Avocado Kiwi Smoothie and a Jus by Julie Cleanse Giveaway

April 15th, 2014

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Boy, do we have a treat for you today. A few weeks ago, the ladies from a Brooklyn-based juice company Jus by Julie reached out to us about their 3 day cleanse and the possibility of a giveaway. We rarely do giveaways and only when we love and believe in a product. This was certainly the case with Jus. What’s unique about these particular drinks is that they consist of blended fruit and vegetables, with fiber intact. You might be thinking smoothies, and the blended juices are smoothie-like, but much smoother and less creamy than your average shake.
We loved the cleanse – it was much more manageable than normal juice cleanses – it feels as if you are drinking whole meals made of the freshest ingredients. There are six juices a day, and they vary in flavor, which eliminates boredom, which is always my problem with cleanses. And you do feel cleansed and rejuvenated at the end.

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Jus creator Julie Maleh is a certified nutritionist and we asked her a few questions:

Hi Julie! In the never ending discussion about what is better for us – juices or smoothies, you’re a big proponent of keeping all the fiber from fruit and vegetables in the glass. What is your take on it?
I strongly believe that keeping all the fiber in the juices is essential because that is what keeps you feeling full and nourished all day long. The fiber also aids in digestion and ridding your body of impurities and toxins. On the other hand, cold pressed juices remove all the fiber and are just comprised of the sugars from the fruits and vegetables, not the fiber.
When reading about the concept behind your juices, I thought they would be much more like smoothies – thick and chunky. After trying them, it turned out that they still very much resemble juice in texture and thickness, which I love. What is the special process you use for making the juice?
We use a unique industrial blender system as opposed to a traditional cold press juicing system in order to retain the fiber and pulp from the produce.
What are your most popular drinks?
Island Coconut, which is made from coconut meat and water, dates, and cinnamon. Chia Berry, made from strawberries, chia seeds, lemon, and pomegranate. And Sweet Spin, made from spinach, kale, pineapple, banana, and mango.
What is your typical day of eating like? How many of your juices do you drink every day?
I start my day with a Morning Glory juice and egg whites, which keeps me full and satisfied until lunch. For lunch, I have a salad with a lean protein such as tuna with a fiber filled carb such as brown rice or quinoa. I like to snack on fruits and veggies in between meals, like apples with almond butter or carrots with hummus. I usually drink half of an Island Coconut juice before dinner. Other half after dinner. For dinner, I have a protein with vegetables and drink the other half of my Island Coconut for dessert. If you really want to feel like you’re indulging, place the Island Coconut in the freezer for an hour or two before and it will taste like creamy, rich ice cream.
Tell us about your cleanse.
JUS by Julie’s cleanse is a good fit for anyone, young or old. Whether someone is juicing in order to detox their body or lose a few extra pounds, it benefits everyone because we don’t give our bodies enough of these nutrients. Our 3 Day cleanse provides easy access to the abundance and variety of nutrients that our bodies crave, plus the fiber needed to satiate us, while flushing out the toxins from our bodies.

avocado smoothie

And since it’s finally Spring and we’ve got this wonderful smoothie giveaway going, it’s about time to share a good smoothie recipe of our own. Recently, I’ve been experimenting with making smoothies without bananas, which I have nothing against, but really wanted to explore other possibilities. This Avocado Kiwi smoothie is very mildly sweetened and that’s what I like about it. If you prefer sweeter shakes, add any sweetener of choice like soft dates, frozen banana (eliminate ice in this case), etc. The drink is satisfying, creamy, and packed with nutrients – just look at the list of ingredients.

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To enter the Jus by Julie 3 day cleanse giveaway, leave a comment here by Monday, April 21st. Update: giveaway is closed, winner –  Jasmine Rivera.
And if you aren’t the one lucky winner, the ladies at Jus came up with a 20% off promo code for all Golubka readers, to be used when buying anything on the Jus website – GLBK20JUS image


Avocado Kiwi Smoothie
1 avocado
2-3 ripe, sweet kiwis
about 4 cups packed leafy greens (hard stems removed if using kale and such)
1-2 tablespoons vanilla pea or other vegetable protein
about 2 cups almond milk or more, to the consistency that you prefer
a few ice cubes

Combine all the ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.

Tags: avocado, drink, greens, juice

Garden Juice

July 25th, 2012

This post is also available in: French

Here’s a juice we cannot get enough of this summer. When heirloom tomatoes begin to shine in their rainbow of colours, when cucumbers are sweet and herbs are in abundance – that is the time for this healthful drink.

All the credit for this juice goes to my husband, a lover of V8 in the past. I especially like it with the addition of dill, it’s such a characteristically summer herb. Include some salt and pepper to spice things up, my husband even likes to add Old Bay. As you can imagine, this juice could also satisfy a Bloody Mary fan. You know, minus the kick.

I didn’t specify any amounts in the recipe. All of the veggies included, especially heirloom tomatoes, have a crazy size range in the summer. Just try to have an even ratio or use more of your favourite vegetable for a stronger taste.
We’ve been having a very rainy summer with loud daily thunderstorms. We wouldn’t mind it wasn’t for Paloma’s newly developed fear of thunder and lightning. Otherwise a very brave girl, she weeps under the blanket for the whole length of a storm. Hopefully she will grow out of it soon. Any similar stories among the crowd?

Garden Juice
summer tomatoes
cucumbers
bell pepper
celery
carrots
fresh herbs such as dill, parsley, cilantro, mint, oregano
sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, any other spices of choice

You will probably need a juicer that is not centrifugal – single or double gear. When juicing, alternate soft and hard vegetables and herbs, using a fruit attachment. Add salt, pepper, and spices to taste at the end. Simple!

Tags: carrots, cucumber, drink, juice, pepper, raw, recipe, savoury, tomato, vegan