National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week

Who doesn’t love an ice cold glass of freshly squeezed juice? Yes, the dentist and the doctor both advise us to eat fresh fruit rather than drink juice for the sake of our teeth and sugar intake, respectively, but juice doesn’t have to be so bad—if you make it fresh without adding sugar and you drink with a straw, you’ll inflict less harm on yourself. Of course, indulging every once in a while isn’t going to kill you, either. Here are a few ways to celebrate this juicy week.

Get a juicer. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s also well worth it if you love to have fresh juice. You can also use it to make juice out of vegetables, something your body will love. The pulp from the juice also works great as healthy filler in foods like muffins and meatloaf.

Switch to juice for a day. Instead of coffee, get a juice blend at your local coffee shop. If they don’t carry one, visit the nearest smoothie shop, juice stand, or other company that has juice drinks and sample a couple this week. Get the most obnoxiously named, far-fetched flavor you like—and what the heck, add whipped cream and nuts if you want. Which do you like? Which do you hate? Be sure to buy in the small size just in case you happen to hate a flavor!

Make some homemade lemonade or orange juice. This messy, fun activity can keep the whole family entertained. Use a manual juicer for the cheapest route; juicing oranges is pretty straightforward, but you may want to use your favorite recipe for lemonade. Bonus: your home will smell awesome.

Learn all about juice. This can be particularly helpful for parents. Do you know how much a serving of juice really is? How about sugar alcohols, cases of toxicity, or health benefits? Read up on juice information to make the best choices for yourself and your family.

Enjoy a juice cocktail. From screwdrivers to bellinis, you can add juice and fruit to many different alcohols for a tasty brunch eye-opener. If you’re going to drink anyway, why not add some juice instead of a soft drink?

Try a juice detox or fast. Fasting isn’t for everyone, so be sure to talk with your doctor before starting your detox—especially if you are taking prescription drugs. Pregnant or nursing women should not do a detox.