I love the way it feels to load a bunch of organic, salad-worthy ingredients into the hopper of my juicer and watch the fresh, brightly colored juice stream out. It also makes going to the farmers’ market or supermarket extra exciting, since it gives me another avenue for packing plant-based nutrients into my system. Some days when I know I need a boost but feel like staying light on my feet, I’ll whip up a juice cocktail that matches my mood or what I think my body needs that day.

While many people meet up with friends for a cup of coffee, I have friends who frequently stop by for a green juice! Since I stick to a largely low-glycemic-load diet, most of my juices rely primarily on vegetables, but I think there’s a place for a limited amount of fruit in a juicing regimen—especially when you get the kids involved. Wouldn’t you rather have them drinking a pomegranate-grapefruit-strawberry juice than a can of soda? Get them started young on fresh juice, and chances are they’ll be less likely to want all that other junk. Ask them what they’d like in their juice and custom make it for them. This chapter also contains other drinks, all with incredible health properties.

While most juices call for a traditional juicer, they can also be made in a high-speed blender, such as a Vitamix. If you choose to juice this way, peel rhizomes like turmeric and ginger, as well as garlic cloves and cucumbers; after blending, strain through a nut-milk bag.