The Today show raves, “[Juice Generation is] absolutely delicious,” Frank Bruni, writer for the New York Times boasts, “[they have] really, really good juices and smoothies, ” and I say, “see ya tomorrow,” daily to my favorite juice-ologist at my local Juice Gen because its true…my hands are up, I am addicted!
If you don’t already know about Juice Generation I am about to tell you all you will ever need to know, starting with…they have the best juices, smoothies and food in town and it’s all raw, local, organic and super healthy!
Juice Generation is owned by Eric Helms and has been juicing NYC since 1999. They have 7 locations in Manhattan, 3 of which are in my NYC gym of choice, Equinox. They have fresh juices, smoothies, hot blends, acai bowls, gourmet sandwiches, salads, soups and baked goods. And to top it all off to ensure that you are getting the maximum health benefits from the food/beverage of your choice, Juice Generation only uses local and organic fruits and vegetables. Since their juices are RAW they have a higher percentage of vitamins, minerals and enzymes then store-bought juices which have been heat treated to preserve shelf life (HI-YA, take that Tropicana!).
Let’s talk a little bit about juicing before I tell you the juices I drink up every day. Juicing can be done for life, as a cleanse or for fun for people like me who don’t necessarily eat there greens and would rather drink them. Juice Generation offers fresh pressed juices that are made to order. They have 8 different juice blends, orange juice and 2 shots; wheatgrass and the vital shot (which I take down daily to fight colds, fatigue and acne). Like I said earlier, their juices have a higher percentage of vitamins, minerals and enzymes then store-bought juices and should be guzzled up within a few hours of their purchase. For the serious juicer, Juice Generation has developed the Cooler Cleanse, which is a juice detox service that ships directly to your doorstep, NATIONWIDE. They have a 3-day and a 5-day cleanse program. If you live in NYC you can pick up the cleanse items a la carte at your nearest Juice Gen or have them delivered. To find out more about the cooler cleanse and for home delivery nationwide visit the website at: http://www.coolercleanse.com or call 1-888-coolers. To nourish your body before and after the cleanse, Juice Generation also offers “raw cooler,” raw food which can also be purchased in store or on the Cooler Cleansewebsite. My personal favorite is the cashew cheese ravioli. It is amazingly yummy and surprisingly filling.
Smoothies, smoothies, smoothies…they don’t have the best rep in the health world because they are usually loaded with sugar, sweeteners, carbs etc. etc. and yes for most smoothie shops this is TRUE! However, Juice Generation offers 16 naturally delicious and naturally sweetened smoothies made with the finest and healthiest ingredients. They are not all low cal but they are a good meal replacement and packed with the vitamins and nutrients you need to live a long and beautiful life.
Their hot blends are yummy and functional. Perfect if you are feeling under the weather and still good if you are feeling in tip top shape.
On to my personal favorite, the Acai Bowls. These are perfect for breakfast or lunch. They will leave you full and satisfied. If you are unfamiliar with what an Acai bowl is, it is a mixture of blended fruits like Organic Acai, Banana and almond milk that is topped with granola, seeds and fruits like bee pollen, fresh pineapple, kiwi, banana and hemp granola in Juice Gens Aloha Acai. All of these bowls are less than 350 calories too, with the exception of the PB Acai bowl, making this the perfect breakfast or lunch.
Juice Generation offers a variety of 6 pre made sandwiches all of which are less than 410 calories! Their turkey hummus sandwich…200 calories, what a yummy and low-calorie lunch, I’ll take two!! They also offer pre made salads, all containing than 400 calories and PROTEIN! Tofu, chicken, whatever you desire I can promise they have it. And to go with your sandwich, SOUP! They have 6 varieties of soup all less than 300 calories per serving.
“ARE YOU DONE YET?!” “NOPE!” Last but not least let’s talk desert! Juice Generation has a bakery. They bake up some inventive and delicious muffins, protein brownies and protein cookies! Some of which are even vegan, wheat free and UNDER 200 CALORIES!
Okay, enough of the informational stuff and on to the fun stuff…what TASTES GOOD and my personal favorites!
Juices:
“Supa Dupa Greens” which is spinach, kale, parsley, romaine, cucumber, celery, lemon and apple. “Daily Detox,” carrot, cucumber, apple lemon and ginger. Both taste delicious, are less than 150 calories and have the greens that I lack in my diet.
I also strongly recommend the Vital Shot. I won’t lie, it’s tough to get down but they accompany it with an orange slice that makes you forget all about what just went down in your mouth. The blend of lemon, ginger and cayenne pepper gets your immune and digestive system working and prevents colds, fatigue and acne.
WHAT I’M DYING TO TRY: JUNGLE LOVE- Young Thai coconut blended with banana and served in a coconut shell. This one seems like such a treat. It is high in calories and sugar but sounds like it would be well worth it on a hot summer day.
Smoothies:
“Protein Buzz” Soy, whey or hemp protein with organic soy or almond milk blueberries (get the blueberries) or raspberries and banana. This is my FAVORITE post workout protein shake. It has 18g of protein, 6g of fat and 410 calories, which is not bad for a protein/meal replacement that tastes GREAT!
“Coco Acai” Organic Acai from the Amazon rainforest blended with banana and JG’s very own coconut milk. This is so yummy and brings me to a tropical island with every sip I take. A summer favorite for me.
“Peanut Butter Split” Before I even tell you what’s in this I need to warn you that this is a TREAT and should not be drinken daily! It tastes like heaven in your mouth but it is high in calories, once in a while it is a great treat, and you should ENJOY fully and not have one until next month! All-natural peanut butter with omega-3s from flax oil blended with organic soy or almond milk, banana & frozen coconut milk
WHAT I’M DYING TO TRY: “MATE ZEN” stimulating organic yerba maté, fresh ginger, mango & banana blended with fresh orange juice & organic soy milk
Hot Blends:
“Cinnamon Protein Bliss” a heavenly blend of organic soy milk, organic cinnamon, banana & 15g of soy protein
“Cold Warrior” an immunity-building blend of organic green tea, fresh orange juice, ginger, Echinacea, vitamin C & zinc.
Acai Bowls:
“PB Acai” blended: organic açaí, banana, omega-3 peanut butter, apple juice
toppings: peanut butter, cacao nibs, banana, hemp granola. All though this one has 430 calories, they are well worth it because this bowl is GOOD and will not have you looking for snacks an hour later because it’s filled with peanut butter and hemp granola; it has 9 grams of fiber, which keeps you full!
“Amazing Green” blended: organic açaí, banana, spinach, kale, almond milk
toppings: hemp seeds, banana, hemp granola. Don’t let the greens scare you! They are blended and made to taste great and compliment the seed, banana and granola topping.
My last and final suggestion is to get the Chicken Avocado sandwich! It is only 340 calories and it is so tasty and filling. The sandwich contains grilled chicken breast, fresh avocado, tomato, leaf lettuce & light mayo on multigrain bread. This is my go-to lunch on days that I know I won’t have much time to eat. One of these at 1 PM and I’m satisfied till 6 PM!
I hope now on your next trip to Juice Generation you know exactly what you want and you use the knowledge I have passed on to you while making your decisions. While you’re checking out also know that Juice Generation is not just dedicated to keeping us happy and healthy but they are also dedicated to keeping the earth happy and healthy. They are part of 1% for the planet, a growing global movement of international businesses that donate at least 1%of their net revenue to a network of environmental organizations. To find out more about 1% for the planet go to: www.onepercentfortheplanet.org. They are also a part of the Green Restaurant Association, a national non-profit organization that provides a convenient way for restaurants, manufacturers and distributers to become environmentally responsible. Juice Generation composts all dry fruit and vegetable pulp and packages food in biodegradable containers made of plant based materials. So go to Juice Generation not just for a better you but for a better planet! Visit www.dinegreen.com to learn more.
I said it in the beginning of this post, I am an addict. I have literally tried everything in this store and I am sure you will too. Visit the Juice Generation nearest you!
Locations:
2730 Broadway (between 104th and 105th Street)
Upper West Side at117 West 72nd Street btwn Columbus & Amsterdam Avenues
Midtown at 644 Ninth Avenue btwn 45th & 46th Streets
171 West 4th Street btwn Cornelia & Jones Streets
In Greenwich Village at 97 Greenwich Avenue corner of West 12th Street
In Soho at 69 Prince Street corner of Crosby Street
Upper East Side at 817 Lexington Avenue btwn 62nd & 63rd Streets
Jacked & Gorgeous 
I Live Virginia beach Virginia. Where can I buy the juices ?Is there a store near me if not how do I get them or make them?