Fresh vegetable juice is the new green tea… on steroids. It is ev-er-y-where. Nearly once a week, I learn about another start-up juice company. Even at my own local Saturday farmer’s market, there is a vendor who sells fresh juice in reusable glass jars. I dig it.
Juicing fresh fruits and vegetables is no new invention. In fact, my mom still owns her juicer that she got when she was my age; and my jaw drops to the floor when I think about the time she did a month-long (!) juice cleanse back in the day.
Despite trying a variety of fresh juice brands, I have yet to be inclined to do a strict, juice-only cleanse. I am not here to harp on such a “challenge” either; I just enjoying chewing too much.
I regularly purchase green juice (I have yet to inherit my mother’s masticating machine) as a supplement to my already plant-heavy diet. I do not buy green juice every single day – or even every week for that matter – because a) it can be pricey, and b) juice can be full of sugar which negates one of my personal food philosophies: don’t drink your sugar.
When Urban Remedy reached out to me about sampling one of their Wellness Kits to kick-off the new year, I gladly accepted the offer as it was not a juice-only deal.
Last summer, I tried a rainbow of Urban Remedy juices – lots of green ones! – and was impressed by the press (hah!). This time around, I was able to taste other health-enhancing products that UR has in their repertoire.
The newest Wellness Kit, Cindy Crawford’s Essentials (it transforms you into a supermodel!), was delivered to my door in an insulated box just hours before the start of 2015.
The UR founder “curated this kit of Cindy’s favorite juices, snacks and meals that not only taste amazing, but also boost energy, lower inflammation and support a healthier approach to eating. Made with the highest quality organic, low glycemic, plant-based ingredients available, this kit was created to accommodate real life, based on Cindy’s own approach to health eating that works with today’s modern lifestyle.
Use this collection as all the complete nutrition you need for 3 full days or as Cindy does spread out these items throughout the week as you choose. With great tasting, grab-and-go healthy essentials at your fingertips, it’s easier to look and feel your best.”
Cindy’s Essentials includes:
Morning Beverages
- 2 Cold Brew Light
- 1 Matcha Au Lait
Breakfasts
- 3 Mint Cacao Chip Shakes
Juices
- Glow, Genius, and Clean
Lunches
- Shredded Kale Salad
- Zen Salad
- Super Green Quinoa
Snacks
- Spicy Lemon Sprouted Almonds
- Sweet Potato Hummus with Crudite
- Superfood Trail Mix
Dinners
- Veggie Pad Thai
- Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl
- Zucchini Pasta with Marinara and Hemp seed Pesto
- Raw Soup
…and I did as Cindy does. Even despite it being the New Year, and every neighbor, friend and co-worker is attempting their own wacky version of a cookie and cocktail holiday detox, I used the raw, vegan and organic foods and beverages as a supplement to other things I can’t go without (like gluten-free toast in the morning and dark chocolate after lunch).
Verdict: Yummm. The Cold Brew Light was a favorite (go figure, iced coffee addict!) and the Super Green Quinoa was insanely fresh (lots of lemon). The green juices added phytonutrients to my mid-morning and afternoon snacks, and the Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl reminded my of my mama’s summer Tabbouleh salad.
If you are into juice cleanses, UR offers those, too, in addition to three additional Wellness Kits and an assortment of à la cart options. Be well!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Urban Remedy. As always, opinions are entirely my own.