A New Year of Juicing with Mariano’s

I’m so glad the holiday’s are quickly coming to an end for this year. As much as I love hanging around my family and having excuses to shop for new outfits, I can’t handle the insane amounts of sugar and carbs that this time of year brings with it. I’m so ready for a detox from all this unhealthy food. You guys know I love shopping at Mariano’s, that’s my spot. And the Mariano’s Health Key System makes it so easy to shop with your health goals in mind.

One of my goals, this year, next year, and every year is to be more conscious of what I’m consuming. Learning about food and what types of nutrients your body needs is a long and endless journey. We all have different health concerns and I know how much of a hassle it can be to try to stick to a certain diet. That’s why the healthy key system at Mariano’s is so awesome.

The health key is a simple guide to eating better and living healthier. The health key is actually a series of labels that are on foods all over the store. Tags like gluten-free, heart healthy, low sodium, no lactose (love this one, as my little bubba is lactose intolerant), sugar-free, sodium-free, vegan, and more. The tag that I had my eye on while shopping recently was organic.

I know organic foods have developed a huge hype over the last few years but I never really bought into it. It wasn’t until earlier this year that I started purchasing organic foods and it was mostly just because of taste. I don’t eat a lot of meat, because my Lap Band doesn’t really allow dense foods like that through. One time, I accidentally bought some organic chicken, and it tasted like.. chicken. It was so different from the crap I would normally buy. I was hooked. After I started buying organic meats, I ventured over to produce.

I started juicing earlier this year after watching the documentary Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. The taste took some getting used to but after doing it for about a year, I’ve come to realize that one of the most important factors in juicing for me has been using really fresh, organic, produce. There is a difference in taste. I can’t describe it, but it makes a big difference in taste when my fruits and vegetables are organic. Organic juice just tastes cleaner.

I love how easy it is to find everything in the store that is organic. The health key system is so innovative. I’ve seen small sections in grocery stores that are specifically for ‘gluten free’ or ‘vegan’ but they are teeny tiny and they don’t cover as many health keys as Mariano’s. This is just one of the million reasons that I love Mariano’s. It’s always so much more than just a trip to the grocery store. I took my two rowdy little toddlers with me the other night and we spent about 3 hours at Mariano’s, which is a totally typical experience.  The kids actually ask to go to “Myyanos” by name, all the time.

Whenever I mention Mariano’s to someone and explain how great the store is, they always ask me if it’s expensive. Before I started shopping there I assumed it was pretty pricey, myself. But the prices are pretty comparable to a typical grocery store and using your Mariano’s Rewards Card always helps you save money, earn free goodies, and get cash back.

On to the juice! I gave up coffee about a week ago because I became far too dependent and I was spending more than my car payment at Starbucks every month. That’s just wrong. If I don’t juice before I workout, I feel a huge different. Juicing is such an energy boost and it just makes me feel awesome. It wakes me up and gives me the same energy as coffee, but I don’t have the insane amount of creamer and weird stomach cramps that comes with my caffeinated cup.

The recipe below is my go-to for morning juices (though I would omit the grapefruit if you’re not ready for its pungent taste). It takes me about 20 minutes from the time I step in the kitchen, to the time I have the juicer clean with juice in hand. Totally worth that extra time.

I know #MyMarianos will be vital in maintaining my goals for the New Year!

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