If you’re always looking for ways to add healthier foods to your family’s diet you can feel good about serving, juicing is a great way to do that! It’s quick, easy, and you can pack a lot of nutrients into a small glass.

A refreshing and tasty green juice with a balance of tang and sweet for a feel-good boost to your day!

fresh green juice in a jar with straw on a light green napkin — Healthy green juice with fresh vegetables and fruit.

What is green juice and what are the benefits of drinking it?

I’m a big proponent of getting the nutrients we need by eating whole food. In general, separating or isolating nutrients is less effective for overall nutrition than eating food closest to its natural, whole state.

When eating fruits and vegetables we get fiber along with their nutrients and both are important so I don’t juice to replace meals. Instead, I juice fruits and vegetables as an occasional supplement or as a concentrated nutrient boost when dealing with illness or recovering.

When our health is compromised or we’re recovering from something like surgery, we may not be able to consume all that we need at mealtime.

The benefit of drinking juiced vegetables and greens is it allows us to easily assimilate the nutrients our body needs for recovery without taking a lot of energy for digestion or risking intestinal discomfort during a critical time of healing.

Supplementing our diet with a glass of juiced vegetables in the morning or afternoon as a snack also gives us peace of mind when other meals may be rushed or healthier choices aren’t available.

ingredient list for fresh green juice over image of juice with apple, ginger, and lemon

Selecting ingredients for great-tasting fresh green juice

I’m a big fan of good-for-you food, but it has to taste good too. These recommendations will help guide you in selecting ingredients for optimum yield and flavor. We find a good mix of neutral, bitter, earthy, and sweet is ideal.

A good rule of thumb is to use only enough fruit or sweeter vegetables like carrots to make vegetable juice palatable. Concentrated fruit juice can cause spikes in blood sugar, which is a burden on your system, so limit the amount of fruit.

In general, I do not use cruciferous vegetables like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or cabbage for juicing as they tend to be difficult to digest and not especially appealing in flavor. I prefer these fiber-rich veggies grilled or roasted.

Best Vegetables and Greens for Juicing

beets (sweet, avoid if low blood pressure)
carrots (sweet)
celery (neutral)
cilantro (slightly bitter)
cranberries (very tart)
cucumber (neutral)
leefy greens such as spinach, chard, kale (bitter)
parsley (earthy)
summer squash
wheatgrass (earthy)

Best Fruits and Roots for Juicing

apple (use green apples for lower sugar)
kiwi (tart, sweet)
lemon (sour, bitter)
lime (sour, bitter)
grapes (sweet, high in sugar)
grapefruit (sour, sweet)
ginger (spicy)
melon (sweet, high in sugar)
orange (sweet, high in sugar)
pomegranate (sweet, tangy)
tangerine (sweet, high in sugar)
tomato (slightly sweet, earthy)
turmeric (bitter)

Important Note: This information is based on my opinion of how to make great-tasting juice and is not given or intended as medical advice.

green juice pouring out of juicer on one side with pulp on the other

The Best Juicer For Juicing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Masticating juicers extract the most juice. However, if you’ve never juiced before, don’t worry about what kind until you know it is something you will do consistently. Survey your friends (you know which ones to ask) to borrow one for just a couple of weeks or even a month. Then juice.

See if it is something you can commit to, as well as what you like and don’t like about the juicer you borrow, which will give you a better idea about the features you’d prefer. The best juicer is the one you will use.

For detailed information and a comparison of juicer types, check out justjuice.org.

Tips for Juicing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Juicing is not a substitute for eating; rather it is a nutritional boost like a vitamin or supplement. Incorporate juices, but don’t overdo.
Use only enough fruit to make any green juice palatable. Concentrated fruit juice can cause spikes in blood sugar, which is a burden on your system, so limit the amount of fruit. On the subject of avoiding fruit juice, the same goes for smoothies. Fresh vegetable juice is an ideal base for smoothies too.
If you juice often (more than 3 x week), rotate the vegetables and greens to add a variety of nutrients.
Choose organic produce for juicing. Everything gets concentrated in the juice; you don’t want pesticides in the mix.
Use frozen berries instead of fresh will yield more juice from the berries.
For the most appealing color, avoid mixing vegetables and fruits that are red and purple with deep green varieties. This combination turns brown and is less appetizing.
Fresh juice should be consumed as soon as possible, however if you save it, do so in a container with little air and no longer than 48 hours for best results.
Freeze any leftovers to use as a base for smoothies.

green juice in two jars inside a wire basket

10 Ways to Use Leftover Pulp from Juicing

Puree pulp for soups or stock
Add pulp to muffins or quick breads
Add pulp to smoothies
Make juice pulp crackers
Mix into burgers or meatloaf, this depends on how sweet it is
Mix into morning oatmeal or these no-bake oatmeal cookies
Blitz it into Caramelized Onion Dip for a creamy cracker spread
Add to spaghetti sauce or chili
Feed chickens or ducks
Compost or mulch fresh juice pulp right into the soil around your plants and trees for fertilizer. Juiced pulp decomposes quickly considering it has already been broken down.

More Nourishing Recipes You’ll Love

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Fresh Green Juice

A refreshing green juice from fresh fruit and vegetables with a clean, tangy flavor to promote recovery, and healing.

Prep Time30

Total Time30

Course: Beverages

Cuisine: Healthy

Servings: 2 servings

Author: Judy

Ingredients

▢ 2 medium apples , seeds removed, cut into wedges
▢ 3 stalks celery , coarsely chopped
▢ 1 medium cucumber , 6-7 inches long, cut into spears
▢ 1/2 inch ginger root
▢ 1 small lemon or lime , seeds removed, cut into wedges
▢ 1 cup parsley stems and leaves , loosely measured, chopped into 1-inch segments
▢ 3 cups assorted greens (spinach, kale, beet greens, chard, etc.), loosely packed, chopped into 1-inch segments

Instructions

Cut the produce to fit the feeding tube of a juicer. Process the produce in the juicer, then stir well and serve in two 16 oz. glasses.

Notes

Yields approximately 4 cups (32 ounces).

Recipe TIPS

Juicing is not a substitute for eating; rather it is a nutritional boost like a vitamin or supplement. Incorporate fresh juices into an overall healthy diet, but don’t overdo it.
Use only enough fruit to make any green juice palatable. Concentrated fruit juice can cause spikes in blood sugar, which is a burden on your system, so limit the amount of fruit. On the subject of avoiding fruit juice, the same goes for smoothies. Fresh vegetable juice is an ideal base for smoothies too.
If you juice often (more than 3 x week), rotate the vegetables and greens to add a variety of nutrients.
Choose organic produce for juicing. Everything gets concentrated in the juice; you don’t want pesticides in the mix.
Using frozen berries instead of fresh will yield more juice from the berries.
For the most appealing color, avoid mixing vegetables and fruits that are red and purple with deep green varieties. This combination turns brown and is less appetizing.
Fresh juice should be consumed as soon as possible, however, if you save it, do so in a container with little air and no longer than 48 hours for best results.
Freeze any leftovers to use as a base for smoothies.

Equipment

Juicer

Nutrition

Learn how to make this and all recipes even easier!Check out our Monthly Meal Prep System!

Fresh Green Juice Recipe for a Feel-Good Boost

What is green juice and what are the benefits of drinking it?