I like juice
January 6, 2006 3:00 PM Subscribe
Bottled juice is making me poor.
Odwalla and Naked Juice are taking my money faster then smoking did. Is making your own juices cheaper? as good quality?
Odwalla and Naked Juice are taking my money faster then smoking did. Is making your own juices cheaper? as good quality?
Not quite the answer to your question--but I cut my purchased juice half-and-half with seltzer or tonic water. It started more as a taste and calorie thing, but it also makes the juice last a lot longer.
posted by divka at 3:06 PM on January 6, 2006
posted by divka at 3:06 PM on January 6, 2006
I'm not sure why you drink the juice, but if it's for health benefits, you might want to skip it completely. Lots of nutrition sources suggest de-emphasizing juice. It's not as nutritious as it appears; it is a concentrated form of sugar, whether the sugar is natural or not, and it's usually pretty high in calories ounce for ounce. From a strictly nutrition standpoint, you're much better off eating fruit and drinking water: same nutrients, less cost, much more fiber, less processing, less concentrated.
But maybe you just like it as a tasty beverage. In that case I don't know what you could do to cut costs, other than maybe join a wholesale grocery store that carries your brands. If there is such a thing.
posted by Miko at 3:10 PM on January 6, 2006
But maybe you just like it as a tasty beverage. In that case I don't know what you could do to cut costs, other than maybe join a wholesale grocery store that carries your brands. If there is such a thing.
posted by Miko at 3:10 PM on January 6, 2006
Well, Naked is a juice smoothie in a bottle, not just a juice like Welch's. Doesn't naked add protein and other supplements to their product?
If you want to create something like that yourself, then yes, it is less expensive. Use a good not-from-concentrate juice as a base, and add fruit to taste. I like mango smoothies, although mangoes are expensive. Rasberries and blueberries can be bought frozen without any loss in taste, but anything else I buy fresh. Uh, throw in some ice and blend...
posted by Derive the Hamiltonian of... at 3:38 PM on January 6, 2006
If you want to create something like that yourself, then yes, it is less expensive. Use a good not-from-concentrate juice as a base, and add fruit to taste. I like mango smoothies, although mangoes are expensive. Rasberries and blueberries can be bought frozen without any loss in taste, but anything else I buy fresh. Uh, throw in some ice and blend...
posted by Derive the Hamiltonian of... at 3:38 PM on January 6, 2006
If you like lemonade and limeade, buy lemons and limes and make your own. Depending on where you live and what time of year it is, this can be really cheap - I usually use 9-12 lemons per gallon I think (though you might want to experiment), and at 33 cents a lemon, this is 3-4 dollars per gallon (plus cost of sugar).
posted by advil at 3:39 PM on January 6, 2006
posted by advil at 3:39 PM on January 6, 2006
I don't think the responses have taken into account what Odwalla and Naked products are. Like "Derive the Hamiltonian of...", neither are simply juices--they're extremely heavy "beverages" with 3-400 calories per bottle.
posted by null terminated at 4:13 PM on January 6, 2006
posted by null terminated at 4:13 PM on January 6, 2006
*like "Derive the Hamiltonian of..." says
posted by null terminated at 4:13 PM on January 6, 2006
posted by null terminated at 4:13 PM on January 6, 2006
It all depends on how much time you have, and how much access you have to cheap, good (organic?) produce.
My roomate has a juicer, and makes juice frequently. It takes FOREVER to get a glass. Washing and trimming the produce. Cleaning the machine. Etc. And she has, from what she's told me, a pretty high-end juicing contraption.
Without doing the math (not my strong point), it's most likely more efficient overall to buy it. Or find a roomate with a predilection for fresh juice and sharing.
posted by ruby.aftermath at 4:19 PM on January 6, 2006
My roomate has a juicer, and makes juice frequently. It takes FOREVER to get a glass. Washing and trimming the produce. Cleaning the machine. Etc. And she has, from what she's told me, a pretty high-end juicing contraption.
Without doing the math (not my strong point), it's most likely more efficient overall to buy it. Or find a roomate with a predilection for fresh juice and sharing.
posted by ruby.aftermath at 4:19 PM on January 6, 2006
Not to sound like an infomercial, but my parents purchased this vitamix blender from Costco for about $400 and we all love it. Maybe add up how much you spend on juice a year and if it exceeds the blender cost, you can think about getting that blender.
We've had other blenders before, but were amazed at the crap we can throw into the vitamix one. For orange juice, we pretty much just peel the zest off an orange (leaving the white part of the skin), halve it, throw it into the blender with some ice cubes, press the button for 10 seconds, and it's done. Pretty easy to clean too. I just rinse out the container.
This blender's quite different from ruby.aftermath's roommate's blender. It takes about 5 minutes to take the fruit out of the fridge, wash them, cut off inedible parts (stems, skins from bananas, etc.) throw them in the blender, and make juice. I don't really drink Odwalla drinks or go to Jamba Juice anymore now that I can make my own juices.
posted by nakedsushi at 4:31 PM on January 6, 2006
We've had other blenders before, but were amazed at the crap we can throw into the vitamix one. For orange juice, we pretty much just peel the zest off an orange (leaving the white part of the skin), halve it, throw it into the blender with some ice cubes, press the button for 10 seconds, and it's done. Pretty easy to clean too. I just rinse out the container.
This blender's quite different from ruby.aftermath's roommate's blender. It takes about 5 minutes to take the fruit out of the fridge, wash them, cut off inedible parts (stems, skins from bananas, etc.) throw them in the blender, and make juice. I don't really drink Odwalla drinks or go to Jamba Juice anymore now that I can make my own juices.
posted by nakedsushi at 4:31 PM on January 6, 2006
If it's smoothies you want, use an ordinary blender. Buy some "greens" powder and some soy protein powder at a health food store, or at GNC. Buy a $10-15 electric citrus juicer-every home store will have one- for the days you want orange/grapefruit/lime. For other days, use cheap bottled apple juice (with no refined sugar). Bananas, frozen berries and whatever other fruit looks good will blend seamlessly (flavor wise) into apple juice, and can be had on the cheap. Pick and choose your combinations and bases and you'll rarely go wrong.
My current favorite: Vanilla yogurt, sliced mango, crystalized ginger and a little apple juice.
Stanby: frozen blueberries, apple juice, scoop of "greens," scoop of "protein" and half a banana.
A Jack Lalane style juicer is really only necessary for carrots. If you want carrot juicer, you have to go spend $90 or so.
posted by kosem at 4:39 PM on January 6, 2006
My current favorite: Vanilla yogurt, sliced mango, crystalized ginger and a little apple juice.
Stanby: frozen blueberries, apple juice, scoop of "greens," scoop of "protein" and half a banana.
A Jack Lalane style juicer is really only necessary for carrots. If you want carrot juicer, you have to go spend $90 or so.
posted by kosem at 4:39 PM on January 6, 2006
Actually, nakedsushi, she just got a Vitamix, too. I haven't had anything from it yet. The aforementioned juicer was one that mashes up the produce and screens out the pulp. You're right, the blender would make a thicker juice, probably closer to the naked and Odwalla juices bigmusic is drinking.
posted by ruby.aftermath at 5:00 PM on January 6, 2006
posted by ruby.aftermath at 5:00 PM on January 6, 2006
Buy a $10-15 electric citrus juicer-every home store will have one- for the days you want orange/grapefruit/lime.
Well, I guess the price is right, but the Hamilton Beech citrus juicer can't be beat. I know $100 sounds like a lot, but these will last for generations and I can juice a gallon of lime juice in under 15 minutes.
posted by StickyCarpet at 5:14 PM on January 6, 2006
Well, I guess the price is right, but the Hamilton Beech citrus juicer can't be beat. I know $100 sounds like a lot, but these will last for generations and I can juice a gallon of lime juice in under 15 minutes.
posted by StickyCarpet at 5:14 PM on January 6, 2006
...talking about that one-armed-bandit thing that squashes down on the fruit.
posted by StickyCarpet at 5:16 PM on January 6, 2006
posted by StickyCarpet at 5:16 PM on January 6, 2006
i know it's not juice, but a nice hibiscus mint tea works for me. i was hooked on fresh OJ for a while. anyhoo, tea is cheap to make yourself. water is even cheaper.
posted by puddles at 5:18 PM on January 6, 2006
posted by puddles at 5:18 PM on January 6, 2006
I actually agree with StickyCarpet...better kitchen gear is always a better investment, and if you want to lay out the cash, bigmusic (and want to juice for the long term), go ahead and buy StickyCarpet's Hamilton beach or (surprisingly) the Jack Lalane joint. My earlier post was geared towards inexpensive options.
posted by kosem at 5:20 PM on January 6, 2006
posted by kosem at 5:20 PM on January 6, 2006
We make cheap juice from pears from a tree in our yard, and apples from relatives who have apple trees on their property. The fruit from those trees is often bruised or otherwise flawed, and there's way too much to eat all at once, but with a couple hours of juicing we have juice for a week and more for the freezer.
Even if you don't know anyone with fruit trees, you might be able to get cheap bruised or slightly-old fruit from a local greengrocer. Our neighborhood grocer in Vancouver would sell large (5–10 lbs.) bags of bruised apples for $1 per bag. We used them for cooking, but they'd be fine for juicing too. You might need to ask at a few different grocery stores.
posted by mbrubeck at 6:41 PM on January 6, 2006
Even if you don't know anyone with fruit trees, you might be able to get cheap bruised or slightly-old fruit from a local greengrocer. Our neighborhood grocer in Vancouver would sell large (5–10 lbs.) bags of bruised apples for $1 per bag. We used them for cooking, but they'd be fine for juicing too. You might need to ask at a few different grocery stores.
posted by mbrubeck at 6:41 PM on January 6, 2006
It's easy, skip this trash. These juices are terrible for you. They are loaded with sugar and calories. Drink water and eat real fruit.
posted by caddis at 6:41 PM on January 6, 2006
posted by caddis at 6:41 PM on January 6, 2006
(We've also made orange and grapefruit juice from $1 bags of bruised citrus fruit.)
posted by mbrubeck at 6:43 PM on January 6, 2006
posted by mbrubeck at 6:43 PM on January 6, 2006
Where are you? In NYC I have found a couple of small bodegas that sell Odwalla juices 3 for $5, which is a significant deal. I'd buy 6 and they'd last me the week.
Of course, even that got to be a pain after a while and now I just don't.
posted by hermitosis at 7:48 PM on January 6, 2006
Of course, even that got to be a pain after a while and now I just don't.
posted by hermitosis at 7:48 PM on January 6, 2006
Response by poster: It's easy, skip this trash. These juices are terrible for you. They are loaded with sugar and calories. Drink water and eat real fruit.
That's a little dismissive. Odwalla and Naked Juice are far from being filled with sugar, but they do have a load of calories.
posted by bigmusic at 8:12 PM on January 6, 2006
That's a little dismissive. Odwalla and Naked Juice are far from being filled with sugar, but they do have a load of calories.
posted by bigmusic at 8:12 PM on January 6, 2006
Not cane sugar, no. They use concentrated grape juice instead. It is still sugar and there is tons of it. A Coke probably has less sugar. Hell, a bowl of Cap'n Crunch may even have less. I do not have these products in my house to check the labels and I did not see the nutritional information online, but from memory these products may have natural ingredients, but are loaded with sugar and calories, which is hardly a healthy addition to your diet. Think of them as dessert, not beverages.
posted by caddis at 8:22 PM on January 6, 2006
posted by caddis at 8:22 PM on January 6, 2006
Yeah -- it's official. Caddis is absolutely right. No matter how counterintuitive it feels, thanks to good marketing and our general cultural idea that juice must be good, juices jsut really aren't that great for you. Your body doesn't care whether sugar comes from fruit or from Hershey's syrup -- sugar is sugar. And Odwalla and other juices pack a hefty dose of concentrated sugars. Despite the additives they put in to provide a few grams of protein, juices are pretty close to being junk food.
Odwalla orange juice, 12 oz:
162 calories
37.5 g total carbohydrates
1.5g (6%) dietary fiber
12 calories protein (7% of daily RDA)
36 g sugars
For fun, compare Odwalla OJ to Coke: Coke has fewer calories and only a little bit more sugar. It lacks fiber and protein, but then so do Odwalla juices until protein and fiber powders are added. Why not mix some Metamucil and Bulk Fuel into a can of Coke -- you'll achieve similar benefits to your expensive juice!
Coca-Cola, 12 oz:
146 calories
40.5g total carbs
0 dietary fiber
0 protein,
40.5g sugars.
And to clinch the deal, here's the data on a nice, round, juicy, fresh orange. If you drink a glass of water and eat this orange, you'll beat Odwalla's supposed nutritional benefits all to hell. It's much higher in fiber, lower in calories and carbohydrates, and contains the same amount of protein. If you want more vitamins, take a supplement -- that's all the vitamin doses in something like 'Strawberry C Monster' are. Added supplements, just like what you get in Centrum.
Orange, 1 whole
85 calories,
21.2 total carbs
4.3 g fiber (a whopping 17%)
sugars 16.8 g
Protein 7 cals (7% daily RDA)
Calcium, 72 mg
I just wanted to back caddis' claims up. I've looked into this myself -- it seems like juice ought to be good for you. It's just not. If it's health benefits you seek, eat fresh fruits and drink water, coffee, tea. Or take some of the advice above and enjoy a small blended smoothie made of fresh fruit that isn't drained or concentrated in any way. And blend the actual fruit pulp in -- don't use a juicer, which extracts the juice and expects that you'll throw the fiber out. You don't want to lose fiber. It makes you feel fuller faster, so that you don't accidentally take in more sugar calories than you think, and it just makes your body work better.
But if you just think expensive juices are a great-tasting drink, by all means go ahead and enjoy them if there's room in your diet and your budget. Just don't attribute magical properties to them. Juice isn't really health food; that's just marketing.
posted by Miko at 9:04 PM on January 6, 2006
Odwalla orange juice, 12 oz:
162 calories
37.5 g total carbohydrates
1.5g (6%) dietary fiber
12 calories protein (7% of daily RDA)
36 g sugars
For fun, compare Odwalla OJ to Coke: Coke has fewer calories and only a little bit more sugar. It lacks fiber and protein, but then so do Odwalla juices until protein and fiber powders are added. Why not mix some Metamucil and Bulk Fuel into a can of Coke -- you'll achieve similar benefits to your expensive juice!
Coca-Cola, 12 oz:
146 calories
40.5g total carbs
0 dietary fiber
0 protein,
40.5g sugars.
And to clinch the deal, here's the data on a nice, round, juicy, fresh orange. If you drink a glass of water and eat this orange, you'll beat Odwalla's supposed nutritional benefits all to hell. It's much higher in fiber, lower in calories and carbohydrates, and contains the same amount of protein. If you want more vitamins, take a supplement -- that's all the vitamin doses in something like 'Strawberry C Monster' are. Added supplements, just like what you get in Centrum.
Orange, 1 whole
85 calories,
21.2 total carbs
4.3 g fiber (a whopping 17%)
sugars 16.8 g
Protein 7 cals (7% daily RDA)
Calcium, 72 mg
I just wanted to back caddis' claims up. I've looked into this myself -- it seems like juice ought to be good for you. It's just not. If it's health benefits you seek, eat fresh fruits and drink water, coffee, tea. Or take some of the advice above and enjoy a small blended smoothie made of fresh fruit that isn't drained or concentrated in any way. And blend the actual fruit pulp in -- don't use a juicer, which extracts the juice and expects that you'll throw the fiber out. You don't want to lose fiber. It makes you feel fuller faster, so that you don't accidentally take in more sugar calories than you think, and it just makes your body work better.
But if you just think expensive juices are a great-tasting drink, by all means go ahead and enjoy them if there's room in your diet and your budget. Just don't attribute magical properties to them. Juice isn't really health food; that's just marketing.
posted by Miko at 9:04 PM on January 6, 2006
I like mango smoothies, although mangoes are expensive.
Go to a middle-eastern or south-asian grocery store, and look for the big cans of mango pulp. Not 100% exactly the same as fresh, but still quite useful and delicious.
Tasty derail: you can pour mango pulp right out of the can into an ice cream machine and make mango sorbet. You don't even really need to add anything to it.
posted by gimonca at 9:28 PM on January 6, 2006
Go to a middle-eastern or south-asian grocery store, and look for the big cans of mango pulp. Not 100% exactly the same as fresh, but still quite useful and delicious.
Tasty derail: you can pour mango pulp right out of the can into an ice cream machine and make mango sorbet. You don't even really need to add anything to it.
posted by gimonca at 9:28 PM on January 6, 2006
I know that juice isn't supposed to be "good for you", but I will die before I give it up. A life without OJ is a like a night without stars.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:33 AM on January 7, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:33 AM on January 7, 2006 [1 favorite]
vitamixers are the bomb. quickest way to eat whole fruit and get all the fiber.
posted by 3.2.3 at 6:41 AM on January 7, 2006
posted by 3.2.3 at 6:41 AM on January 7, 2006
I just tried something new: throw one orange (peeled, of course), 6 frozen strawberries and a little soy milk in a can. Mix with hand blender (I have a bamix). It is delicious, super quick, and healthier than juice.
If you go the blender route, throw in some baby spinach or other greens when they are in season. It sounds and looks horrible, but it is really healthy and I find they actually give a nice fresh touch to a smoothie.
posted by davar at 7:17 AM on January 7, 2006
If you go the blender route, throw in some baby spinach or other greens when they are in season. It sounds and looks horrible, but it is really healthy and I find they actually give a nice fresh touch to a smoothie.
posted by davar at 7:17 AM on January 7, 2006
You'd might want to mix the juice with something else, e.g. a bit of milk or some other cheaper juice.
posted by Sharcho at 7:20 AM on January 7, 2006
posted by Sharcho at 7:20 AM on January 7, 2006
in a can
I mean, of course, cup. Or container, or something.
Also, add some ground flaxseeds, or soaked almonds or other nuts, to make a more nutritious drink.
posted by davar at 7:49 AM on January 7, 2006
I mean, of course, cup. Or container, or something.
Also, add some ground flaxseeds, or soaked almonds or other nuts, to make a more nutritious drink.
posted by davar at 7:49 AM on January 7, 2006
I also dilute my odwalla/naked juice with water or seltzer (and i don't drink them because they're healthy, i drink them because they're so tasty). I also have a juicer at home, but i use that to make veggie juices (usually apple/carrot based). I used to have a blender, which i usually used to make OJ/mango/banana juice with spirulina or protein powder. those were tasty too.
though, really i don't think it's much cheaper to make your own - the produce adds up and doesn't result in a huge amount of juice, and you have to drink it right away or freeze it since it isn't pasteurized. But it does taste really good, and I'm reasonably convinced that there are more random properties in lots of fruits and vegetables that we haven't necessariily isolated/recognized that make having a fresh juice more healthy than a coke & a vitamin tablet.
i'd suggest just giving yourself a budget. Why do you want to spend less - are you saving up for something? Do you want to be able to afford more of some other little everyday expense? It's always a game of cost/benefit analysis. i've basically given myself permission to spend a certain amount on coffee per week, and a certain amount on those juices, both of which are kind of luxuries on a student income, but I've decided they're luxuries which are important enough to me. But I rarely spend money on alcohol & I don't go out for dinner much, or go to the movies. Just look over the whole and see what's worth it to you, and what's not, basically.
posted by mdn at 8:08 AM on January 7, 2006
though, really i don't think it's much cheaper to make your own - the produce adds up and doesn't result in a huge amount of juice, and you have to drink it right away or freeze it since it isn't pasteurized. But it does taste really good, and I'm reasonably convinced that there are more random properties in lots of fruits and vegetables that we haven't necessariily isolated/recognized that make having a fresh juice more healthy than a coke & a vitamin tablet.
i'd suggest just giving yourself a budget. Why do you want to spend less - are you saving up for something? Do you want to be able to afford more of some other little everyday expense? It's always a game of cost/benefit analysis. i've basically given myself permission to spend a certain amount on coffee per week, and a certain amount on those juices, both of which are kind of luxuries on a student income, but I've decided they're luxuries which are important enough to me. But I rarely spend money on alcohol & I don't go out for dinner much, or go to the movies. Just look over the whole and see what's worth it to you, and what's not, basically.
posted by mdn at 8:08 AM on January 7, 2006
The Odwalla isn't too bad. Some of these have about twice the calories. I would still take the Odwalla over the regular Coke.
posted by caddis at 8:31 AM on January 7, 2006
posted by caddis at 8:31 AM on January 7, 2006
Oh, I'm not really suggesting that the Coke is better than the Odwalla. Just that for strictly health purposes, juice is only marginally better than sodas, and actual fruit is best of all.
posted by Miko at 8:42 AM on January 7, 2006
posted by Miko at 8:42 AM on January 7, 2006
I used to spend about $10.00 a week on juice, just the regular cranberry and apple juices. And I drank it like water. Now I'm proud to say I'm off the juice, eating more fruit, and drinking water (like water). It's much easier to maintain my weight and I can splurge on things like ice cream and pie more often.
My suggestion is to continue to enjoy your Odwalla, but cut down in how often you enjoy it. Look at it as a treat, rather than a staple. You'll appreciate it more as well.
posted by Roger Dodger at 11:14 AM on January 7, 2006
My suggestion is to continue to enjoy your Odwalla, but cut down in how often you enjoy it. Look at it as a treat, rather than a staple. You'll appreciate it more as well.
posted by Roger Dodger at 11:14 AM on January 7, 2006
If you like lemonade and limeade, buy lemons and limes and make your own. Depending on where you live and what time of year it is, this can be really cheap - I usually use 9-12 lemons per gallon I think (though you might want to experiment), and at 33 cents a lemon, this is 3-4 dollars per gallon (plus cost of sugar).
Except you can get a liter of lemonade for just like 89¢
I used to get those all the time before I started dieting. *sigh*. Cheap and tasty.
posted by delmoi at 11:48 AM on January 7, 2006
Except you can get a liter of lemonade for just like 89¢
I used to get those all the time before I started dieting. *sigh*. Cheap and tasty.
posted by delmoi at 11:48 AM on January 7, 2006
juice is only marginally better than sodas
While I agree with the overall sentiment that juice is not health food, I would not say it is all that bad. Here and here are calorie-per-calorie comparisons of orange juice and raw oranges. As you can see, there are still plenty of vitamins/minerals in orange juice, whereas sodas are truly empty calories.
posted by davar at 1:27 PM on January 7, 2006
While I agree with the overall sentiment that juice is not health food, I would not say it is all that bad. Here and here are calorie-per-calorie comparisons of orange juice and raw oranges. As you can see, there are still plenty of vitamins/minerals in orange juice, whereas sodas are truly empty calories.
posted by davar at 1:27 PM on January 7, 2006
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posted by voidcontext at 3:04 PM on January 6, 2006