Re: Green smoothies

[Guest guest]

I'm living with mom.  She had the fp only up until now.  It works great for anything, you just have to wash it out a lot if you are cooking a lot of things at once.  *Currently not SCD btw* but now she has a nifty little blender that does the smoothies, ice cream and everything.  When I move, I'll just get a fp.  Those will do anything and are kind of pricey. 

 

I won't buy anything extra if I can just get the basics finished--takes up all the counter space anyway.

 

debbie 40 cd

 

I was reading about green smoothies, and I wonder if you really need one of those high end blenders, like a Vitamix or Blendtec. I have a nice Cuisinart, and wonder if the investment in the expensive blender is worth it. Any advice?

PJ

[Guest guest]

I was reading about green smoothies, and I wonder if you really need one of those high end blenders, like a Vitamix or Blendtec. I have a nice Cuisinart, and wonder if the investment in the expensive blender is worth it. Any advice?My grandparents do smoothies in their Cuisinart, and they say it works fine but it doesn't turn out as smooth and creamy as in our Blendtec. We got ours for $400 I think, so it's pricy but boy do we use the heck out of it! I think the frozen fruit may be more of a problem for weaker blenders, and you may have to defrost it first. Peace =)Alyssa 15 yoUC April 2008, dx Sept 2008SCD June 2009 (restarted)Chinese Herbs (not legal but helping!)

[Guest guest]

Hi PJ,

My brother, AKA mechanical genius, started off doing juicing with a

Vitamix. He restored and upgraded several models. He also did this with

some other high end brands, whose names escape me now.

He analyzed for taste, ease of use, cleaning, temperature of contents

after various times of processing, etc. He was very scientific in his

approach.

After all this, he decided to try an inexpensive blender and found the

results to be pretty much the same. As long as you aren't

blending/processing for too long a period of time, he found the " warmness "

of the juice to be the same no matter what brand he used.

While certain things were plusses or minuses on the different brands,

he didn't feel that the Vitamix, etc. was worth the huge price difference

from the bargain model to matter much.

He said the real trick is getting the right combos of veggies and

fruits to your liking. His green smoothies make him feel better in a slow,

incremental manner and now he wouldn't be without them.

Sue R

PS He always uses heavy duty ear protection when the blender is on

[Guest guest]

Hi PJ,

I purchased (invested in) a Vita-Mix last summer. I use it every day, sometimes more than once a day. I love the machine! I can't imagine putting carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, sweet potatoes (or other hard vegetables) in a regular blender and getting an acceptable drink. The secret to a beautiful green smoothie is to put all of your hard vegetables and greens in with some water and blend first. Then add your frozen fruit or ice and blend for a shorter period of time. The Vita-Mix is also super easy to clean, unlike a traditional blender. I had a very good Cuisinart blender before and it can not compare to the Vita-Mix. The question you need to ask yourself is whether or not you will be making good use of the machine. If you only are going to use it 1-2 week then it is not worth your money...unless you've got money to spare :-) The machines are now $500.00. I drink green smoothies every day and occasionally do a day of green smoothie fasting. The smoothies have done wonders for my overall health plus GI tract.

Sharon

Green smoothies

I was reading about green smoothies, and I wonder if you really need one of those high end blenders, like a Vitamix or Blendtec. I have a nice Cuisinart, and wonder if the investment in the expensive blender is worth it. Any advice?PJ

[Guest guest]

I had a cuisinart blender that worked alright. For me, it depended on how thick

I was making the smoothie. I did eventually work it too hard and so VitaMix was

one of the best investments I've ever made.

Stacey

>

> I was reading about green smoothies, and I wonder if you really need one of

those high end blenders, like a Vitamix or Blendtec. I have a nice Cuisinart,

and wonder if the investment in the expensive blender is worth it. Any advice?

> PJ

>

[Guest guest]

> I was reading about green smoothies, and I wonder if you really

need > one of those high end blenders, like a Vitamix or Blendtec. I

have a > nice Cuisinart, and wonder if the investment in the expensive > blender is worth it. Any advice?

My grandparents do smoothies in their Cuisinart, and they say it

works fine but it doesn't turn out as smooth and creamy as in our Blendtec. We got ours for $400 I think, so it's pricy but boy do we use the

heck out of it! I think the frozen fruit may be more of a problem for weaker blenders, and you may have to defrost it first.

I make anything from smoothies to " ice cream " consistency

in my blender. It's an old Osterizer, at least 45 years old and it works

fine. I don't defrost berries. The only comment I will make

compared to what I understand of Vitamix or Blendtec is that it doesn't

really pulverize the seeds from the berries, but fortunately that isn't a

problem for me. I guess as long as this keeps going I won't investigate

getting another one

[Guest guest]

Is the key to use a handful of spinach for iron boosts?  I saw Montel on an infommercial and they said for their product to blend all the vegetables first then add the fruit.  They used a handful of spinach in almost every green smoothie.  They also mentioned swiss chard and a lot of different leafy vegetables.

 

> I was reading about green smoothies, and I wonder if you really need > one of those high end blenders, like a Vitamix or Blendtec. I have a > nice Cuisinart, and wonder if the investment in the expensive > blender is worth it. Any advice?

My grandparents do smoothies in their Cuisinart, and they say it works fine but it doesn't turn out as smooth and creamy as in our Blendtec. We got ours for $400 I think, so it's pricy but boy do we use the heck out of it! I think the frozen fruit may be more of a problem for weaker blenders, and you may have to defrost it first.I make anything from smoothies to " ice cream " consistency in my blender. It's an old Osterizer, at least 45 years old and it works fine.  I don't defrost berries.  The only comment I will make compared to what I understand of Vitamix or Blendtec is that it doesn't really pulverize the seeds from the berries, but fortunately that isn't a problem for me. I guess as long as this keeps going I won't investigate getting another one

[Guest guest]

Is the key to use a handful of spinach for iron boosts? I saw Montel on an infommercial and they said for their product to blend all the vegetables first then add the fruit. They used a handful of spinach in almost every green smoothie. They also mentioned swiss chard and a lot of different leafy vegetables.The only veggies I ever use in my smoothies are leafy greens like spinach, chard, and kale. I've never done other veggies like carrots, or cauliflower, or anything. I'm not sure if that's what you're talking about, but my smoothies definitely helped (cured?) my anemia. Peace =)Alyssa 15 yoUC April 2008, dx Sept 2008SCD June 2009 (restarted)Chinese Herbs (not legal but helping!)

[Guest guest]

Hi PJ -

I have both a Vitamix (old one) and just got rid of my old Cuisinart for a

brand new 16cup Elite Cuisinart FP. (My jaw was wired shut many years ago and

the Vitamix was how I lived). I love both of them for different reasons. If I

want to make a smoothie, I will always use my Vitamix; it makes a smoother

drink. For the FP, you need to first puree fruits/veges and then add liquid.

The FP is more cumbersome to clean, the Vitamix is a quick rinse (no need to

unscrew bottom or blade). The reason why I got the FP was for all the other

functions it offers in addition to pureeing...it chops, grates & slices in

different sizes, kneads dough and this FP has a larger capactiy bowl, my Vitamix

I think is only 8cups. So while the Vitamix can make a great creamy soup, the

FP capacity does it in one batch vs. more than one in the Vitamix.

If you plan on making smoothies every day, I would say it's worth the

investment. My Vitamix is 10 years old, never had a problem and it's still

going strong AND heavy home usage.

- B.

Recently diagnosed w/ UC

SCD 2 months

>

> I was reading about green smoothies, and I wonder if you really need one of

those high end blenders, like a Vitamix or Blendtec. I have a nice Cuisinart,

and wonder if the investment in the expensive blender is worth it. Any advice?

> PJ

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, I've been looking a the Vitamix online and it looks amazing.I do get tired

of taking my blender apart every time I use it, and the Vitamix does so much

more.I already have a food processor.

I just may have to cave in and buy a Vitamix.

PJ

> >

> > I was reading about green smoothies, and I wonder if you really need one of

those high end blenders, like a Vitamix or Blendtec. I have a nice Cuisinart,

and wonder if the investment in the expensive blender is worth it. Any advice?

> > PJ

> >

>

[Guest guest]

At 02:29 PM 1/12/2010, you wrote:

I make anything from smoothies

to " ice cream " consistency in my blender. It's an old

Osterizer, at least 45 years old and it works fine. I don't defrost

berries. The only comment I will make compared to what I understand

of Vitamix or Blendtec is that it doesn't really pulverize the seeds from

the berries, but fortunately that isn't a problem for me. I guess as long

as this keeps going I won't investigate getting another

one

My old Osterizer did just fine for the first seven years I was on SCD.

(It was around 25 years old when I started.)

However, it was dying around the time I was diagnosed with the cancer,

and I knew I was going to be doing lots of fruit and vegetable smoothies,

so I did go ahead and get a Vitamix.

I really like the Vitamix, and it does produce a superior quality

smoothie, but I don't think it's necessary to spend that much money on a

blender in order to start SCD.

<g> Personally, I think a 9 tray dehydrator is a good investment.

—

Marilyn

New

Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001

Darn Good SCD Cook

No Human Children

Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund

[Guest guest]

PJ,

Here's my 2 cents worth.....I really like my Vitamix, but if you have anything

oily in it (especially coconut!), you will need to wash by hand. The other

thing is that the jug is so tall and narrow, it is a pain to get all the last

bits out, so invest in a long handled spatula! ; ) I also have a small dry

jug, but feel that it doesn't work well unless one does grinding in very small

batches--which given the size of the jug make one wonder why they made it that

big!

My mother found an old Vitamix at a garage sale or charity resale shop. She went

online and bought a new jug for it and I think spent like $80 total!

Amelia

Husband UC 9years, SCD 18months

LDN 3 mg

>

> I was reading about green smoothies, and I wonder if you really need one of

those high end blenders, like a Vitamix or Blendtec. I have a nice Cuisinart,

and wonder if the investment in the expensive blender is worth it. Any advice?

> PJ

>

[Guest guest]

I didn't mean to imply that we needed a Vitamix to start SCD. I just became

interested in the benefits of veggies raw. For those of us who don't tolerate

many raw veggies, I think a blender may help- especially one that can

significantly pulverize them well. I have tried this in my regular blender, and

I think it improves nutrition.

I would love a dehydrator, and yes, I am equipping the kitchen- one step at a

time.

PJ

> >I make anything from smoothies to " ice cream "

> >consistency in my blender. It's an old

> >Osterizer, at least 45 years old and it works

> >fine. I don't defrost berries. The only

> >comment I will make compared to what I

> >understand of Vitamix or Blendtec is that it

> >doesn't really pulverize the seeds from the

> >berries, but fortunately that isn't a problem

> >for me. I guess as long as this keeps going I

> >won't investigate getting another one

>

> My old Osterizer did just fine for the first

> seven years I was on SCD. (It was around 25 years old when I started.)

>

> However, it was dying around the time I was

> diagnosed with the cancer, and I knew I was going

> to be doing lots of fruit and vegetable

> smoothies, so I did go ahead and get a Vitamix.

>

> I really like the Vitamix, and it does produce a

> superior quality smoothie, but I don't think it's

> necessary to spend that much money on a blender in order to start SCD.

>

> Personally, I think a 9 tray dehydrator is a good investment.

>

>

> — Marilyn

> New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

> Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001

> Darn Good SCD Cook

> No Human Children

> Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund

>

[Guest guest]

At 05:55 AM 1/13/2010, you wrote:

I didn't mean to imply that we

needed a Vitamix to start SCD. I just became interested in the benefits

of veggies raw. For those of us who don't tolerate many raw veggies, I

think a blender may help- especially one that can significantly pulverize

them well. I have tried this in my regular blender, and I think it

improves nutrition.

I would love a dehydrator, and yes, I am equipping the kitchen- one step

at a time.

I didn't think you did mean to imply that -- I just wanted to make sure

people understood.

I've had people come to me and say, " I'd like to do this diet, but

it's so expensive... $200 for a dehydrator, $100 for a food processor,

hundreds for a Vitamix.... "

And, as most of us know, SCD can be done with the things you have

already, with the possible exception of a yogurt maker. Then, when you've

seen the benefits of SCD, you can start equipping your kitchen.

Me, I need to remodel mine!

—

Marilyn

New

Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001

Darn Good SCD Cook

No Human Children

Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund

[Guest guest]

>

> And, as most of us know, SCD can be done with the things you have already,

with the possible exception of a yogurt maker.

Nah, you don't need a yogurt maker - the oven method

is easier.

Mara, happily liberated from her crappy donvier yogurt maker.

[Guest guest]

At 01:20 PM 1/13/2010, you wrote:

>

> And, as most of us know, SCD can be done with the things you have

already, with the possible exception of a yogurt maker.

Nah, you don't need a yogurt maker - the oven method

is easier.

Ayup -- and if you happen to have a double oven, even better! That's why

I said " possible exception. "

—

Marilyn

New

Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001

Darn Good SCD Cook

No Human Children

Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund