Vitamix - is it worth it, Green Smoothies - Share your recipes PLEASE!

[kat1982l]

Hello all,

I am new to raw (as of 2/18) I am about 95-98% daily.


I am wondering if I should buy a Vitamix - what types of things are easy to prepare with it that you cannot prepare with a cheaper version?



Also, I want to start drinking green smoothies regularly - could you please post your favorite green smoothie recipes?



Thanks to all!!

Katie

[raweater]

The Vitamix was too expensive for me, but $100 blenders are too cheap for me (the motors burn out in no time), so I settled for a $200 model that's been great so far, I think I like it more than I would a vitamix.

I got the Breville BBL600XL (approx $200 US) a few months ago and it's really great, and customer support is awesome. I really love that blender, and really see no need for a vitamix (not saying it's as powerful, it's not, but I don't need any more power than it has).

Here's the product page, they also have a video:
http://www.brevilleusa.com/products/bbl600xl/index.jsp?sku=bbl600xl&cID=103&pID=21&pvID=21

[Raene]

I know a Vitamix would work better, but I use a blender I bought at Target for $40 and I use it 3-5 times per DAY. It works GREAT, no complaints. It's the same model that is on Jennifer Cornbleet's raw recipe book...Raw Food Made Easy. I feel glad that I didn't rush out to buy a more expensive model when this one does what I need it to do.
I make a quart of Green Smoothie every morning--some family faves are:
cilantro, mango, banana,
parsley and banana,
raspberry, chard, and banana
kale, blueberry, banana
You pretty much can't go wrong with mixing random fruits (60%) with 40% green leafies. Beware, though: blueberry smoothies seem to congeal!

[Aleesha Sattva]

to honestly say you don't want or don't need a vita-mix without trying it is like saying a porsche' is just another car.

the vita-mix is easier to clean, it's faster at making smoothies and can handle a much larger load when doing so. my smoothies were, in my opinion, very smooth in my $150 dollar 600 watt blender, then i got a vita-mix and discovered a whole new level of smooth!

when i was sick recently, it was so nice to make myself some warm soup in less than 4 minutes in my vita-mix. no fuss, no mess... just warm soup ready to eat!

i can put in much larger quantities of flax seeds in my vita-mix and within a minute i have freshly ground flax seeds. unlike when i had to put small amounts into a coffee grounder, over and over again to get the same quantity.

my raw-life has improved greatly since i got my vita-mix. when it's a quick and easy meal i want... i reach for my vita-mix because i know it can deliver it to me.

i just bought mine and even if i had to pay for a new one yearly... i'd still get this machine over and over again. i can only imagine how much work it's going to get all through the summer!

of course, then there's the whole... wheatgrass in a vita-mix. having the vita-mix has saved me from having to buy a wheatgrass juicer! there's a savings in itself!!!

[MZ B]

I would by the Vitamax. I had a $60.00 blender that burnt out after 2 weeks. The fruit wasn't a problem but the kale was a bit much for it.

[Revvell]

VM alllll the way! I've had mine about 10 years now. LOVE IT!!!

Revvell

[Eva]

Sometimes I question if it was necessary to get the VM, but I have green smoothies daily, and I have NO problem with throwing frozen stuff and greens in. They just get crushed up. I feel like it was an investment that will be around for a while.

As for recipes, I freeze bananas, mix them with some type of green leaves and water that is almost as high as the mound of bananas and greens.

I do sometimes put something else in, like pineapples, blueberries, strawberries, oranges.

If you're up for spending more than 5-6 minutes (rather than 1-2) making the smoothie, a good recipe is: 1 frozen banana, 1 cup of any citrus fruit, 1 cup of any greens, 2 cups water.

:)

[blaqberry]

VitaMix, Baby!! ...recycling goddess made a lot of great points. We were using a $200 blender (pretty powerful for the type) and only after adapting tricks here and there did I get it to process things how I like. I will say that it worked great for just under three years...then up and called it quits one night right as I was in the middle of (fruit) smoothie prep - not fun. We'd been thinking of getting a VM for a while and that seemed like the best time to take the plunge.

After finally experiencing the differences between what we were using (including any and all that we had used in the past) to the machine we have now, I can't say that I'd easily go to back to the other type. Or any other blender for that matter!

...freaking love it.

LOVE it :D

[islesgirl]

Hi,
My Vitamix is one of the best investments I've ever made. So powerful that I can regularly use things like frozen cucumbers, pineapple, chard with stalks, collards with stalks, whole apples, whole lemons etc. etc.

My most favorite fruit/veggies smoothie to date is:

1 banana
about 4 thick frozen pineapple rings (core included)
1 papaya (with 1/2 of the seeds)
1 tbsp. each unhulled sesame seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds
1 tbsp. flax oil (am out of coconut oil which is also yummy)
1/2-1 seedless cuke (skin on) or seeded cuke (peeled, as I can't get organic)
1 lemon, with seeds and about a 2" square piece of the rind
1 large handful of spinach (at least)
1/2 tsp. of a mixture of Stevia, SugarTwin, Splenda (I know many of you will not agree with this, but I haven't gotten used to all Stevia yet - perhaps in time and I am very new to RAW)
about 1 or 2 cups of water (didn't measure)

This is out of this world! (I think so anyway):D
It makes over 2 large glasses (fills the vitamix) and satisfies me for more than 1/2 of the day.
Sue

[islesgirl]

To my smoothie (I was too late to edit this correctly, I guess, Sorry guys!)

I add 1/2 tsp. of a mixture of Stevia, SugarTwin, Splenda (I know many of you will not agree with this, but I am new to RAW and have not gotten used to straight Stevia yet and may not ever. We'll see. I figure the fruit/veggie concoction more than makes up for the small poor choice)

Sue.

[EastCoastie]

RG Loved your post (especially since my husband used to have a Carrera convertible for his business car and I attest to the truth of your comparison :)

Anyway, as far as the V-M goes (or the Blend-Tec) since I've had both, they are great machines that make food prep quick! (We have one at work and another here at home) Although I love my Cuisinart, it just does not do nut pates or sauces as quickly or smooth as does the high powered blender.

If you don't want to buy a new V-M, why don't you consider getting one of the older ones off of E-bay. We had one of those for a couple of years and it was a workhorse. Plus if you ever want to get a new one, V-M will give you a trade-in allowance (or at least they used to).

As far as recipes go, my current favorite is taking Rawkie's Strawberry Lemonade and adding a big handful of greens to it. Or you can make more of a mocha-type smoothie with greens (never would have guessed that but a friend got me to try it and it's great) or my previous favorite freshly squeezed grapefruit juice with some ginger, a little bit of fresh mint, 1/2 cucumber peeled and some greens (an adaptation of Dr. Oz's "Big Glass of Fresh").

Good luck!

[kat1982l]

I drink smoothies daily so I am thinking it is worth the investment.


Vitamix or Blendtec? Are they on the same level? I was reading posts on both on the board.


I truly appreciated the recipes - I am starting to collect them now so I can try more greens, smoothies, soups, etc....


~ Katie

[Aleesha Sattva]

sorry i know nothing about the blendtec so i can't say.

but you already know how much i love my vita-mix LOL

[Revvell]

I have both as I've stated here many times. LOVE my VM.

Revvell

[EastCoastie]

Like Revvell, I have both and I love my BT (it's the home version of the Starbuck's blender). I love the digital interface and the programmed cycles.

BTW, I forgot to include frozen pineapple in the recipe for the grapefruit "Big Glass of Fresh" smoothie.

[rawererin]

OMG yes! I have a Blendtec, and most people on this board who have dropped the cash either a Blendtec or Vitamix, it's soooooo worth it, I can't even explain.
Green smoothies aren't filled with chunks of green...
I can grind anything, even teeny tiny flax seeds...
The thing is pretty much bullet proof...
Go for it, it's the best investment, besides my Cusinart and Excalibur... and my car, that I've ever made!

[rawererin]

Oh yeah if you do decide to get either a Vitamix or Blendtec order from Vitalityplus1.com, great service, fast shipping and really discounted prices.

[nanetteb]

I have a Kitchenaid Blender I'm very fond of (it is red!) but it definitely lags behind in the green smoothie department. I would love it if I could get rid of berry seeds in my smoothies.

My current favorite smoothie is 1 banana, 1 leaf of kale (without stem), about 1/4 cup frozen raspberries, some cocoa powder, and agave nectar. I'm just starting out and am still using my old non-raw cocoa powder but will buy some cacao powder soon.

[kat1982l]

I have a Kitchenaid Blender I'm very fond of (it is red!) but it definitely lags behind in the green smoothie department. I would love it if I could get rid of berry seeds in my smoothies.

My current favorite smoothie is 1 banana, 1 leaf of kale (without stem), about 1/4 cup frozen raspberries, some cocoa powder, and agave nectar. I'm just starting out and am still using my old non-raw cocoa powder but will buy some cacao powder soon.

That sounds delicious!

[Dimond]

LOVE my Vitamix. It's well worth the money. I make smoothies, soups, puddings, brownies, milks, etc. in it & it's done super quickly.

[kat1982l]

LOVE my Vitamix. It's well worth the money. I make smoothies, soups, puddings, brownies, milks, etc. in it & it's done super quickly.


Might be a stupid question....how do you make puddings and soups in it? Just soup or pudding ingredients and blend it? How do you get a pudding consistency? What do you sue?

Also someone said they heated them up in it? Just a bit? How does it do that?

[Dimond]

Yes, you just blend the ingredients to create a soup or pudding. You can use less or more water (sometime none at all) depending on how you like it. For pudding it depends on the consistency you want. Usually I'll just blend a fruit or two & it's pudding (adding agave & water, if necessary). But you can use avocado or fresh figs if you want a more pudding-like consistency. Takes only a couple of minutes max to make either.

Running the Vitamix longer creates heat. Just need to make sure it doesn't get too hot.

I have some recipes here for soups & other things I make in Vitamix: http://dimondhealth.com/health/Recipes.htm

[kat1982l]

Great - thanks so much!!

[NoGMO!]

the vitamix takes care of business in the kitchen for sure. well worth the cash.:p

[Hygeia]

Maybe someday I'll be able to get a VM.

[Snoozy]

Vitamix or Blendtec? Are they on the same level? I was reading posts on both on the board.


~ Katie

I have a Blendtec and LOVE it. It is more powerful then the VM and the computer screen is so much nicer than the manual knobs of the VM.

Towards the middle/bottom of the page on the VM website, click on "See a Vitamix Demonstration Now" and watch how she needs to manually adjust the knobs to make a smoothie.
http://www.vita-mix.com/

Here's a link to the Blendtec site and some demonstration videos (for Total Blender). I think the smoothie video shows a good demonstration but they are all good.
http://www.blendtec.com/demos.aspx

Hope that helps!

[Hygeia]

Great demos..............I need one of those!!! Time to start saving my allowance. LOL

[GlimR]

I love my VM and use it multiple times a day. I've never had a BT but have no problems with the manual switches. They have an awesome customer service and warrenty and are workhorses. I make smoothies, whole juices and my fav...almond mylk. I make desserts w/irish moss that HAVE to be perfectly smooth...I make ice creams and sorbets, puddings and soups. I grind dehydrated corn into corn meal for chips. Not to mention the SAD things I do for the rest of my family. I have several juicers, a food processer, choppers, etc...what I use daily is the VM......every day!

[Revvell]

I have to say, the reason I enjoy and use my VM more than my BT is because it starts at a MUCH lower speed so I can start it without putting the cover on it and add more (such as a handful of greens) through the top instead of through the lil hole in the cover.

Other reason ~ VERY large container. I also got the smaller container which is convenient at times but I use the large container daily.

You wont go wrong with either choice imo.


Revvell

[MarciaN]

Recyling Goddess,
How do you make your wheatgrass juice in the Vita Mix? I know how to grow the wheat grass, and I just got a Vita Mix last week.
Thank you!

[kat1982l]

I need to buy one! I have been making green smoothies and my blender is totally dying!