Juicing for Kids: What to do with all that Pulp?

Juicing fruit and vegetables is a really healthy way to consume lots of bioavailable nutrients and, if you have a masticating or cold press slow juicer, enzymes.  But if you’re drinking the juice, what are you doing with all that pulp?

For the longest time, I threw away all my juice pulp.  I couldn’t feel too guilty about it because at least I compost it, but it still made me sad to see such a large part of the beautiful fruit and veg going to waste.  Aside from composting, you could also feed it to your chickens, or even to your dog. (Dogs actually really enjoy a bit of juice pulp over their dry kibble!  Domesticated canines have actually evolved to be able to digest more fruit, vegetables, and grains in their diets. It gives them extra vitamins and nutrients, as well as added moisture and flavor to their meal.  Just make sure you’re not giving them pulp that contains anything that could be harmful to them, such as grapes, avocado, raw potatoes, onion, or garlic.)

But why should the dirt, chickens, dogs, goats, or pigs be getting all those extra good-for-you vitamins and nutrients when I could be getting them? Or, better yet, when my kids could be getting them?

There are lots of different ways to use juice pulp, so don’t throw it away! I separate my fruit and vegetable pulp by always juicing all my vegetables first, collecting the pulp, and then juicing any fruits.  Vegetable pulp can be used to make burgers, soups, sauces, and cracker.  Fruit pulp can be used to make fruity crackers, cookies, or even muffins and breads.

I will be testing and sharing with you a few of my very favorite juice pulp recipes, so stay tuned!