Juice Baby is bringing fresh-pressed juice to the Hamptons in a whole new way this summer, on wheels! No need to run from the gym or make a mess in your own kitchen to get a post-workout juice, Juice Baby’s juice truck brings the goods right to you! I got to hang out (and juice!) with Victoria Smith, Juice Baby founder, juicer, entrepreneur, chef, foodie, and Hamptonite, to learn a little more about how her Juice Baby was born.
About a year ago, Victoria decided to leave her corporate advertising job in pursuit of her passion: creating delicious, healthy food, for others. She started the business Stay In Eats, and became a preferred private chef and caterer in both NYC and the Hamptons. This summer called for a little something different, a little something juicier if you will.
Victoria always feels double delicious by drinking a fruit & veggie packed juice after spin class, her workout of choice. “There’s nothing better than the combination of working out and juicing, it feels double good.” She wanted everyone to be able to feel “double good,” hence the juice truck you may have seen around Soul Cycle, Physique 57, and Personal Best in Bridgehampton. “I want to make it a habit.” Ending a workout with a juice is definitely a habit One Healthy Hamptons can support. Even better, Juice Baby juice consists of nothing but local goodness – local fruits and veggies, and the juice is always fresh-pressed within the hour. In addition to the fresh-pressed nutrients, Victoria adds a ton of fun, youth, and Hamptons-love to the biz.
Juice Baby allows customers to pre-order before class so that their order is ready as soon as they’re ready. Pretty brilliant, right? Victoria understands that people want healthy, but they also want convenience and reliability. “Customers know that their green juice will be waiting for them after class and I know that I can expect them too; I know I’ll see Damien everyday for his “Sweet n Dreamy” Smoothie. Mutual dependability.”
We all know that juice is green and trendy, but why is juicing so good for you? Victoria explained that juicing breaks down the fibers and nutrients so that the nutrients can be absorbed by the body instantly. The juice is PACKED with so many powerful greens and other fruits and veggies that you couldn’t consume in it’s natural form (well, you could, but it would take hours of chewing and then the body has to work to break it down.) Juicing not only packs it all in one cup, it also allows the body to absorb the nutrients so much faster, it’s ideal right after a workout or for an afternoon pick-me-up. The health benefits aren’t just internal either, Victoria always sees an improvement in her skin after a few days of juicing in addition to the body.
How did Juice Baby come up with their ‘recipes,’ combinations like “Renagade Lemonade” and “Skinny Green B*tch.” (Yup, you read it right. Who wants to be a skinny b*tch when you could be a skinny green b*tch, anyway?!) Victoria is a foodie, herself, so she uses her knack for taste in her juice concoctions. She doesn’t want super-healthy juice that doesn’t taste good, it has to serve both purposes. Using mostly veggies for the amazing health benefits and adding a bit of fruit for sweetness, her combos have proven successful. “People like the juice, that’s really all that matters.” Juice Baby also offers smoothie options, like the popular “Sweet n’ Dreamy,” which sounds like a dream come true to my taste buds: natural peanut butter, banana, cocoa powder, almond milk, and agave.
So, what’s the Juice Mama’s favorite juice? “That’s like asking a mother which is her favorite child!” Victoria exclaimed. After some serious contemplation, she decided on the “Renegade Lemonade,” which really was what first converted her to become a juice lover.
And, what’s Juice Baby’s favorite thing to do in the Hamptons other than juicing? “Definitely beach bonfires. Late August. Summer sweaters. S’mores. Rose. Chips and guacamole. There’s nothing better.” Sounds about right: work hard, play hard!
Victoria and I then proceeded to whip up Juice Baby’s “Juicy Mama” juice, inspired by Soul Cycle instructor, Daniel. It was so refreshingly delicious. What I love about juicing is that you can smell and taste each individual ingredient, but the combination of them provides a refreshing freshness that no other food or drink has. Victoria let me share the recipe with you in case you’d like your own “Juicy Mama:”
Juice the following: (if you don’t have a juicer, use a blender or vita-mix and Victoria’s tip is to strain the juice with a cheese cloth.)
- 1 handful of swiss chard
- 2 handfuls kale
- 3 handfuls spinach
- 2 cucumbers
- 1 small piece ginger
- 2 large chunks pineapple
Then what? Drink your juice, BABY!
One Healthy Breakdown: Catch Juice Baby rolling around town this summer and be sure to say hi to the fabulous Juice Mama, Victoria!
Start with a bed of leafy greens and add as many veggies/mix-ins as you’d like – best to use as much local, in-season, organic produce as possible! Here’s what I used:
