Dried herbs that you might buy at the grocery store are OK in a pinch but pale in comparison to their freshly picked counterparts. Buying them fresh is one way to go but why not try your hand at growing them yourself?

Here are some tips to get you started: First start with one or two herbs you’d like to grow. In my case, I grow basil and parsley. Once you have the hang of one or two, gradually build up your garden.

Next, identify whether the herb has to grow outside or if you have the option of growing it indoors. If you live in cooler climates, then you’ll need an herb that can thrive inside or forgo your favorite fresh herb over the winter months.  Basil grows easily from seed and can grow quite nicely if placed under a fluorescent or HID plant growing light.

Finally, If you find yourself with the good fortune of having your herbs growing at a rate faster than you can use then you can use the techniques found here to freeze and store it for future use.

Use your Jack LaLanne Power Juicer to make this great soup recipe with your fresh basil.

You can find more detailed information for growing your own herb garden here.

Photo credit

Here are four easy healthy habits to sneak into your day:

1. More veggies and fruits. Pull out your Jack LaLanne Power Juicer and leave it out. You’ll be more apt to get in the habit of using it daily if you see it and its conveniently located (rather than up in a high cabinet some place.) Start each day with your favorite juice to kick off your day in good health.

2. Move. You don’t have to do an hour spin class or a five mile run to get the benefits from activity. Take every opportunity you can to get a little movement in – hand deliver messages to coworkers in lieu of Emailing them, park as far as you can and walk, take the stairs instead of the escalator. Every opportunity to move is a step in the right direction. Even just standing while on the phone or watching TV instead of sitting will burn extra calories – add a squat or a bicep curl while you’re at it!

3. Hydrate. Before each meal, drink one 8-oz. glass of water. Hydration is essential for well-being and many of us walk around in a half-state of dehydration on a regular basis. Not only is water vital for good skin and good health but it will also fill you up before eating and help you to slash off a few calories.

4. Journal. Holding on to emotions can really be the undoing for many. Many of us comfort eat and drink. Turning to a journal and writing out your feelings help! If you’re feeling down writing a list of ten things that you are grateful for can instantly change your mood and perspective on things. If you’re angry at a friend, writing a letter (perhaps that you’ll never send) helps to “get it out” and aids in allowing you to move forward or figure a way to work it out. Journaling can take as little as five minutes and is a healthy habit to incorporate in your day.

What are some healthy habits you try to sneak into your day?

Did you know that the color of your fruit or vegetables can tell you what type of benefit you’re getting from it? Amazing! That’s why it’s important you add enough color variety to your juices. A green juice may give you a different benefit than a red juice. Let’s take a look at the Power Juicer color wheel to see exactly what colors you should be juicing and why.

Red: Red produce contain lycopene and other important nutrients. They help promote heart health, help memory function, lower you risk of some cancers and help boost immunity. All that just from making sure there’s some red in your juice.
Examples: tomato, watermelon, pink grapefruit, strawberry, red grapes, beets

Orange/Yellow: The brightly colored produce contain carotenoids which help promote hearth health and eye health (think carrots!). It also helps build immunity, promotes healthy mucous membrane and lower your risk of some cancer.
Examples: sweet potato, pear, orange, lemon, butternut squash, pumpkin

Green: You’ve heard that leafy greens are among the most nutritious things you can consumer. Well here’s why. They contain chlorophyll, lutein and indoles. What they do is help lower your risk of breast, prostate, lung and other cancers; promote eye health; help build strong bones and teeth; boost immunity; and lower the risk of birth defects.
Examples: spinach, kale, kiwi, artichoke, cucumber, green grapes, lettuce, peas

Blue/Purple: Blue and purple produce contain anthocyanins. They help promote heart health and memory function, lowers your risk of some cancers, boosts immunity, and have antioxidant power.
Examples: blackberry, blueberry, eggplant, plum, raisins

White: If you want to help lower your cholesterol and blood pressure, the anthoxanthins in white produce can help. They also help reduce the risk of stomach cancer and heart disease.
Examples: banana, garlic, jicama, mushroom, onion, parsnip, ginger

What are some ways you try to get more color in your diet?

Photo Credit: Flickr/Maryangelo

Often, you’ll get to the produce aisle and be baffled to where to start!

Your list will vary depending upon your own needs and tastes but here’s a basic list:

Sweet stuff:

Apples

Pineapple – remember to remove rind and core

Berries – berries should be juiced last

Peaches – peaches and plums need to be removed of pits first

Plums

Oranges - peel first

Savory stuff:

Celery

Carrots - organic carrots do not have to be peeled

Beets

Ginger - peel ginger root before juicing

Green stuff:

Spinach

Romaine

Wheat Grass

By picking out just a few items on this list, you’ll be able to make some of the awesome recipes found on this website or even make up a few of your own. I personally like to mix and match from two or three ingredients from the lists.

For example, my favorite mid-afternoon pick-me-up used to be a cup of coffee, now it’s a juice that I created. I call it “Sweet and Spicy Carrot Juice.”

Here’s how I make it:

Sweet and Spicy Carrot Juice

2 apples

1 stalk of celery

2-4 carrots (depending on the size)

¼ inch of ginger (or more – I like ginger a lot)

Put it all in your juicer and voila.

Photo credit

Raspberry Rush (a perfect red to match either team you’re routing for)
2 pt. raspberries
1 large orange (peeled)
1 medium lime (peeled)
Serve over crushed ice

Energy Boost (that kick you need for the entire game)
1 carrot (tops removed)
1 celery stalk
1 beet (leaves removed)
5 parsley sprigs
4 lettuce leaves
½ head watercress
½ cup spinach
3 tomatoes
salt to taste

Who will you be routing for this Super Bowl?

In the mean-time, keep colds and sniffles at bay with this tasty, power drink that combines juicing and blending to create one awesome smoothie.

Immune Smoothie (Serves 4)

1 oz. peeled ginger root

10 peeled and pitted lychees

1/4 lemon

1 cup blackberries

2 tbsp. flax seeds

1/4 pineapple (rind removed)

1 cup coconut water

1 cup of ice

Juice the ginger and all the fruits (always juice berries first) add the pulp and the rest of the ingredients to a Health Master Elite. Press run and increase speed to 8 until blended. Serve in a tall glass.

Image: Jeroen van Oostrom / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Here are a few to try:

Spicy Appletini – makes 2 servings

Sweet and spicy this cocktail is sure to set the mood for a romantic night!

3 apples

1/8 th of an inch of ginger root (more or less to taste)

8-oz. of your favorite vodka

A few ice cubes

Directions: Use your Power Juicer to juice the apples and ginger. Add juice to a shaker with ice and vodka. Shake well until the ingredients are cold and blended. Serve in two martini glasses. Add a thin apple slice to float on top as garnish.

The Mango Tango – makes 2 servings

Dance the night away with this tropical-inspired cocktail!

1 mango (pitted an peeled)

2 tangerines (peeled)

3 oz. of mandarin flavored vodka

Ice

Directions: Juice the mango and tangerine. Combine juice with ice and vodka in a shaker, shake until ice cold and serve in martini glass or tumbler. Garnish with raspberries for a pretty pop of color!

If you’re looking for something a little more “peachy”  then, check out this recipe for a delicious Peach Maragarita!

Do you have a favorite cocktail that can be made with your Power Juicer?

I know when I first thought about dedicating time to juicing, I was unsure of what to do, how to do it, and how to make sure I’m getting the full benefits of juicing. Well I think it’s time to get back to the basics a little bit and welcome our new fellow juicers by giving a brief Juicing 101 crash course. Here are a few things to know when you’re a beginner juicer.

Lesson #1: Cleaning Your Juicer
Once you’ve received your juicer, learn how to clean it. Cleaning your juicer right after using it makes it very easy to clean. For example, with the Power Juicer, you can simply rinse off or throw out any pulp in your Pulp Collector and caught in the Filter. Then, you can wash all parts in the dishwasher, except for the Base of course. Here a tip to make it even easier to clean. Use a plastic shopping bag or small trash bag to line the Pulp Collector. That way, when you’re done juicing, all you have to do to clean it out is throw away the bag.

Lesson #2: Preparing Produce
Apples, grapes, cherries, berries, beets, and many more fruits and vegetables contain seeds, stems and hard peels. It can get confusing how to prepare your produce. First you should always clean your produce to make sure no chemicals or dirt gets in your juice. As a general rule of thumb, if something has a hard pit like cherries or very tough skin, remove it. If you wouldn’t eat it raw then don’t juice it. So beet greens and carrot tops are examples of things that should be removed.

Lesson #3: Storing Your Juice
A lot of people also ask if and how they can store fresh juice. Well I say it’s always most beneficial to drink right away. But if you only have time to juice in the morning and want a juice for lunch, you can store your fresh juice in airtight containers in the refrigerator. They can last for up to 1 day like this.

Lesson #4: Juicing Leafy Greens
Leafy greens are among the healthiest things to juice. Two problems with leafy greens; they don’t taste great and they’re difficult to juice in any juicer. Well I’ve got one solution for both problems… sweet, juicy fruits! Sometimes, the leafy greens will get caught up in the juicer. You need to follow it with a juicier ingredient to get it all out. By doing this you’re also improving the taste by adding some sweetness. And don’t be alarmed if you see a lot of pulp from your greens, you’re getting the juice out of it. You just need to use more leafy greens than you do fruits. Apples and citrus fruits are great for this but you can experiment with anything. Which brings me to my last lesson.

Lesson #5: Experiment
You don’t need to stick to strict recipes and only follow the basic juices you already know. Experiment with different flavors and ingredients! This is the fun part, learning to create your own healthy juices and customizing them to your own liking. Get creative and figure out which ingredients make strong colors for your juices to create special juices for special events. For example, beets make juices a deep red color perfect for Valentine’s Day juices.

What are some of your tips and tricks for beginner juicers?

Time and time again people told me that, “eating healthy is too expensive.” I was determined to disprove that theory.

While it may be more challenging there are some great ways of making your budget work and maintaining a healthy household.

Here are five pantry and fridge staples that are cheap and will help keep you on your healthy path:

1. Oatmeal. Low in fat and high in fiber oatmeal is my number one go-to breakfast food. It’s quick, easy, healthy and cheap. If you buy it in bulk your average bowl can cost you as little as $.15 a breakfast! It doesn’t get cheaper than that. I add a few chopped apple pieces and a Tsp. sugar free maple syrup for a little added flavor.
2. Eggs.  Eggs are great for you. They are a healthy and inexpensive way to get vitamin B12 and protein in the morning. One egg is about $.16. I’ll have one with a few tomato slices or leftover veggies and a piece of whole grain toast for breakfast or make an egg and low fat cheese sandwich or omelet for lunch.
3. Brown Rice. One pound of brown rice equals about 11 servings of complex carbohydrate whole grains. It comes out to about $.20 a serving and can be used in a million ways. Add it to left overs or frozen veggies with a little soy sauce and scrambled egg for a quick, healthy stir-fry. Or serve it as a base for chili or as a side dish to your favorite lean meats. It’s another great way to bulk up a meal in a healthy way.
4. Whole wheat pasta. Like Brown rice and oatmeal, Whole wheat pasta is affordable and healthy. It packs fiber and is a good source of complex carbohydrate whole grains. Depending on brands (I get a no-frills) it can cost as little as $.20 per portion. Serve it with a simple marinara for a quick, cheap pasta meal or toss it with a low-calorie cheese sauce and some frozen broccoli for a healthy and filling macaroni and cheese.
5. Beans. Beans are a great source of fiber and protein. They are a great meat replacement or accompaniment. I used less beef and more beans now-a-days for the health and economy of it. For example, replacing meat or half the meat with beans in soup, stews and chili’s makes recipes stretch further for less money. Canned beans are convenient and affordable but if you are willing to go the extra step and buy beans dry, you’ll save even more!
6. Frozen vegetables. Frozen vegetables carry the same amount of nutrients as fresh and are often cheaper.  If you coupon and keep an eye out for sales, you can get your vegetables in for a fraction of the cost of fresh.

Here are a few more tips to save money on your shopping trips:

When it comes to grocery shopping, shop strategically. Always study the sales circulars and buy and plan meals around those sales. If chicken is a great price buy extra and freeze it!  Same goes with produce.

Always make a grocery list and have a plan. Studies show people spend up to 20 percent more in the market when we go in without a plan.

Don’t go shopping before a meal. People tend to spend more when they are hungry.

If you need to slash your budget start with extras like cookies, chips, ice-cream and other ‘junkie’ foods. Turn to fruits and veggies for snacks.

Remember, it’s cheaper to invest in a fruit or vegetable now than treating heart disease, cancer or diabetes later. Your health is worth it.

What are some healthy and cheap staples in your pantry?

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Who said sweets need to be your guilty pleasure? Enjoy the natural sweetness of fresh fruits and vegetables this Valentine’s Day with the Power Juicer Express. Don’t miss your chance of getting your FREE Power Juicer Express and Fresh Recipe Collection book by liking us on Facebook and entering our giveaway. We want to show that special someone just how much we care by keeping you healthy with juicing.

To enter to win, click here.