1 bunch parsley, a piece of ginger, 1/2-1 beet with greens and about 2 cups alfalfa sprouts. I plug my nose and bottoms up! This isn't a sippin' juice :)

[delmar]

haven't been juicing for long, but the main reason I juice fruit, is to mix just a bit of it in with veggies and grasses for taste. Otherwise I mostly eat fruit.

[delmar]

Right now I'm making a dandi-tonic nightly. 1/2 bunch dandelion greens, 1 bunch parsley, a piece of ginger, 1/2-1 beet with greens and about 2 cups alfalfa sprouts. I plug my nose and bottoms up! This isn't a sippin' juice :)Last night I made some juice with celery, onion, pine needles, broccoli, and a little carrot and apple. I thought it was the best juice I had made so far. So I asked my wife to try it and asked her "Is this getting better or am I just getting used to it. She spit it in the sink and said "you are just getting used to it!"

[DebB]

Last night I made some juice with celery, onion, pine needles, broccoli, and a little carrot and apple. I thought it was the best juice I had made so far. So I asked my wife to try it and asked her "Is this getting better or am I just getting used to it. She spit it in the sink and said "you are just getting used to it!"

I've been juicing a looooong time - but I admit - I've never juiced pine needles or broccoli or onion. You guys! :)

[delmar]

I've been juicing a looooong time - but I admit - I've never juiced pine needles or broccoli or onion. You guys! :)The deal for me is that I started juicing in the winter time and my family is struggling financially right now. So my choices are to wait till spring, or juice what I can get my hands on cheap or free. Pine needles and onions it is!

[DebB]

The deal for me is that I started juicing in the winter time and my family is struggling financially right now. So my choices are to wait till spring, or juice what I can get my hands on cheap or free. Pine needles and onions it is!

I read a really good tip here delmar - the poster went into her grocery store and spoke with the produce manager and explained that things were tight right now and the produce manager worked with her on (deeply?) discounted produce! I have a really good relationship with our produce manager and I wouldn't hesitate asking him. He's cut me really good deals on ripe bananas which they don't sell marked down - they were going to toss them! I got them for 20¢ a pound.

How about sprouts? They cost just pennies and are actually fun to do. I actually juice 2 cups a day in with my green tonic.

[delmar]

I have been sprouting too but so far have only been eating them. If I find a good deal on bulk seeds, sprouting enough to juice would work well. Still, it is fun finding ways to juice for free.

[delmar]

I've been juicing a looooong time - but I admit - I've never juiced pine needles or broccoli or onion. You guys! :)

Oh by the way, I would have thought that fresh broccoli would have been a very common thing to juice? I was rather surprised that a veteran juicer had not tried it.

[DebB]

Oh by the way, I would have thought that fresh broccoli would have been a very common thing to juice? I was rather surprised that a veteran juicer had not tried it.

I lean more towards the milder and sweeter juices, I admit - a sweet tooth. Even when I would make green juices, I would add apples to make them sweeter.

Now though with the dandelion tonic that I make, that was really the first time I've made a green juice without trying to make it sweeter.

I see you're from northern IN - I'm originally from northern IL (and my family still lives there).

[delmar]

I lean more towards the milder and sweeter juices, I admit - a sweet tooth. Even when I would make green juices, I would add apples to make them sweeter.

Now though with the dandelion tonic that I make, that was really the first time I've made a green juice without trying to make it sweeter.
I like dandelion greens even in the late summer when they start to get bitter, I mix them with lettuce. I can hardly wait to try juicing them.

I see you're from northern IN - I'm originally from northern IL (and my family still lives there).I'm as close to Ohio as I am to Illinois but I get over that way, from time to time.

[DebB]

It sounds like you have similar likes as my husband who enjoys strong bolder flavors! I have never eated dandelion greens straight up. I've either juiced them or had them in green smoothies. I bet your blood's nice 'n clean!

[MysticTree]

It sounds like you have similar likes as my husband who enjoys strong bolder flavors! I have never eated dandelion greens straight up. I've either juiced them or had them in green smoothies. I bet your blood's nice 'n clean!

you might like them even more forced under a heavy clay pot ... less bitter so they say.

[DebB]

Do you grow dandelion green Georgina? I've picked them from my yard, but that's about it for me.

What I juice now I get at the store and they are beauties! I should try and just eat one and see...

[MysticTree]

Do you grow dandelion green Georgina? I've picked them from my yard, but that's about it for me.

What I juice now I get at the store and they are beauties! I should try and just eat one and see...

no I don't really except those that grow themselves. I don't like the taste much ... I should try harder and be braver.

[DebB]

Almost painless using the plug the nose method and followed by a bit of water. Bottoms up!

[MysticTree]

Almost painless using the plug the nose method and followed by a bit of water. Bottoms up!

I think I'll start easy when it come to dandelions - you can eat every bit of a dandelion btw ... I might try juicing the flowers too.

[Tannim]

you might like them even more forced under a heavy clay pot ... less bitter so they say. when do you cover them and for how long?

[MysticTree]

when do you cover them and for how long?

Sow the seeds in spring and allow to grow through until next spring when you cover the leaves with a clay pot or box for 10 days. The plants should be about 9 inches apart and do not blanch after about June (in the UK at any rate) because the plant needs to put on leaf to get it through the winter for blanching next year.

Unless you have lots and lots of space I would not treat dandelions as a cropping plant particularly and you need to be careful not to let them flower or you will have them everywhere.

Please note:
I do not know how or even if blanching affects nutrition. That is a subject for Googling I think - it makes the dandelions more palatable.