Could you use a post-holiday reboot to kick off your New Year? I sure could! A juice fast may be just the thing you need.
I’ve written several posts on juicing and fasting and I’ve done it enough times to where I know what to expect. However, I thought I’d share a quick series on some steps that I still go through to help me prepare my mind, my kitchen and my body. Today’s post is a continuation in this series, 5 Steps to Prepare For Your Juice Fast. Today, Step # 2:
Step # 2: Budget and plan for what you’ll need.
This step has a little bit more to do with the cost associated with juicing. Having the right equipment is a given. I previously shared a post entitled, Equipment, The Necessary Essentials for Juicing where I share which juicer I have and some other items you’ll need. But in addition to that, you’ll need to plan to make sure the cost doesn’t take you by surprise – especially if you’ll still need part of your weekly budget for meals for other family members while you’re juicing.
Thankfully, fruits and vegetables are quite affordable – especially if you shop sales, farmers markets or even wholesale markets. But what can sometimes take people by surprise is the volume of fruits and vegetables you need on hand. I’m also a huge proponent of buying organic, but doing that can sometimes cause your costs to double.
Below is a sample, 3-Day Juicing Plan which includes a preselected menu complete with recipes and a grocery list of all the items you will need. This plan will provide you with a good variety of 6 juices per day, and you can anticipate a total approximate cost of about $100.00-$150.00. (Of course, pricing will vary depending on where you shop and whether you purchase conventional or organic produce, which is what I recommend.)
If this seems a little too steep, you could always go with the juices that don’t require the more pricier items. Juices with a carrot base and/or a cucumber and celery base can prove to be very economical because they yield a lot more juice.
Above all, don’t give up and don’t let the cost intimidate you! You really can tailor your juicing plan to fit your budget, and the best way to do this is to plan ahead, find some recipes you like, and just like a meal plan, make a list of what you would need and then shop it out to find the best deals. You’ll quickly get an idea of how much it’s going to cost, and what you’re comfortable spending.
And here you go…I can’t believe I’m going to say this….but I’m going to say it….if you can’t afford organic produce, then buy conventional for crying out loud. Yes, I believe organic is very important and the best option, but the truth is, not everyone can afford it, and not everyone has great, organic produce nearby that is convenient to get. So if you can’t do that for whatever reason, conventional produce is better than no produce at all. And I promise you, you’re still going to feel the benefits of upping your fruit and vegetable intake drastically. So do your best, plan ahead and happy shopping!
Here’s to your health,
-Linda G Riddle
In case you missed it, checkout Post One in this series: Preparing to Juice Fast: Step 1
Linda G Riddle 