In the Kitchen with Sidra: The Five Reasons Why I Love My Blender

Years ago, I remember a friend telling me about how much she loved her new Vitamix blender. I thought, it's only a blender—how great can it be? Then, last year my old blender, which I admittedly didn't use very often, died and I replaced it with a new high-speed blender. I splurged on a Vitamix (it cost me about $300 on sale), but it has a lifetime warranty—and I'm expecting it to last a lifetime.

All I can say is: Wow! My new blender has quickly become the family's favorite kitchen tool. I'm now able to do things that I previously didn't even know were possible. In fact, below I've shared the top five reasons I couldn't live without my blender:

1. It makes healthy foods more accessible. Flaxseeds, known as a good source of omega-3 fats, don't actually deliver much of the healthful fats if they're consumed whole. My new blinder grinds them in a snap.  

2. It allows me to easily add flavor to nutritious foods. I use the blender to grind whole spices, such as cardamom seeds and cinnamon sticks. Adding fresh flavor to foods has never been quicker or easier!

3. It makes whipping up good-for-you meals a breeze. I use it to make a variety of dishes, including soups and smoothies. When I used my old blender to make soups, I would sometimes have to strain it to get the texture I desired. With a warm pea soup, for example, the texture would sometimes be grainy; with a cold mango soup, the texture would sometimes be stringy. This new blender gives me the perfect texture in just seconds! Same with smoothies—I can get a creamy consistency without having to use any cream.  

4. It empowers me to try new things. I've even made my own flour by grinding whole grains (spelt, barley or brown rice) and dried beans—it tasted amazing, and even saved me some money! (Whole grains cost less than fancy flours made from whole grains.) Experiment by replacing 1/3 of the all-purpose flour in your recipes with a whole-grain flour. This will add flavor and nutrients to anything you are baking.

5. It makes it a cinch to create healthful dips. Need a nutritious dip for veggies? No problem. Simply preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Peel four medium sized carrots and slice into ½-inch  slices. Thinly slice one onion. Place carrots and onion on a sheet pan and lightly coat with vegetable oil cooking spray. Cook until carrots are very tender, about 15 minutes. Put vegetables in a high-speed blender with one tablespoon of olive oil, ¼ teaspoon of fresh thyme, ½ teaspoon of salt, and black pepper to taste. Blend until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Enjoy!

So, if you're not a blender buff, it's either time to dust it off and give it another try—or buy a new high-speed one. It's a worthwhile investment that can save you time, money and calories!

A Berry Tasty Breakfast

Berry Smoothie
Makes 1 serving

Prep time: 3 minutes
Total time: 3 minutes

INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup frozen blackberries
1 frozen banana
1 tablespoon Smart Balance Omega Peanut Butter
1 cup plain nonfat yogurt

DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth, about 2 minutes. Serve.

Nutritional Information
1 serving
Calories: 358
Protein: 17 g
Carbohydrate: 56 g
Dietary Fiber: 12 g
Sugars: 36 g
Total Fat: 9 g
Saturated Fat: 1.6 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Calcium: 504 mg
Sodium: 156 mg

For more mouthwatering and healthy recipes, check out TheBestLife.com.