The teaches of peaches

I’ve got a confession.

Up until recently I was never a fan of fruit in my salads.

But then the heat wave came.

And juicy fruit on a refreshing salad didn’t sound so unappealing.

First came the strawberries.

And I thought, “Okay, I can do this.”

Then there were the blueberries.

And those were downright tasty.

And August brought the peaches.

And what can I really say about peaches?

To me, they are like the prime rib of fruit. I’m convinced that adding peaches to any recipe could not possibly be a bad decision.

So what I’m trying to say is, even if you don’t THINK you like fruit in your salad, Juice Box Café’s August special peach salad just might change your mind.

And it’s much healthier than the Pittsburgh tradition of French Fries on top of the salad :)

We’re blue (da ba dee)

We’re celebrating a hot and steamy July with cool and refreshing menu items created with organic, local blueberries.

The blueberry salad features blueberries (duh), walnuts, blue cheese, and apple cinnamon dressing.

And if you’re wondering about that subtle, nutty taste in the blueberry shake, blame thank the almond milk.

Of course, these blue treats go best with a side of Eiffel 65.

Enjoy.

June is Strawberry Month

When I was younger I spent a lot of time on albinoblacksheep.com watching absolutely ridiculous flash videos.

So when I was asked to write about strawberries in honor of Strawberry Month at Juice Box Cafe, one of the first things I thought about was “The Evil Stawberry.”

So after I thought about the evil strawberry, I thought about the results that once popped up when I started to type “what” into the google search bar…

Apparently it’s some kind of book…

So as it turns out, I really didn’t have any good ideas when it came to writing about strawberries, so I decided I’d just take pictures of Juice Box Café’s new strawberry salad and strawberry shake in honor of Strawberry Month at Juice Box.

Here at Juice Box, we love strawberries. And cowboy boots. Alright so maybe it’s just me that loves cowboy boots.

Skinny smoothies

Food Network star Nigella Lawson was recently photographed in a rather conservative swim suit…

Perhaps if she’d been regularly sipping on our low calorie smoothies, she would have been more willing to reveal Victoria’s Nigella’s Secret.

Swim suit season can be a little intimidating. Take the edge off with one of our new skinny smoothies—all under 100 calories.

Watermelon Smoothie

Calories:  46

Fat:  0 grams
Cholesterol:  0 grams
Sodium:  2mg
Carbohydrates:  12g (4%)
Dietary Fiber:  1g (2%)
Protein:  1g
Vitamin A:  18%
Vitamin C:  21%
Calcium: 1 %
Iron:  2%

• very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium
• a good source of Potassium, Vitamin A and Vitamin C
• a good source of antioxidants, lycopene, and vitamins B6 and B12.

Apple ginger smoothie

Calories:    59
Fat:  0 grams
Cholesterol:  0 grams
Sodium:  5mg
Carbohydrates:  12g (4%)
Dietary Fiber:  0g
Sugars:  12g

• Very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium
• a very good source of Vitamin C, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper and Manganese.

Citrus Smoothie:

Calories:  53
Fat:  0 grams
Cholesterol:  0 grams
Sodium:  0 mg
Carbohydrates:  12g (4%)
Dietary Fiber:  0g
Sugars:  8g
Vitamin A:  4%
Vitamin C:  90%

• very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium
• a good source of Vitamin B6, Thiamin, Folate and Potassium, and  Vitamin C. 

Frosting is not a food group

Recently I’ve come to learn that pizza plus cake does not a healthy diet make.

[source]

Okay so maybe I already knew that.

But I had a hard time letting the leftover cakes and three extra large pizzas from my graduation party go to waste.

When I started to smell stale pizza coming out of my pores, I decided I needed to incorporate some healthier foods into my diet—AKA some vegetables.

I’ll admit that a big stalk of broccoli isn’t always as appealing as cake frosting, but I’ll let you in on a secret:

If you hide your veggies in a fruit smoothie, you can’t taste them.

For an extra 50 cents, Juice Box will add some kale to your smoothie, and I promise you won’t taste it! You’ll just reap its awesome benefits and knock off one of your five daily servings of veggies.

Now lay off the cake and pizza. Oh wait, that was me. Nevermind!

When life hands you lemons…

 

Lemons will forever remind me of the Andy Milonakis show that used to be on MTV.

“It’s my show don’t tell me what to do. When life hands me lemons, I make beef stew.”

Have I lost you yet? Okay, nevermind. Not that important.

[source]

According to an article by Fit Sugar, lemons are not just pretty good, but a SUPER FOOD!

Here are some of the health benefits the article mentioned:

1. Constipation and diarrhea relief. Lemons help cleanse the digestive track and allow food to digest properly.
2. Lemons aid in the production of antibodies in the blood that attack invading microorganisms and prevent infection.
3. Lemon is found to be anticarcinogenic, which can lower the rates of colon, prostate, and breast cancer.
4. Because of its high potassium content, lemon controls high blood pressure, dizziness, and nausea, and provides relaxation to mind and body.
5. Lemons feature antibacterial properties that help aid sore throats. Mix half of a lemon with water and gargle.
6. Lemons are great for colds, the flu, and fevers. They help stop the fever by increasing perspiration.
7. Lemon has antiseptic and styptic properties, so it can stop internal bleeding. For instance, you can put some lemon on a cotton ball and apply it to the inside of your nose to stop a nose bleed.
8. Lemon mixed with water is great for anyone who has respiratory problems like asthma because of its rich source of vitamin C.
9. A cup of warm water with lemon and a pinch of salt can help with weight loss and lower cholesterol.
10. When applied to a burn, lemon juice will actually reduce the burning sensation since it acts as a cooling agent.

So stop by the cafe for some lemonade today to get all the amazing health benefits that lemons have to offer.

New Hours!

New, longer hours effective Friday, April 15:

Monday-Friday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sure they’re a little hard to remember, but they’re also longer. Which means more time for more juice, like the V6.

No I didn’t sneak into someone’s yard to take that extremely artsy picture of my V6 by a pond…

Okay so maybe I did.

It’s not creepy if it’s for artistic purposes.

Okay so maybe it is.

Meatless Mondays

A meatless lifestyle is not for everyone. But there are benefits for you and the environment if you go meatless just one day a week.

[source]

Meatless Monday is a movement that encourages people to go vegetarian on Mondays.

The health benefits of going meatless for a day include:

• limit cancer risk
• reduce heart disease
• fight diabetes
• curb obesity
• live longer
• improve diet

The environmental benefits include:

• reduce fossil fuel dependence
• reduce carbon footprint
• minimize water usage

If you’re interested in going meatless for a day, our menu has plenty of vegetarian and vegan options for you to try.

Smoked Tofu and Spicy Curry Wrap

Mock Tuna Salad

..and others.

Happy Meatless Monday!

[source]

What's the ratio of a pumpkin's circumference to its diameter?

Here at the Juice Box, we're excited for the fall season. We love the falling leaves and the crisp air. Halloween and Thanksgiving are just around the corner, and the new year isn't too far away. But recently we've had our eyes on a particular oblong squash whose name conjures up images of autumnal bliss - the pumpkin. We're working night and day to incorporate this delectable treat into a variety of home-made recipes that will be sure to please your palate (We're so focused, in fact, that one of our Juice Boxers discovered the ratio of a pumpkin's circumference to its diameter is pumpkin pi).

Our pumpkins may not be displayed on our patio or in the lobby, donning spooky faces and ghoulish countenances. Instead, we serve them directly to you. Pumpkin is the MVP behind our vegan/gluten-free pumpkin bars, our root vegetable soup, and our vegan pumpkin spice hot chocolate. Not only do these new menu items taste divine, they are also jam-packed full of nutrients. The prominent orange hue reveals the multitude of carotenoids within the pumpkin. These powerful antioxidants defend the body against free radicals that promote skin damage and aging. Other antioxidants, notably lutein and zeaxanthin, support supreme eye health by scavenging free radicals in the lens of the eye, reducing the formation of cataracts and macular degeneration. Pumpkin is truly an all star when it comes to your health and vitality.

There's nothing scary about our pumpkins at the Juice Box, unless you fear eating the best food ever!

Adam Haritan
Juice Boxer at Juice Box Cafe

Juice Box Cafe Grand Opening

Official Grand Opening Week:

Monday, October 18 - Sunday, October 24

• $5 Healthy Lunch Specials: All Day, Monday thru Friday
• NEW Full-service Dining
• Weekend Brunch
• NEW Menu Items: Hot Beverages and Soups:

-Almond Milk Hot Chocolate (Vegan)
-Mulled, fresh-squeezed Apple Cider

-Chicken Noodle Soup with brown rice
-Butternut Squash Soup (Vegan)
-Black Bean Chili (Vegan)
-Vegetable Barley Soup (Vegan)
-Tomato Basil Soup (Vegetarian)

Grand Opening Event:
Thursday, October 21: 6-9 pm
Featuring an Art Reception and Vegetarian Fine Dining Hors D'oeuvres
FREE!

Read the full press release here.

Visit www.juiceboxpitt.com for a complete menu.