Juicing

robyngrant739

hi guys just wondering if anyone on here meal replaces with veg/fruit smoothies and juices?

lemonlionheart

Why would I do that when I can have real food?

robyngrant739

I've just got a nutribullet so that's the reason I'm asking!! It's real food in the juices obviously and healthy snacks inbetween.

PoisonIvy088

Personally I'd rather chew my food. I've read that the simple action of chewing your food contributes in up to 40% to feeling satiated. (Or satisfied). For me that rings true. If I drink my meals, I'm hungry again half an hour later.

abuck_13

I'm not big on the meal replacement thing myself, I'll add a shake here and there for extra food, but not really as a replacement. I think the biggest thing is making sure you receive adequate nutrition.

Sued0nim

If you like juice fine but it's hardly a filling meal is it?

personally I prefer making my veg into stews and eating them with rice and cheese, or soups with crusty bread .. and my fruit I like to dip in dark chocolate

but if you enjoy your juice .. great

What I did do is replace unconscious grab it convenience meals with thought-through calorie controlled meals .. I found that helped

KylaDenay

I eat my meals instead of drink them. I have a vitamix that I like to make use of as well, so I will incorporate a good veggie and fruit juice into my day sometimes. It does help me with getting my fruit and veggie intake in.

Is there a reason you want to replace your meals with juices? other than the fact you just got a nutribullet? Why not make the juice your snack in between your meals or add it to a daily meal or morning breakfast.

yopeeps025

Meal replacement? No for a snack or in a rush yes. Also if people have hard times eating lots of fruits and veggies why not shred them into a smoothie to get some of the micro nutrients. Im not too sure if you get the whole benefits juicing.

terricherry2

I sometimes have a smoothie for breakfast if I need it to go, but other than that I wouldn't replace any meals. If I can get the same nutrients in proper food I'd rather chew it. I have got something similar to a nutribullet that I use to make soups in the winter. I always put something solid with it though, maybe some chicken or a poached egg on top.

robyngrant739

It's the first day I've used it and has helped with fruit and veg intake. Thanks for the suggestions guys. Had juices for breakfast and lunch few healthy snacks inbetween and will have a meal tonight

absentgardener

I, too, have a nutribullet and I have used it for breakfasts for several weeks now. It is a great way to get lots of fruit and veggies in every day as it does not juice but instead grinds everything into a shake. I just had my spinach, banana, mango, pineapple and hemp seed shake this morning.

robyngrant739

I'm going to try it for a few days then if not will probably stick to it for breakfasts

gothomson

I dont see the point, as has been said why use up - say 300 calories on a "drink" when you could make a nice sandwich, or have a lovely soup (yeah I know - liquid but still), or some pasta and tomato sauce...You get the point I'm making.

Having said that if I was in a hurry in the morning and needed a good calorie hit to last me for a few hours then fine, but apart from that nahh :-)

Serah87

I rather chew my veggies and fruit, instead sucking it through a straw.

KylaDenay

yopeeps025 wrote: »

Meal replacement? No for a snack or in a rush yes. Also if people have hard times eating lots of fruits and veggies why not shred them into a smoothie to get some of the micro nutrients. Im not too sure if you get the whole benefits juicing.

With a nutribullet it is all blended together. It really isn't juicing. Just like my vitamix. I just toss all the whole fruits and veggies in and it processes it to juice consistency.

BioQueen

My fiance and I juice - but it's for a snack/to get more veggies in (especially for him, because although I eat my veggies, he rarely does). I DO however use a meal replacement/protein shake at the moment and unlike a lot of people, I enjoy it. It ends up being a chocolate/banana milkshake that sort of lets me feel like I am having a dessert. However it is made with VegaOne protein powder (which has protein/carbs/fats and 1/2 days worth of veggies), a banana, and almond milk. I usually do it for breakfast but lately I have been having it for lunch.

robyngrant739

A sandwich would be good but I cut bread out when trying to lose a few pounds haha

beemerphile1

I prefer to eat/chew solid food.

Juicers remove fiber, fiber is good.

Smoothies are yummy but not any better for you. In fact, you are likely to absorb more calories from a smoothie than from solid food.

DemoraFairy

beemerphile1 wrote: »

Smoothies are yummy but not any better for you. In fact, you are likely to absorb more calories from a smoothie than from solid food.

...How? Where do the extra calories come from?

robyngrant739

Yeah Sorry that's what I meant more like smoothies but made with water not milk

yopeeps025

beemerphile1 wrote: »

I prefer to eat/chew solid food.

Juicers remove fiber, fiber is good.

Smoothies are yummy but not any better for you. In fact, you are likely to absorb more calories from a smoothie than from solid food.

WAT?

JustinAnimal

Wifey and I used to actually juice things, not just make smoothies, and we loved it. We'd juice crazy *kitten* like beets and red cabbage, in addition to more traditional things like apples and oranges and watermelons. I'd do that for breakfast three times a week and it actually kept me fairly full. Getting all of those vitamins gave me a crazy burst of energy and I felt great. You'll never really get anyone on this site to do anything in response to your question other than make fun of you, but as long as you aren't expecting something miraculous, it's worth a shot. Of course, you can just blend your veggies, like kale and whatnot, for your smoothies and you still get the fiber. Plus, you can add protein powder or whatever else you want, so it's not just water and vitamins you're consuming.

Holly_Roman_Empire

If you're just talking about juicing fruits and vegetables, I wouldn't consider that a meal replacement. I'd do it as a supplement maybe, if it's hard for you to eat your vegetables in the normal course of the day.

sijomial

robyngrant739 wrote: »

It's the first day I've used it and has helped with fruit and veg intake. Thanks for the suggestions guys. Had juices for breakfast and lunch few healthy snacks inbetween and will have a meal tonight

Do watch your protein intake - it's very important when you are losing weight.
If two of your meals are very low protein it may be difficult to hit your daily protein goal.

lynn1982

beemerphile1 wrote: »

Smoothies are yummy but not any better for you. In fact, you are likely to absorb more calories from a smoothie than from solid food.

Umm...huh? no...

In any case, I often have a smoothie for breakfast because it's fast and I can't be bothered in the morning for anything else. I enjoy juicing too (usually a green juice with veggies and lemon, no other fruits...), but never as a meal replacement. I would get too hungry. I don't like being hungry.

robyngrant739

Thanks everyone just wanted a bit of advice as I'm new to MFP

beemerphile1

Two ways that smoothies can result in more calories;

1. one may end up consuming far more calories than they realize because they are drinking a liquid rather than chewing bites of solid food. Of course not an issue if food is weighed.

2. the calories in the smoothie are more readily absorbed than solid food because the blender in essence predigests the food. The digestive acids and digestive process has less breakdown to accomplish before the intestines can absorb the calories/nutrients into the blood stream.

Holly_Roman_Empire

beemerphile1 wrote: »

Two ways that smoothies can result in more calories;

1. one may end up consuming far more calories than they realize because they are drinking a liquid rather than chewing bites of solid food. Of course not an issue if food is weighed.

2. the calories in the smoothie are more readily absorbed than solid food because the blender in essence predigests the food. The digestive acids and digestive process has less breakdown to accomplish before the intestines can absorb the calories/nutrients into the blood stream.

1 = The fault is with the person, not with the smoothie.

2 = Calories more readily absorbed does not mean that it has more calories.

DemoraFairy

beemerphile1 wrote: »

Two ways that smoothies can result in more calories;

1. one may end up consuming far more calories than they realize because they are drinking a liquid rather than chewing bites of solid food. Of course not an issue if food is weighed.

2. the calories in the smoothie are more readily absorbed than solid food because the blender in essence predigests the food. The digestive acids and digestive process has less breakdown to accomplish before the intestines can absorb the calories/nutrients into the blood stream.

1. If you're on MFP you should be weighing all your food anyway.

2. So it's not that you're absorbing more, it's that you're burning less. A tiny amount less, probably.

lkniebuehler

JustinAnimal wrote: »

Wifey and I used to actually juice things, not just make smoothies, and we loved it. We'd juice crazy *kitten* like beets and red cabbage, in addition to more traditional things like apples and oranges and watermelons. I'd do that for breakfast three times a week and it actually kept me fairly full. Getting all of those vitamins gave me a crazy burst of energy and I felt great. You'll never really get anyone on this site to do anything in response to your question other than make fun of you, but as long as you aren't expecting something miraculous, it's worth a shot. Of course, you can just blend your veggies, like kale and whatnot, for your smoothies and you still get the fiber. Plus, you can add protein powder or whatever else you want, so it's not just water and vitamins you're consuming.

^^^ this ^^^

Im a big smoothie fan. I use it for breakfast with protein powder and stay pretty full. And its a great way to get in all the fruits and veggies you might not get otherwise.

Good luck! There are tons of great recipes out there.

yopeeps025

DemoraFairy wrote: »

beemerphile1 wrote: »

Two ways that smoothies can result in more calories;

1. one may end up consuming far more calories than they realize because they are drinking a liquid rather than chewing bites of solid food. Of course not an issue if food is weighed.

2. the calories in the smoothie are more readily absorbed than solid food because the blender in essence predigests the food. The digestive acids and digestive process has less breakdown to accomplish before the intestines can absorb the calories/nutrients into the blood stream.

1. If you're on MFP you should be weighing all your food anyway.

2. So it's not that you're absorbing more, it's that you're burning less. A tiny amount less, probably.

I knew he said number 2 wrong. Number 1 is subjective.