Could anyone give me a little clarity please??

This may sound like a stupid question but when making smoothies (example Green Smoothies that use kale and banana) do you use a blender and add water OR a juicer??

Trying to figure out WHEN to use a blender and WHEN to use a juicer?

Thanks everyone!

: )

It is not a stupid question and the difference between the two confuses many people who think they are the same - myself included at one time.

Here is the basic premise: A blender is a blender and a juicer is a juicer. A blender takes whatever you put in there and basically tears it apart into very small pieces and mixes it together. Something blended contains all of the solid and liquid parts of the plant - the fiber and water.

A juicer removes (for the most part) all of the solid parts and squeezes out the liquid stuff. If you want pure juice without fiber then you juice your produce. Sometimes we juice to get the pulp (solid stuff) to use in another recipe.

If you want the fiberous portion of the plants, use your blender.

When I make a green smoothie, I use some water as a liquid base plus greens (kale, spinach, etc) plus the fruit that I want (banana, pear, mango, etc). Sometimes, in lieu of water I will use fruit juice as the liquid base of my smoothie.

Unless I remember incorrectly from reading Victoria Boutenko's book, one of the motives for drinking green smoothies is for the rich plant fiber.

I hope this helps. If not, let me know.

Patty