Wondering how you can save some money when shopping for ingredients for your smoothies? There are lots of ways to go about this…

Transitioning to a healthier diet can take time and effort.  You need to learn a new way of eating and you need to learn a new way of shopping for your diet needs.  Since processed foods are manufactured in large quantities and with low quality ingredients, they are often cheaper than healthier foods.  As a result, it can seem as though shopping for produce is a more expensive adventure.  But there are ways you can save money – and increase your health.

• Buy in Bulk – Often, the more you buy when it comes to smoothies, the more you will save on your overall grocery bill, especially at stores that have discount clubs or cards.

• But Don’t Buy Too Much – At the same time, if you buy too much produce at one time, you may not end up using it as quickly as you may have planned.  Instead, try buying your produce every three days, or so, to ensure you’re only buying what you need, which will cut your costs.

• Buy in Season – If you can buy your produce when it’s in season, you will be able to save money.  When companies don’t have to take drastic (read: expensive) measures to grow items, the produce will cost you less.

• Buy Frozen – However, you might want to include some ingredients that are out of season.  To find a cheap way to do this, look in the frozen section of your grocery store.  Those items are just as healthy and nutritious, and they will last for a longer time.

• Shop Around – Since more people are investing in their health, stores have become competitive about produce prices.  Look at several stores in your area to see how you might be able to save money by shopping at certain locations.

• Go to Farmer’s Markets – In addition, there seem to be more farmer’s markets in communities than ever.  This can be an advantage for someone with a blender to fill.  You may be able to cultivate relationships with your local farmers, and get better prices for coming back every week.  Even if this is not possible, the prices are farmer’s markets and food cooperatives can be lower than traditional grocery stores.

Just like any shopping, the more you investigate your options, the more likely you are to find better prices.

Consider too that when you buy produce for smoothies, you’re not going to buy foods that aren’t healthy for you.  This will save you money and it may also help you save on health costs in the future.

It all adds up to a healthier new you, and one that can save a few dollars too.

How to Do a Cleanse with Your Blender

Sometimes, you just feel ‘off’ and you know you need to do something drastic to bring your body back to health.  The latest trend in healthy living is cleanses, and while some are skeptical about their effectiveness, that doesn’t have to stop you from trying one out with your blender.

A cleanse is a way to help restore your body’s health by introducing a simple, minimally processed diet.  For some, this might look like eating fruits and vegetables for a few days, and for others, it can look like a steady stream of smoothies made from organic produce.

Since smoothies will have a higher content of produce in each cup, it makes sense to turn on your blender when you want to turn up your health.  You will get more vitamins, more minerals, and more energy from each cup, allowing your body to repair itself, while it also gets a rest from digesting more complicated foods.

Here is what you will want to do:

• Make space in your life – While there may not be a perfect time for you to do a cleanse, try to find a time when you will have less stress and fewer commitments outside of focusing on your health.
• Buy the produce you need (and more than you think you need) – Try heading to your local grocery store for organic produce and buy as much as you might need for at least three smoothies a day for three days.  You can also find a lot of in season produce at your local farmer’s market (and get a better price in many cases).
• Clean all of the produce – Clean all of the produce you purchase and remove any parts of the produce you will not eat (i.e. skin, seeds, stems).  This will ensure the ingredients are ready to be used when you are hungry and/or thirsty.
• Drink as much as you need – During this cleanse, the goal should be to have smoothies that are primarily vegetables, with some apple juice added in to keep things interesting.  You will want to stay away from sugary smoothies as much as possible, but if this is your first cleanse, it might help to have fruitier options to drink.
• Get enough rest – When you’re doing a cleanse, the more sleep you can get, the better it will be for your body overall.  There will be days when you will be fatigued as your body resets, so if you can rest more, try to do so.
• Stick to a few days – If this is your first cleanse, it’s good idea to stick to about three days.  You can try for more if you feel good at the end, but it’s best to do less than you think you can handle.

Break your fast with simple goods like fruits, vegetables and rice for a few days.  And then slowly transition into a healthier diet.  You’ll be glad you did.

(Of course, check with your doctor first before starting any sort of cleanse or diet change, especially if you have any current medical issues.)

After You Buy Your Blender

Once you have chosen the blender you want (Vitamix, Ninja, Blendtec, etc.), now what?  You want to make the most of your purchase, so let’s talk about how you can add this appliance to your life as quickly as possible.

First of all, before you use your blender, make sure you clean the container first.  You will want to check the directions first before you wash, but most often, the best approach is to wash it with warm soapy water, and rinse it well.  Though it’s not necessarily dirty, you just want to make sure it doesn’t have any dust or debris still in the container from when it was manufactured or refurbished.

Next, make sure you read the instructions that come with the blender.  Though you may think it’s pretty easy to figure out how to use the blender, it can help to carefully read the instructions that came with the unit.  Find out what all of the buttons do, how to use the blender for different ingredients and recipes, etc.  Learn all that you can before you start using it.

If the blender has come with a warranty, do what you need to do in order to register with the company.  Though this might not seem necessary right now, it’s easy to skip this step and then you may not be covered in the vent that your blender doesn’t work or needs to be replaced.

When you’re ready to buy a blender, you might begin with some online research. But once this begins, it can seem overwhelming to pick just one blender. There are expensive ones, cheap ones, big ones, small ones, and all sorts of options you can choose (or not choose). No matter what your blender experience might be, you don’t have to buy new when you’re turning on to your healthier lifestyle. Instead, you can seek out refurbished blenders, blenders that are just as good as new, but with a lower price tag.

What Refurbished Means

In the past, some people have been misinformed about what refurbished blenders are. They might seem like the defective blenders, the ones that people returned and then the company tried to resell. But this is only a part of the story. While it’s true that refurbished blenders are the ones that people have returned due to problems or defects, this doesn’t mean there’s something ‘wrong’ with them. Well, there was something wrong with the blender, but then it was sent back to the place where it was made, fixed, and then boxed up to be sold again.

What this means is that the blender has been reconditioned and fixed to meet the manufacturer’s specifications. The blender was received, analyzed, and then fixed once the problem was found. All of the defective parts were replaced with brand new parts, helping to ensure the blender would be in the best possible working condition when it reached the next buyer.

Companies offer refurbished blenders because they can be sold again, and they are often just as good as being brand new. While some of the parts will be original, the ones that weren’t working would be the ones that would be absolutely brand new. The blenders are tested, checked, and are assured to be in working order.

Often, the blenders will also still have the same warranty period, helping protect the buyer in the event something goes wrong in the future. While the warranty period varies, depending on the manufacturer, it still offers yet another reassurance that the blender will function as expected.

Why a Refurbished Blender Makes Sense (and Cents)

With new parts and a second round of testing, refurbished blenders are certainly as good as new blenders, and they have another benefit – a lower cost. Since the blender isn’t exactly brand new, and it can have a few scratches from being shipped a few times between repairs, the company will often offer a steep discount. This means a person who is new to blending will get all of the benefits of their blender, without having to make a large initial investment.

In addition, for those who are concerned about waste in the world, a refurbished blender means you’re getting an appliance that hasn’t been made once again. True, there are new parts involved, but it didn’t require more supplies to make it completely new again. Just like a used car is often a better investment than a new car, a refurbished blender allows you to reduce waste. You’re using something that might have been thrown away otherwise – and that makes you feel good too.

How to Find Refurbished Blenders

You can find refurbished blenders on a number of blender websites, including Blendtec, Vitamix, Ninja, and others. Companies understand they have more to make from fixing up blenders and selling them, and they’re offering this option more often than ever. Even today, there are more refurbished options on sites that sell electronics, as companies do see the value in offering products that have been fixed up to the highest of standards. Refurbished blenders can also be found on resale sites, but are most reliable (and covered by warranties) when you shop for them on the company’s retail website. If you find that an individual or a company that isn’t affiliated with the blender company has refurbished the unit, you may not be getting the best results.

When you’re in the market for a blender, remember to think about refurbished blenders as options. Not only will you get the highest quality blenders, but you will also know the parts are completely new and ready to serve you a healthy smoothie when you plug it in.

Blenders are a hot item in the kitchen scene right now.  They’re popping up to meet the smoothie crazy, the cleanse madness, and the convenience trend.  No matter why you want one or need one, you need to know what’s out there – and what these blenders might have to offer you.  So, here are some reviews of three of the top blender brands of 2014 (and the unbiased truth about how they will perform in your kitchen).

 Ninja Blenders

With a name like Ninja, this blender has a lot to prove to a user.  And it delivers.  Since it has a 1000 horsepower motor, it’s a blender that can easily crush ice and create a smooth smoothie for those who like to make desserts or just cold drinks when they wake up.  Of course, this also means the blades are very sharp, and you will want to watch out when you go to clean them as you might just cut your finger.  Though not surprising with a lot of power, this blender is going to be a bit loud when you use it, but for most, this isn’t enough to stop them from buying it.  But when you have small children or a strange schedule, it might be a good idea to keep this in mind. It’s also a slick looking unit when it sits on your kitchen counter, though there have been some reports that the tops crack and need to be replaced more quickly than expected.

You can find a few different models of Ninja blenders, all with different options, speeds, powers, and sizes (and price tags).  Prices start at $100 for a basic, no frills blender at some retailers.

 Vitamix Blenders

It’s hard to avoid the presence of the Vitamix blender in the cooking world today.  This blender has been featured on cooking shows as a tool to use and as a reward for the participants on the show.  And this blender is certainly the trend for celebrities, as many tout this appliance and its ability to blend all of the smoothies they can drink. Like Ninja, Vitamix has a lot of hype that it needs to live up to – and it delivers.  With personal and professional models, this blender is certainly one that can blend nearly any ingredient to a smooth consistency, and it can even heat up a soup while it is being blended from fresh ingredients. This blender also comes in a variety of different models, helping you pick the one that’s perfectly suited to your needs and to your lifestyle.  It looks good and it’s going to turn heads, as everyone who’s anyone has been talking about this in the media.

Users of the Vitamix have few complaints, though often the biggest obstacle between someone and buying this blender is the price.  With the basic model starting at $399, it’s certainly an investment, but it might be one that lasts longer and does more than other blenders on the market.

Blendtec Blenders

While Blendtec may not be getting as much celebrity coverage as Vitamix, it’s the blender that’s showing other blenders it has just as many features as you’d expect – and more.  It can blend nuts into nut butter, it can make smoothies, and it can make soups too.  With a strong motor, multiple settings and speeds, and a large container, you can make a lot of food at once, saving you time and money.

These blenders come in a variety of sizes and styles, which means they’ll fit into your kitchen décor, while also helping you with numerous recipes.  The Blendtec blender is also considered to have nine appliances in one unit, which is something that will save you time, counter space, and money.  When you don’t have to keep switching from one appliance to another, you’ll have the help you need in the kitchen, no matter what your diet might be today.

These units also start out around $399, with refurbished models that are more than $100 less (listed currently at $279.95).  When it comes to price, you don’t have to worry about breaking your budget when investing in your health.