By Maggie Mitchell
One of the things I have started to see differently since my little one arrived is food. How much “differently” could I see it? Food is food … right?
When I got pregnant, I experienced requisite cravings. I channeled most of my energy toward baking, and I ate most of what I baked. I felt great, looked great and enjoyed eating whatever I wanted. But at a pre-pregnancy weight of 175 lbs., I was no petite girl. I had difficulty losing any weight while nursing because I ate anything I could get my hands on. Mom after mom said to me, “Oh, you’ll zip right back down to your pre-pregnancy weight if you’re breastfeeding.” Color me shocked when I not only didn’t lose weight, but actually gained! Motherhood is not one-size-fits-all.
Fast forward to now, a little over 3 years after becoming a mama. Not only would I like to lose a few pounds, but I also have the added responsibility of setting an excellent and practical nutritional example for my daughter. I’m beyond worrying about a weight on a scale or a size on a tag, but I’d love to have more energy and like myself a little more when I look in the mirror.
I love food and I’m trying now more than ever to own the ability to consume in moderation. My husband and I recently got a juicer to help us add another dimension to our family nutrition. I admit that I wanted juicing to be a “quick fix.” It hasn’t been that. However, it’s doing something I hadn’t considered prior to our purchase. By juicing, I am finding myself feeling very pleased at the amount of fruits and veggies that I’m consuming. And it’s so convenient! Are you scratching your head, wondering why I didn’t consider that prior? It’s OK. Me too!
I like to eat an apple—with peanut butter. I like to eat carrots—with dip. I enjoy a mango—in salsa. BUT, if I run all of those things through my juicer, I can drink them simultaneously.
Here is my recipe for my Summer Cooler (my 3 year old helped me decide on the name!), as well as some first-time juicing tips that I’d love to share with you.
The Handmade Mama’s Summer Cooler:
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2 carrots
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2 oranges (with rind)
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1 mango (with rind)
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Large handful of strawberries
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About 1/8th of a watermelon
Run all ingredients through your juicer. Give a little stir before dividing your juice into individual storage containers. Chill for best results!
Juicy Tips to Help You Get Started:
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Choose the appliance that’s right for you. A masticating juicer (the kind I have) squeezes juice from fruit and veggies, while a centrifugal juicer has a powerful blade inside that chops and pulverizes the ingredients. We picked a masticating juicer because it was going to be better for softer items like berries, citrus, leafy greens and carrots.
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Pick a recipe that looks good to start with, but then don’t be afraid to experiment! Think a mango-orange-apple-lemon juice will taste good? Then it probably will! Getting the right balance of flavors is akin to working on a science experiment, but use your judgement. If a lemon is tart and you don’t want your juice to be too tart, don’t add too much lemon. You can always taste test and add more of something! One warning: celery, believe it or not, has a very strong flavor that can be quite overpowering!
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Be ready to store your freshly made juice. The recipes we use or create usually produce about 4 cups of juice, and most of the time we don’t drink it all as soon as we make it. It tastes better chilled, too. I picked up a case of 12 Ball jars at the grocery store to store the juice until it’s ready to enjoy. Just pour the juice into as many jars as you can use to accommodate equal amounts of your brew, pop on the top and seal the lid! Your beverage will be ready whenever you are ready for it!
Enjoy experimenting using the above tips. Even if you are a veteran juicer, or just starting out like me, I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
About: Maggie Mitchell is a lifelong resident of Chester County. She is also a full-time mom to a preschool-age daughter, a blogger, a kids’ book author and owns Bushbaby Press, LLC. In the wild world of social media, she is identified as The Handmade Mama. Stay socially connected with Handmade Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
- Photography: Maggie Mitchell
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