A new year, resolutions, and juice

Can we all agree that this year we aren’t going to make new years resolutions? At least not in the sense that every magazine and website tells us we should, i.e “In 2015 I’m going to lose 25 pounds”. “I’m going to get a better job.” “I’m going to stop eating sugar.” I’ve always found that new years resolutions bring out a kind of painful perfectionism in all of us. We set ourselves up for failure, and then berate ourselves when we slip up or struggle. We adopt an “all-or-nothing approach.” Some days a movie in bed is just what you need, rather than a one hour run. Sometimes a day just demands green juice and good vibe foods, and healthy eating, but sometimes it just demands a scone.

Speaking of juice, one of the best things I discovered in 2014 was the life coach and blogger Rachel W. Cole and this amazing piece called “The Danger of Green Juices.” In the nurturing, brilliant way that only Cole seems to get, she delves into the nutritional phenomenon that is the “green juice”. She argues that even though green juice comes with tons of upsides (anti-oxidants! enzymes!) it has one major potential downside: the way we consume green juice (and I include myself in this), it often becomes about judgment. First off is judgment of oneself:

What I see happening is that on the days when drinkers don’t power start their day with green juice – whether because their body is asking for something different, they haven’t had time to hit up the supermarket, or a friend invites them out for coffee and toast – very often they judge themselves. They pile on the ‘shoulds.’ They “make up” for being “bad” later in the day. They restrict. They get uptight. They repent for their donut sins. It can be subtle, but self-judgment is powerfully destructive.

The second thing she argues, is judging of others:

I have also seen green juice junkies look at other people’s food choices with disgust, superiority, and smugness. “Doesn’t she know that is causing her body to become acidic?” or “Ugh, how can he possibly survive a day when we eats that in the morning?”

I have seen and experienced both of these first hand. And it doesn’t have to be green juice. It could be anything. It could be a paleo diet, or a vegan diet, or a macrobiotic diet or whatever. Let’s not let our resolutions turn us into judgmental machines – of both others AND of ourselves. Instead, I’d like to propose that this year, we resolve to be kinder – to ourselves (our bodies, our hearts) and our peers. I think that is a resolution I can be happy with.

And with that, I bring you juice. It’s not green juice. It’s a vibrant pink/red colour, and it was delicious and spicy and everything I wanted on the day after new years day (new years day I had waffles – because celebration!). I had it with a nice salad and some pomegranate and yogurt. Happy 2015, friends. Thanks for joining me on this journey.

Pink Juice
2 carrots
1 beet
2 tangerines (peeled)
1 inch piece of ginger
Half an apple

Run all your ingredients through a juicer, or blend in a high powered blender and strain through a fine mesh strainer. I like my juice chilled, so chill in fridge or serve over ice!