So getting back to basics with a modern twist can involve some help from modern technology. I have been convicted about promoting people buying more "stuff" as frankly that's the last thing most of us need. So i will try and make this section as selective as possible. Having said that we are doing this in a urban area and frankly there are some really good products out there to help us be cleaner, healthier and overall live better!

Vitamix vs Blendtec - the ultimate smoothie maker

06/19/2009 -

So I recently decided to investigate these two machines in order to finally get myself on the "green smoothie" train. Of course there are many more blenders out there but if you are serious about smoothies these are the two most proficient products on the market. The Vitamix blenders have been around much longer and have not tried to sway folks with fancy design or marketing (although the infomercial stuff is amusing) But they are definitely not the most stylish piece of machinery. However as far as function goes they are solid heavy and come with a powerful motor that can grind up almost anything. They come with a 7 year warranty on the motor!! Now the Blendtec is a little newer to the scene although still have some years under their belt. They could perhaps be a little better to look at and they have opted for a more digital interface. They do now also offer a 7 year warranty.

So on the surface these two machines look very similar and to be quite honest they are. There are a few differences. First as i mentioned the interface on the Blendtec is digital and the buttons don't fill me with confidence. They have preset blending settings that are supposed to be helpful but for me they take away some of the control and that is a negative.The Vitamix has a rudimentary turn nob that goes from 1-10 - simple as it gets but effective.  The look of the Blendtec does just nudge out the Vitamix. The height of both machines is a little tall for most kitchen cabinets so they both fall short on that (i guess that expression was not meant for this situation) The final piece of difference that although seemingly minor was in fact the final decision maker for me. The Vitamix comes with a tamper which is a plunging tool that fits in the top of the lid to push down any stubborn foods into the blades. This is imperative to almost all my blending to date. The Blendtec does not have this.

So i have read reviews online from other users and can say that there are happy Blendtec users out there. At this point the price of these units is similar and ranges depending on where you get them but online from the companies you can get your Blendtec for $399 and the Vitamix for $449 There are better deals to be had and i know you can buy refurbished models from Vitamix. At the end of the day though Vitamix long standing career as alpha male in the blender world and the solid rudimentary design win out for me. Most reviews on the Internet tip the scales their way too. So i now live happily with my Vitamix, it does all i need and it does it well. And for the record the way to eat your veggies is in ice cream form!

[Back to Top]   [Print]   [Direct Link]   [Share This]

Reusable Water Bottles - Stainless/BPA Free

06/19/2009 -

So I am sure most of you by now have heard that there is some bad stuff in plastic. Which of your plastics and how bad well that is all up for debate. But for me when i see my tupperware with grated sides or scraped edges i have to wonder if i ingested any of that. So there seems to be some concensus that BPA's in plastics are bad for you. All this being said i have decided that i should make a conserted effort to get myself glass food containers and get myself a stainless steel water bottle. We should all have a water bottle just to ensure we have water on hand all day long (got to keep hydrated!) Also plastic water bottles are extremely harmful to the environment as they continue to pile high in dumps, polluting the planet. So there are three good reasons to go get yourself a reusable water bottle and keeping it BPA free is just a cautious but wise move.

Then begins the hunt for which bottle. I would say there is a variety of different things to take into account depending on what your preferences are. For me i wanted something in stainless steel that also came with a stainless cap (bought seperatly) I also like a wide opening for gettting ice in to it and also for cleaning ease. I also wanted a simple looking thing without any frills. My boxes were all ticked by the Klean Kanteen stainless bottle. It does come in a variety of sizes with all manner of lids and suckers. You can also get them for babies and toddlers! I know my friend got the same bottle with a different color for some pezaz and the sports lid and she seems pleased also. I would not say this is the only bottle to go for and i have seen a plethera on the market. Go to REI or some other sports minded store - but do be careful of the materials it is made from, some are not what they seem. I suggest for Klean Kanteen orders if not local the HealthE Goods store is a excellent source with low prices, good shipping and great customer service.

So get yourself a reusable bottle - BPA free, save some plastic from the dump and from seeping into you!

[Back to Top]   [Print]   [Direct Link]   [Share This]