I own a Vitamix! I’ve been wanting one for years and years but it’s been unattainable with the hefty price tag that comes along with it. Buying a Vitamix simply hasn’t been a priority I could afford. I’m not sure it’s one we could really afford right now either, but we made it happen and haven’t regret it for a moment.
What finally tipped me over the edge in buying one was winning a cookbook on a blog giveaway at Vegan Vistor; Superfood Cuisine: Cooking With Nature’s Most Amazing Foods by Julie Morris. I so enjoyed reading this fantastic cookbook and pursuing the mouth watering and healthy recipes. I’ve since tried a number of them, although I don’t have ingredients on hand for all.
Superfoods mentioned in this cookbook are: Acai Berry, algaes like Chlorella and Spirulina, Cacao, Camu Camu, Chia Seed, Flax Seed, Goldenberry, Goji Berry, grasses like Wheat Grass, Kamut Grass and Barley Grass, Green Leafy Veg, Hemp Seeds, Maca, Maqui Berry, Mulberry, Pomegranate, Quinoa, Sea Veg, Sacha Inchi, Sprouts and Yacon.
Also mentioned are a number of healthy ingredients that are rich in nutrients, although not technically superfoods. Agave, Coconut Oil, Coconut Water, Dates, Lucuma, Mesquite, Miso, Nutritional Yeast, Tahini and Umeboshi Plum Vinegar, to name a few.
What I learned about many superfoods is that they are often best used as a freeze dried powder. Because many of them are found so far from where I live- and likely where you live too- processing them into a freeze dried powder is the best way to take advantage of their abundant nutrients. What better way to consume freeze dried superfood powders than in smoothies?
A lot of my friends think it’s funny that for years I have been making smoothies in my food processor. Seriously, the official step I take before actually “blending” the smoothie ingredients is to wrap a dish towel around the seam of the food processor to catch the inevitable spray that comes out as I process. I realise that a food processor wasn’t ideal for smoothie making but without a blender it was the best I had.
We’ve been making smoothies daily for more than a month now and we all feel better for it. With the Vitamix we’re able to add all kinds of ingredients to our smoothies that we couldn’t with a food processor or ancient blender, like kale, collards, fresh new nettle, flax seeds and carrots.
The smoothies we’re making now are outrageously delicious and packed full of healthy goodness!
I’m so excited to share more superfood specifics and smoothie ideas in future blog posts! I also have a number of recipes to share from the cookbook itself or at least share the recipes the way I make them.
What are your favourite smoothie ingredients?
Ok, I would like a superfood smoothie for breakfast tomorrow. I’m gonna need it!
: D
I’ll bring one! xx
mmm, smoothies. I’d love a vitamix, although right now our little Bullet blender is good for making individual smoothies. I try all sorts of combos – a current favourite is banana, orange, frozen blackberries (picked last summer), sprouts/kale, acai powder, matcha powder, and water.
and I may have to try nettle – my favourite patch was just poking through the soil last weekend so I hope to be out picking this weekend, and I plan to harvest a lot more this year than last and freeze it for later use.
I love my Vitamix…
I put Kale, hemp seeds (lots of them) fruit…other times I put spinach or chard…gojji berries, cacao nibs…immunity quest colostrum…I put any and what ever goodies we have on hand…I even hide in the kids smoothie some chocolate cod live oil and a sprinkle of E3 Brain On powder …so yummy for them:)
I am super happy for you guys! I am hoping to get one of these one day.
I had to laugh when you wrote about using your food processor. That is how we make smoothies here, but I find it so much hassle that we seldom do it.
I *almost* picked up a blender at the thrift the other day, but I didn’t want to spend the $5 when I know down the road I’m going to buy a Vitamix! Is that crazy? I’d rather go without than buy something (even cheap) that doesn’t fit the bill.
Looking forward to being able to afford a vitamix. We love smoothies and try to drink one everyday. We like kale, spinach, swiss chard with either, apple, or pear and frozen mixed berries with water.
I have blender envy! Someday I’ll have a Vita-Mix but for now, my cheapo drugstore brand will have to do!
My favourite smoothie of late is water, chia seeds, coconut oil, spinach, bee pollen, banana and blueberries. So good!
Thank you, everyone!
K- I am so jealous of your blackberries. I miss them since moving from the island!
Nadine- I’ve never heard of immunity quest colostrum! Interesting.
Bridie- yes, you will need a vitamix one day! I could send you the old blender we just got and don’t need? It’s also a slicer and stand mixer so it might not be something you’d like/ redundant. I know what you mean though. I’ve gone without a lot of things until I could afford the right/best version.
Mamaloves- I can’t wait for pears! That’s something we don’t get up here often. I use apple though quite a bit. It adds a great texture and sweetness.
Kim- I’m in the habit of taking bee pollen in the mornings before breakfast but have been considering putting it in our smoothies. I worry that it might cause some allergic reactions though. Cam has some pollen issues so I’m not sure. Maybe we should just try it.
MMmm…. Today I made two smoothies for my day spent at the National Energy Review board to talk about enbridge.
My breakfast one was carrot, collards, chia seeds, hemp hearts, coconut milk, banana, blueberry, pomegranate, cherry.
I came home to make my lunch smoothie. It was carrot, collards, kale, flax seed, spirulina, coconut water, banana, raspberry.
wow, annie, you’re on a whirl (ha-ha) this is very exciting. i’m afrain i’m not to adventurous when it comes to smoothies, and i like to work with what’;s on hand…frozen berries usually, spinach or kale and soon i’m going to add nettle (i whiz the greens with water first before adding anything so they blend well) , banana, plain, unsweetened saugheen yogurt, water or milk, other fresh fruits. sometimes i add hemp hearts and flax seed or protein powder when i have them. i am weird in that i can mix any of that and be satisfied – as long as there is some protein added it gives me great energy. i like smoothies though not sweet tasting, so it all works. oh and i add CLO or other oil and vit c powder too.
our blender is okay, some day i’ll upgrade, i suppose. i like that you can make soup in a vitamix-that would be mileage i’d pay for for sure.
Congratulations on the blender. Such a strange thing to type and yet after daydreaming about owning a vitamix myself…someday, it’s a sincere if not odd statement. :)
PS I’m super curious about how you add chia seeds to your smoothie? Pre-soaked? Dry? I finally bought some a few months ago and just noticed them tucked conveniently between the jars the other day. First thought, as always, I gotta remember to google that later. I’d love to see a recipe using them though. Cheers!
I add the chia seeds just as they are or will let them soak a few minutes before blending away. The vitamix is a pretty awesome thing because it blends every little piece I put into the smoothie with ease.
We eat chia seeds whole in a variety of different ways. In salads, in crackers, in oatmeal, in cookies… Lily will even sprinkle them on nut buttered and honey toast! Basically they can be eaten raw and whole or soaked or sprouted.
I’m not sure if it’s necessary but I keep my chia seeds, flax seeds and hemp hearts in the fridge for optimum freshness. I figure it at least can’t hurt and it takes up space in the fridge that is much larger than we need.
You MUST check out Wild Fermentation…The author writes really well and the book is so informative about fermented foods (you could get it from Nanaimo when I’m done with it, LOL). From what I’m learning, fermenting certain foods (like soy or cabbage) allows an amazing amount more nutrients to be absorbed by the body. BTW that purple smoothie totally made my mouth water!
I’ve looked at that book, Gen! In fact, it was just this last trip to Smithers that got me thinking about finding it again. I haven’t always enjoyed fermented foods but love the few I was eating with friends on the trip. Thank you for the push. I’ll go to the library and order it!
I usually use a hand blender, which doesn’t give the smoothest consistency, but I go with it anyhow. A Vitamix would be amazing!
Some of our fav ingredients include kale, parsley, mint, flax oil, flax seed, hemp, chia, frozen berries or fruit of some kind, avocado, banana, celery, carrots, mango, kiwi, chickpeas, you name it!
~C~
Yay! We love our vitamix… 8 years and still going strong!
Simple smoothies here lately… lots of kale and fruit. Such a great way to start the day!
Yay! A vitamix! Ours needs some repairs and I am missing it a lot. It worked well for lots of year (14 maybe?) and was used nearly every day during that time, so pretty good track record!