For today’s “Wellness Wednesday” post, I’m sharing a sampling of cold-pressed green juices that are also value-friendly. I love drinking green juice because I’m conscious that my diet may be lacking in dark leafy greens (my excuses could go on, but really, there it is). I’m also trying to be conscious of my family’s grocery budget; therefore, a costly green juice simply isn’t realistic.
For my taste test, I choose 4 juices easily found in your local grocery aisle (3 came from Safeway and 1 from Trader Joe’s). All are made using the cold-pressed method, which insures that the juices are safe to drink while maximizing nutritional benefits without compromising flavor. Also, all are priced under $7.00 (2 are very reasonable at $3.99). I enlisted my friend Kirsty to assist in my sampling, see our assessments below:
Forager Greens & Greens. 100% organic, this savory juice packs the biggest punch. It was unexpectedly spicy (perhaps it is the addition of the cayenne) and rather “green” tasting. Pros include that it has the least amount of sugar (8 grams in 16 ounces); however, Kirsty wasn’t sure she could drink the entire bottle and I was surprised by its bite. This is the most expensive juice, priced at $6.99 for 16 ounces.
Trader Joe’s Cold Pressed Green. This is a fresh tasting, mild green juice that is easy to drink. With subtle lemon and ginger notes, it is refreshing yet doesn’t make you feel like you are grazing. Low in sugars (11 grams in 15.2 ounces) and priced at $4.99, it is a healthy choice for your budget. However, one draw back is that the juice is not organic, and for those who like to know where their food is coming from, this could be of concern.
Suja Noon Greens. All organic (and kosher certified), this juice was my 4 year-old daughter’s favorite (she’s a big green juice fan!). Kirsty described it as “cider-like,” with apple and ginger notes making it more sweet. Because apple juice is the first ingredient, it has the most amount of sugar of the 4 juices we sampled (21 grams in 12 ounces). With it’s sweet taste and price (only $3.99), this was a favorite sample; although at 110 calories per bottle, I’m not sure that I will be including it regularly in my diet.
Evolution Fresh Emerald Greens. With a slightly sweet aftertaste, yet a fresh, hardy green flavor; this juice was the easiest to go down. Kirsty felt like she could definitely taste the citrus notes, including the lemon and lime combination. I liked the veggie flavor that wasn’t too “in your face” green (does that make sense??). Although non-organic, this refreshing and light juice is both great tasting and a great value at $3.99 for 11 ounces.
Clockwise from bottom left: Forager | Trader Joe’s | Suja | Evolution Fresh
Are you drinking green? What are your favorite juices? I would love to try more and I’m curious how you are getting your daily dose of veggies. Please leave a comment. As always, thanks for reading! ~Jenn
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