Ready…Set…..Shake….
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Ease and convenience seems to be the name of the game these days when it comes to…..well, just about anything. Often times we think that fast and convenient can’t go hand in hand with a healthy lifestyle. But that doesn’t have to be the case. As a nutritionist I am often asked, “What is the fastest, easiest, most nutritious way to get my morning breakfast?” My answer, “A protein shake.” You can have a healthy breakfast in less than 10 minutes and be ready to tackle whatever comes your way during the day.
My weapon of choice? The Nutribullet by the makers of Magic Bullet.
“Nutrient Extraction is the mechanism the NutriBullet uses to break down fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and other plant foods down to their most absorbable state. Unlike juicers and blenders, NutriBullet nutrient extractors break down the cell walls of fibrous plant foods, releasing important vitamins and minerals contained within. At the same time, they reduce beneficial fiber, pulp, seeds, and skins into a smooth-as-silk texture, delivering food to your body in an easily digestible, easily absorbable form. More than juicing, more than blending, and more than chewing, nutrient extraction allows you to receive the highest degree of nutrition your food has to offer.”
What does it come with?
The NutriBullet comes with a power base, 1 tall cup, 2 short cups, 1 flat blade and 1 emulsifying blade, 2 re-sealable lids, pocket nutritionist and manual with recipes.
So What is the Scoop on the NutriBullet?
While, we purchased the Nutribullet initially for the purpose of making smoothies [See my smoothie recipe below], I have come to enjoy its other capabilities as well. I have been able to use it to make my famous (at least in my neck of the woods) flour-less protein waffles [See my recipe HERE], puree garden fresh tomatoes for freezing, grind nuts and seeds, making whipping cream (my girls love this feature), and grind leaves and herbs for poultices.
But, back to the smoothies….this is one the best products I have used to make a personal smoothie. It chops up the greens I put in (kale, turnip greens, beet greens, etc) well enough that I am not finding bits of kale or spinach in between my teeth and it handles the skins of produce well and produces a smooth, fluffy textured smoothie or batter.
No product, is without its drawbacks. Here are a few that I have found.
- The advertisements show chunky fruits and vegetables in the containers. Don’t be misled! The Nutrtibullet WILL NOT be able pulverize these foods. But this is easily solved by adding some liquid. Without the liquid, the contents will barely shift, let alone liquefy, and there will be scent of burning plastic as you continue to watch the frustrated blades trying to whirl inside the cup. Adding the liquid to the fill line on the cup will have you back in action in no time with a smoothie that has, well….a smooth consistency.
- Speaking of lines on the cups, there is a line on each of the cups that indicate max fill, and it is there for a reason. If you go beyond the line you run the chance of the liquid leaking.
- Ingredients need to be added first, then add the liquid to the fill line. I would not recommend adding powdered ingredients (like protein powders) or nut butters first, as they tend not to mix as well and get stuck at the top.
- One of my favorite things (more like an addiction) is nut butters. I used to make almond and cashew butter in the food processor, but mine kicked the bucket. So I decided to try the Nutribullet. It chops the nuts wells, however, as it starts to hits the “creamy” stage it sticks to the sides of cup where the blades cannot reach. Instead of a peanut butter like consistency, it stays in a more chunky form. If you add some coconut oil it will come out with a better consistency. It keeps me from eating tons of nut butters this way at least.
- If you don’t have a dishwasher, the blades can be hard to hand clean. I find the best way to ensure it gets clean is to fill the cup with water to the line and put a bit of soap in the cup and run it for about 20 seconds. Then rinse and allow it to drain.
- You also need to be sure that you have tightly screwed on the lid BEFORE you blend. The vibrations can easily unscrew the lid as it blends leaving you with a mess (this has happened to me several times).
Bottom Line…. For about $80, it’s a handy product for anyone looking for a fast and convenient way to make shakes, with some added features like seed and coffee bean milling. It has few drawbacks, but those that do exist are easily remedied. It is small and compact which is good for someone who does not have the counter and/or cabinet space for a large blender. Your college student would probably appreciate this blender for their dorm room. It is also small enough to throw in a bag if you are traveling or camping (where there is electricity), and with the lids that fit nicely on each of the cups, you have a nice grab and go feature where you can just pop on a lid and head out the door.
All-in-All, this is a product I would recommend
The BEST Breakfast Shake for Sustained Energy
1 cup organic or raw kiefer
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
½ avocado
1-2 raw, cage-free, organic eggs (preferable local)
1 TBSP raw cacao
Handful of frozen blueberries
Optional: handful of spinach and/or kale (you won’t even know that it’s there)
- Place eggs, avocado, blueberries, and greens in the bullet
- Pour in kefir
- Top with protein powder and cacao
- Blend until smooth
Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy !
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