Is blending vegetables better than juicing?

[ZoomFatigue]

And if so, does anyone have any good recommendations for a blender that could do this?

Like many, I've done nothing but comfort eat my way through 2020, and looking at ways to get a bit healthier for next year.

I watched a programme called Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, which extolled the virtues of juicing.

Quite a few things I've read though say that green juices aren't all that healthy due to the process getting rid of all the pulp and fibre. Blending is therefore better as you retain more of the fibre.

Does anyone have any insight / thoughts into this, and does anyone have a decent blender they would recommend?

I only have a hand held blender and don't think it would be much cop when confronted with a whole vegetable!

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I'd personally prefer to put all the veg into a basic soup. No need to add oil or carbs - I just 'poach' all my chopped veg in some water with herbs, in a pan with a lid on and when soft, use a stick blender to purée some of it, leave some chunks in, add a bit more water if needed for a good soup consistency, and eat obviously not with 3 slices of toast and butter

Just eat more veg. No need to blend or juice it

I regularly make smoothies in my blender jug, there are so many bits in it that after a big glug there are definitely little bits in my mouth, sometimes I have to chew a couple of times to swallow them, so plenty of fibre.
My Kenwood is 30 years old though. DM tried to give me her blender after my jug cracked but the blender blitzed things too well and I found it far too smooth rather than my usual fibre filled smoothie.

My recipe- if you are interested

I celery stalk
Around 3 inches of cucumber
I carrot
Handful of blueberries
1/3 cup of OJ with bits
Water
Then turmeric
Spirulina powder

I blitz the veg/berries & juice up then pour half the thick gloop into a lidded glass for the next day then to the remainder I add a teaspoon of turmeric, a teaspoon of spirulina powder along with some water to loosen it & drink. Nutrition info as per photo

www.bbc.com/future/article/20181231-is-juicing-actually-good-for-you

@TerfTerfTerf

I'd personally prefer to put all the veg into a basic soup. No need to add oil or carbs - I just 'poach' all my chopped veg in some water with herbs, in a pan with a lid on and when soft, use a stick blender to purée some of it, leave some chunks in, add a bit more water if needed for a good soup consistency, and eat obviously not with 3 slices of toast and butter

This is true - soup is a good alternative. But I suppose I don't always feel like soup and I do enjoy drinking green juice, if you see what I mean, so thought doing so regularly could be a good way to increase veg. But, I don't want to be counterproductive by losing all the fibre.

Thanks @Bringbackthestrips for posting your recipe. When I get the equipment I'll try that. Could you post a link to the kind of equivalent blender that might be available now? I have tried to google but got overwhelmed by all the different options

Not cheap but the Vitamix blenders are excellent quality.

As well as blending soups and smoothies you can make your own milk alternatives and flour.

Well this is my exact model of ancient Kenwood & I do it in the blender jug
whatIuse
So I suppose an equivalent would be something like this
kenwood

Preowned?
ebay

But if you aren’t in need of an actual food processor then that might be over kill.

@FrogFairy

Not cheap but the Vitamix blenders are excellent quality.

As well as blending soups and smoothies you can make your own milk alternatives and flour.

Thanks for the recommendation but gosh yes - they are pretty pricey.

@Bringbackthestrips yes I've never used a food processor before and not sure I'd start (only through lack of prior experience).

They seem to have a lot of 'bits' to put together. I had no idea these machines could be so complicated!

Wondering if there's a simpler version for simpletons (me ).

Juicing (fruit) is very bad for the teeth, I went through a phase of a juice diet and used to give my dc a small glass each day. At their next dental appointment the dentist asked me what they had been drinking as it had caused decay between the teeth.

I have a nutribullet (the cheapest model at £50) which isn't just great for making fruit/veg smoothies, but iced coffees, curry bases and blending anything else. Would highly recommend it.

If you mainly want to drink smoothies you might be better off with a nutribullet/ Nutri ninja etc

And if the blended veg smoothie is too thick for you then either add more water or strain it in a sieve. I would agree with doing it occasionally rather than all the time though. What about cut up fruit for breakfast (fruit is more easily digested on an empty stomach), lots of veg, chickpeas and salad bits for lunch, nuts for snacks and then whatever you fancy for tea.

Thanks @cactusisblooming. That's worrying (and interesting!) about the effect of juicing on teeth.

Do you think veg smoothies would be equally bad for the teeth, or less so?

Just wondering if it's the fructose or acidity from the fruit that would do that? And would liquified veg pose the same problems? (I'm already sold on fruit juices as not being a good idea, but still interested in veg juices/smoothies if you see what I mean.)

@ScrapThatThen

And if the blended veg smoothie is too thick for you then either add more water or strain it in a sieve. I would agree with doing it occasionally rather than all the time though. What about cut up fruit for breakfast (fruit is more easily digested on an empty stomach), lots of veg, chickpeas and salad bits for lunch, nuts for snacks and then whatever you fancy for tea.

Yes those are all good ideas. I definitely get enough fruit and do that at breakfast already though.

I'm just interested in this idea that partially liquified veg could be a good way of accessing nutrients. But confused about how far that's true, and also best way to do it!

Thanks @GailLondon googling those now.

I use my nutribullet (so easy- the cup I use to blend everything in flips upside down and becomes the cup I use to drink it.

I have started replacing one meal a day with a fruit veg and protein smoothie. Everything just works better for me, digestively, and I have also lost weight.

I usually put 1/8 or 1/4 of an avacado in so it's nice and creamy, and blend with oat milk.

I have a white green and grey breville blender - it's fairly cheap and brilliant. Designed for smoothies and v good

@cactusisblooming

Juicing (fruit) is very bad for the teeth, I went through a phase of a juice diet and used to give my dc a small glass each day. At their next dental appointment the dentist asked me what they had been drinking as it had caused decay between the teeth.

I have a nutribullet (the cheapest model at £50) which isn't just great for making fruit/veg smoothies, but iced coffees, curry bases and blending anything else. Would highly recommend it.

Isn't that why you drink them through a straw?

Just eat more fruit and veg me and ds manage about 6 portions each per day every dinner has 2 sides of veg plus fruit and carrot sticks etc for snacking in between meals i found doing this plus drinking water constant throughout the day really perks me up i was so sluggish before when i just ate junk day in day out with fizzy drinks

Yes drinking through a straw is supposed to reduce decay, but it won't prevent it. OP I don't think veg is damaging the way fruit is.

I think a lot of people put at least some lemon in the veg juice to keep it fresh so that might be an issue for teeth too.