Thinking of doing a cleanse this January? A smoothie for breakfast is an easy way to get started on a sustainable and happy cleanse. Smoothies are a great way to nourish your body and ramp up your body’s overnight detoxification work at the same time. You see the benefits of this detoxification work in greater energy, a happy mood and a sleek physique.

These are some of my favorite smoothies. I hope they inspire you.

1. Detox Smoothie: Matcha Green Tea + Apple: Matcha green tea is rich in nutrients, antioxidants (key in the fight against aging), fiber and chlorophyll (good for cleansing and detoxifying your body).




2. Chia Seed + Strawberry Smoothie: Chia seeds are low in calories and high in Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to support healthy skin, hair and joints.




3. Protein Packed Banana Smoothie: Simply bananas.




4. Almond Milk Smoothie: Made with creamy almond butter and dairy-free milk.




5. Cranberry Smoothie: The tiny tart cranberry is loaded with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits along with benefits in fighting heart disease and cancer.




6. Baby Dinosaur Kale Smoothie: Dinosaur kale (also referred to as Tuscan Kale and Lacinato Kale) is filled with cholorphyll, a detox agent.




7. Basil + Mango Green Smoothie: Green smoothies are loaded with cleansing greens (in this case chard and basil) which support your body’s housekeeping and rejuvenation work (glowing skin anyone?) while also providing nutrient support. This Classic Banana Green Smoothie and Creamy Green Smoothie are also loaded with cleansing greens.

Tip for making the perfect smoothie

To see how good a smoothie for breakfast can really taste, give the Blendtec blender a try.

Feel good foods on this rejuvenating lifestyle are gravitating toward warm (yet still cleansing) dishes as we move into fall. With that in mind, here are some of my favorite go-to kitchen tools in the fall. My goal over the past few years has been to invest in one or two quality pieces at a time that I know will make preparing foods a joy, save money in the long run and eliminate clutter in my kitchen. You might also appreciate these fall pantry and refrigerator ideas.

Fall Tools For Your Kitchen

1. A high-speed blender: Blendtec and Vitamix followed by Breville make some of the best blenders on the market. They are not cheap though. Do not feel like you need to buy a new blender to eat and enjoy more natural, whole foods. Use your basic blender in the beginning and see how you are enjoying your morning green smoothies. But do consider a good blender investment in the future if you are enjoying these smoothies. The easiest way to pick yourself up out of a health funk is to self-medicate with a green smoothie for breakfast. At first you might cringe, but once you get on the bandwagon, you’ll be hooked to how great you feel. If there are chunks of fruit, ice or spinach in your green smoothie then you’re not giving yourself a chance to appreciate just how good a green smoothie for breakfast can be. A good blender can also make great soups and dressings.
2. A good skillet: I recommend a stainless steal skillet from All Clad. All Clad brand pans and pots are on the pricier side, but they are worth the investment. These pans heat up more quickly (requiring a lower temperature and less energy) and distribute heat more evenly than lower quality pans. You can even put All Clad in the dishwasher. The great thing about investing in a quality set of stainless steel cookware like All Clad is that you can invest in one piece at a time and build a collection over a period of years. Fall is a great time to saute veggies, potatoes and more and good pan does wonders!
3. Large soup pot with cover: I would also recommend a good quality stainless steel soup pot (with a cover) from All Clad. Le Creuset cast iron pans are also terrific if you are looking to brighten up your kitchen with some fun colors. I received a blue Le Creuset french oven last year from my Aunt that I love. I make soups and stews in it all winter.
4. Baking sheet: Ideal for roasting root vegetables, potatoes, squashes etc. Good baking sheets are widely available. Consider lining your baking sheet with parchment paper to save on clean up when roasting this fall. (I find parchment paper also helps me keep the pan around longer).
5. Good set of glass storage containers (leftovers, etc): Skip the plastic when it comes to storage containers. No matter what kind of plastic it is it looks crummy after a while anyway. Eating out of glass over plastic these days just feels mentally better too, doesn’t it? Pyrex makes some good ones that are freezer, oven and dishwasher safe. I also really like the way the covers work on these Anchor Hocking brand glass containers. (Absolutely amazing). I wish they were carried more broadly. The lime green tops on these Anchor Hocking containers are so fun and different. (But really the best part is how easy it is to open and close the lids!)



6. A good sharp chef’s knife and a pairing knife : My mom has a set of Wüsthof knives that she’s had for decades. She also swears by a $1 pairing knife she found at a restaurant supply store. Bliss in the kitchen (especially when it comes to preparing and enjoying feel good foods which involve some chopping and dicing) is heightened with the addition of a good knife. Start with one or two nice knives, I would especially recommend a nice chef’s nice from Wüsthof, and then build up your collection from there.
   

Following additional clarity on the “which high powered blender is better debate” a few of your wrote in to share what you love about your blenders. Thank you all for sharing! I hope these thoughts might help some of you who are on the fence about these blenders.

Also Green Lemonade reader Shari asked if we could expect an all glass container, instead of the BPA free plastic containers which are currently included with both the Vitamix and Blendtec blenders. Unfortunately at this time it seems as though the challenge with a glass container on a high speed blender is that the glass is either too heavy for the motor (causing too much strain) or too light (which leads to chipping). Let’s all keep our fingers crossed for the future. A glass container would be nice in so many ways.

You may also enjoy these articles comparing the Vitamix and the Blendtec.

1. Blender Review: Blendtec, Vitamix, Breville
2. Vitamix Vs Blendtec – Which One Is Better?

Vitamix Customer Reviews

• Ally writes: I am trying to eat more fresh, organic foods and the Vitamix is making it a lot easier for me! I look forward to my green smoothie every morning!
• Kate writes: I was nervous to spend the money on such an expensive kitchen appliance, but the Vitamix has helped me whip up a healthy green smoothie when I’m crunched for time. Before I would have just eaten lots of toasted bread and peanut butter!
• Heather writes: I love my Vitamix! My kids are eating fresh spinach every morning now! I sneak it into their green smoothies!
• Sue writes: I love how my Vitamix makes my smoothies and roasted vegetable soups so c-r-e-a-m-y!
• Erica writes: I throw everything in my Vitamix, and there hasn’t been any smoking yet!

Blendtec Customer Reviews

• Silvia writes: I owned a Vitamix in the past and gave it up in a move. This time I went with a Blendtec. I love how you don’t have to take everything apart. It’s also smaller than the Vitamix which fits nicely on my counter.
• Lynn writes: My husband and I have a green drink inspired by Dr. Oz every morning. The Blendtec just makes it taste so much better.
• Anne writes: I live in a small studio apartment in New York City, the Blendtec fits perfectly in my tiny kitchen. I have been using it for everything, including some terrific summer gazpachos!
• John writes: The Blendtec is amazingly quick to clean. It literally takes me less than 2 minutes. No excuse not to make one before work. Thanks Noelle!
• Julia writes: I love the one-touch buttons. I can throw everything in a blender, press the appropriate smoothie button and go. It’s great.

When it comes to making the best smoothie, there are only two blenders on the market that truly rise above the rest – the Vitamix and the Blendtec.

You’re officially exhausted! Vitamix or Blendtec? Vitamix or Blendtec? Both of these high powered blenders seem equally awesome, but you still can’t decide which one YOU should buy. Don’t worry you’re not alone.

Over the past few weeks a few of you have been emailing me asking for additional thoughts around which high powered blender you should buy – the Vitamix or the Blendtec? All of your research seems to suggest buying a Vitamix, but wait the Blendtec looks pretty good too! Honestly, they are both terrific! I, however, enjoy my Blendtec. Here’s the lowdown.

• The Vitamix brand has been in the market longer compared to the Blendtec. Vitamix blenders have been in the market for over 80 years. In 1937 W.G. Barnard, a self-taught salesman of “modern” home products introduced an all-new product–the blender–to his sales line. This was the first Vitamix machine. Over the years Vitamix has earned a reputation for its quality products and reliable customer service. The Vitamix brand continues to remain quite strong in the market place today. Blendtec blenders arrived on the scene in the mid 1970s and were introduced by Tom Dickson, an engineer and inventor. They have been gradually winning the hearts of consumers with their powerful motors and sleek styling.




• The debate in the market place between the Vitamix and the Blendec is heated and emotional and is close to being as heated as politics and religion at a dinner party. Honestly, both blenders are pretty terrific. Usually when one blender wins out over the other in an argument, the Vitamix wins for it’s 7 year warranty, while the Blendtec (with a 3 year warranty) usually wins for it’s more compact, sleek and lightweight design. This image below sourced from Got Greens Revolution does a good job showing the height differential between the two blenders. The bullet points on the image, I added for some quick reference points.

I continue to prefer the Blendtec

I love my Blendtec. I’ve had it now for 2 years and it works great. But honestly if you gave me a Vitamix, I’d likely be just as enthusiastic about the high powered blending experience. These high powered blenders are just amazing. They make eating more vegetables, leafy greens and fruit easy, enjoyable and delicious. You can make such a thick and creamy smoothie. Plus these blenders are also great when making frozen soft serve, and soups. Some people also use these high powered blenders to make homemade nut butters, and even whole-grain muffins.

Either one of these high powered blenders are DEFINITELY not cheap (~$400-$450). But considering I use mine at least once or twice a day, most days, I feel pretty good having saved up the money to buy one of these blenders. If you are not yet sure that a high powered blender is for you, or if you just can’t justify the cost, don’t worry. There are still creative ways to enjoy the benefits of these machines. For instance in this Cashew Peach Green Smoothie you might use a food processor along with your standard blender. And heck! if that is too much work buy some cashew, almond butter or organic peanut butter instead and toss that into this Cashew Peach Green Smoothie recipe instead! There is always a way to feel and look your best on this whole foods diet-free lifestyle regardless of time and budget constraints.

Learn More

Learn more about the top three high powered blenders on the market today, and the difference between them. These are the top 3 blenders I recommend people look at when considering a new blender. The Vitamix and the Blendtec are at the high end and in the mid-range, Breville makes a good one for ~$175. If you are passionate about your blender, let me know why you are passionate about it! I’d love to hear from you!