What sparked your passion for healthy food and living?
We both grew up in very healthful households; it’s all we’ve ever known. Growing up we were both macrobiotic, vegan and everything in between. An after-school snack was a crudité platter or gluten-free courgette cookies.
What would be your biggest piece of advice for people looking to kick-start a healthier diet?
First and foremost, integrate a cold-pressed green juice into your diet. Find something you find yummy and get hooked; this will help you feel better right away. Then, figure out which veggies and fruits you love and start adding more and more of them to your diet.
“My biggest advice: first and foremost, integrate a cold-pressed green juice into your diet.”
And drink tons of water – most of the time, when you think you’re hungry, your body is actually thirsty. People associate dehydration with summer, but we can be so dehydrated at all times of the year.
“Drink tons of water – most of the time, when you think you’re hungry, your body is actually thirsty.”
What role, if any, does juicing play in that?
To us, a juice is everything. Because your body doesn’t have to break anything down, the nutrients go straight into your system and you feel an instant hit. When you start to realise how good you feel after drinking a juice, you can’t imagine not incorporating juice into your diet.
“When you start to realise how good you feel after drinking a juice, you can’t imagine not incorporating juice into your diet.”
What do you believe is the best kind of juice we can drink?
The juice you love. Realistically, you’re not going to drink something if you think it’s gross, so find one you really enjoy. Generally, we recommend veggie-based juices made with leafy greens.
“We really love one of our Cashew or Cacao Mylks as a boost throughout the day.”
Do you follow any specific way of eating?
Lily is open to eating anything; she eats a lot of lentils, beans, and pulses and really appreciates ethnic flavours. Meryl doesn’t eat meat or dairy. She eats a primarily raw food diet – not on purpose but just because that’s the kind of food to which she gravitates. Most of all, we enjoy food and we really care about flavours.
Are you a breakfast lover?
Meryl leans toward a green juice for breakfast (mostly our Hydro juice), whereas Lily is into overnight oats soaked in our Almond Mylk or Cashew Mylk.
Do you believe in diets or detox programmes?
The best thing for us is just making juice part of our lives. We travel a lot and we try to enjoy wherever it is we are. Whenever we return to London we both make sure we reset. This may mean a one-day juice cleanse or a raw food and juice diet. We both do a three-day juice cleanse at least four times a year and are really into our one-day Wednesday cleanse!
“The juice should work for you; you don’t need to work for the juice.”
How do you create a brand that sits apart from all the other pressed juices?
“Growing up, an after-school snack was a crudité platter.”
We spent months experimenting with recipes and developing the best flavours possible. We also have a broad variety of offerings and many fruit-free options, which is rare. We also have a particular philosophy – the juice should work for you; you don’t need to work for the juice. This means we don’t tell you how you have to live your life, we’re just here to offer you a yummy option. And we give you the option to purchase a juice in one of our stockists, order juice packs online, or do a full cleanse.
How do you stay on track when you travel?
We always bring tons of our shots on the flight, which is integral to boosting our immune system. A ginger shot is particularly great for travel. We also make sure we drink a ton of water and try to stay active when we’re travelling – sometimes that means trying a class, or sometimes it means just walking everywhere!
We love scoping out juice spots or healthy restaurants wherever we are. We also always pack healthy snacks if that’s not possible. We’ve been known to pack entire suitcases of activated nuts, raw bars, healthful balls, avocados and rice cakes!
“We make sure we drink a ton of water and try to stay active when we’re travelling – sometimes that means trying a class, or sometimes it means just walking everywhere!”
Favourite snacks when on the move?
Juice! We literally always have juice.
“”A delicious, warming tomato soup is our go-to recipe on a busy day.””
Does your interest in a healthier lifestyle cross over into other parts of your life?
We definitely believe it’s not just what you eat. We both use all-natural cleaning products. We also try to buy as much sustainable and upcycled clothing as possible. We adore Rêve En Vert. As far as beauty is concerned, we use coconut oil for absolutely everything: moisturiser, eye make-up remover – you name it. We also swear by products from Pai and Neom; we just love them both. And Content Beauty has everything – it’s just the best; we also love their facials.
What is your go-to meal on a busy day?
We’ll make a chopped salad or a delicious, warming tomato soup.
What are your pantry essentials?
Raw cacao, coconut oil, chia seeds, royal jelly and rice cakes.
Are there any cookbooks you couldn’t live without?
We love so many. We’re huge fans of the books by Ella Woodward, Madeleine Shaw, Julie Montagu, Lily Simpson and Rob Hobson, and Dr Alejandro Junger; the list is endless.
