Having a glass of 100% vegetable juice
The Basics
"Unlike most other snacks, vegetable juice is low in fat and calories, making it a great choice for anyone trying to control their weight,", explains nutritionist Pinal Patel.
"It’s very easy to confuse thirst and hunger – often when you think you are feeling hungry, what your body actually requires is fluid. A glass of vegetable juice helps to re-hydrate as well as providing important nutrients".
1 small glass (200mls) of 100% vegetable juice is 1 Nutrition card portion form the fruit and vegetables food group.
Common Myths & Misconceptions
- “If I drink a large glass of vegetable juice, it counts as 2 servings of vegetables” – A small glass (150mls) of 100% vegetable juice only counts once towards the 5-a-day target, regardless of how much you drink.
- “Some vegetables such as carrots and parsnips have a high GI and are therefore best avoided” – The GI (glycaemic index) is only one measurement of what makes a food a good choice; other factors, such as the vitamin content and the amount of fat it contains are also important. Carrots and parsnips are a good source health promoting compounds such as betacarotene and dietary fibre – although their GI may be higher than other vegetables, in average servings their glycaemic load (GL) is low. The GL takes into account the actual amount of carbohydrate in a serving as well as how quickly or slowly it is absorbed from the intestines.
Tips and Tricks
- If you like vegetable juice and drink it regularly, why not invest in a juicer so you can make your own fresh juice?
- Be adventurous as your imagination allows when making vegetable juice – use spices and herbs to create your own unique healthy, tasty snack drink.
- Buying vegetables in season will help keep down the cost of using fresh ingredients for juicing.
For a more filling vegetable juice snack, why not drink it with some crackers – just remember to stay within your daily Nutrition Card® targets from the cereals and starch food group.
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