I had my 2nd anniversary this month. I happened to see an infomercial for the Nutribullet and decided to buy one as a present to myself. I love fresh greens, but some days I have difficulty eating them. I have done juicing before, but juicing only gives you the juice, it doesn't give you the fiber from the skin and membranes of the food. With the Nutribullet, it emulsifies the food and you get all the fibre, vitamins and nutritients, as if you were eating it in it's raw solid state. It chops it all up into very fine pieces. If doesn't completely liquefy the food, but it does get it into the tiniest pieces so that it is easily drinkable.
I tried the Nutribullet and I absolutely love it. It has replaced my blender. I now have a shake every morning with it for breakfast. As a Certified Fitness & Personal Trainer, I think the Nutribullet is a good idea but you need to have more than just veggies and fruit in your shakes. You need to add a fat and protein source to make it a complete meal or snack.
For fat, you can use one or a combination of oils and seeds. Organic Coconut oil is amazing and gives it a pleasant taste. That's what I use and I buy mine from Costco. There is also flax seeds, chia seeds, or extra virgin olive oil to name a few. For protein, I add a fruit flavored protein powder. My favorite is the Syntrax Nectar brand whey protein isolate. My favorite flavors are Fruit punch, twisted cherry and grape. You can also use pasteurized egg whites. I like a flavored protein because it adds a bit more flavor, doesn't need refrigeration and is an easy way to add a significant amount of protein.
For fruits, I love to add mixed berries like strawberries, blueberries, cherries, pomegranate seeds, and blackberries, Pineapple and banana are also great tasting. In the winter months, I use frozen fruit. I thaw out a small amount (2-3 days worth) as I need it and keep it in the fridge. For greens, I tried kale and spring mix but I didn't like the taste. I find the best tasting and nutritionally beneficial greens to use are spinach and broccoli.
If you'd like to add some sweetness, use honey. To add more fruity flavor, I use the little water flavour enhancers in the squirt bottles. Brands include 'Mio", "Crystal Light" etc. The great thing about these is that you can have several bottles in different flavors and add a squirt whenever you want to increase the fruity flavor of your drink.
Here's my Shake/Smoothie Recipe Instructions:
1. Put fruit in bottom of the larger Nurtri-cup that they provide for blending. Fill it half way to the "MAX" line. (If you put the greens first, it often needs shaking while its blending to get the greens down to the blade because they seem to stay at the top.).
2. Add your greens to the "MAX" line. I add fresh organic baby spinach and a few little bits of broccoli..
3. Add your fats. I add a tablespoon of flax seeds or chia seeds and a teaspoon of coconut oil.
4. I then add a sprinkle of ginger powder and cinnamon which help to regulate blood sugar levels.
5. Add water to the "MAX" line.
6. Put top on (the blade assembly) and blend it until it pulverizes everything. I do it for about 15-20 seconds.
7. Remove the top and add your protein powder. I add one scoop of the Syntrax Nectar.
8. Put the top on (the blade assembly) and blend it for about 3 seconds. If you blend it too long, it makes the drink too foamy and it often starts leaking out. 3-5 seconds is all you need to mix in the protein powder.
9. Remove the top, drink and enjoy!
This recipe also works with a powerful blender. I saw a blender with 1100 watts of power (Nutribullet only has 600) called Ninja and it was only $139! Great price. If I had known about it, I would have bought it instead of the Nutribullet. If you have a regular blender, you can omit the greens and have a fruit-protein shake. As an alternative to fresh greens, you can add your greens as a powder available at most pharmacies and health-nutrition stores.
I tried the Nutribullet and I absolutely love it. It has replaced my blender. I now have a shake every morning with it for breakfast. As a Certified Fitness & Personal Trainer, I think the Nutribullet is a good idea but you need to have more than just veggies and fruit in your shakes. You need to add a fat and protein source to make it a complete meal or snack.
For fat, you can use one or a combination of oils and seeds. Organic Coconut oil is amazing and gives it a pleasant taste. That's what I use and I buy mine from Costco. There is also flax seeds, chia seeds, or extra virgin olive oil to name a few. For protein, I add a fruit flavored protein powder. My favorite is the Syntrax Nectar brand whey protein isolate. My favorite flavors are Fruit punch, twisted cherry and grape. You can also use pasteurized egg whites. I like a flavored protein because it adds a bit more flavor, doesn't need refrigeration and is an easy way to add a significant amount of protein.
For fruits, I love to add mixed berries like strawberries, blueberries, cherries, pomegranate seeds, and blackberries, Pineapple and banana are also great tasting. In the winter months, I use frozen fruit. I thaw out a small amount (2-3 days worth) as I need it and keep it in the fridge. For greens, I tried kale and spring mix but I didn't like the taste. I find the best tasting and nutritionally beneficial greens to use are spinach and broccoli.
If you'd like to add some sweetness, use honey. To add more fruity flavor, I use the little water flavour enhancers in the squirt bottles. Brands include 'Mio", "Crystal Light" etc. The great thing about these is that you can have several bottles in different flavors and add a squirt whenever you want to increase the fruity flavor of your drink.
Here's my Shake/Smoothie Recipe Instructions:
1. Put fruit in bottom of the larger Nurtri-cup that they provide for blending. Fill it half way to the "MAX" line. (If you put the greens first, it often needs shaking while its blending to get the greens down to the blade because they seem to stay at the top.).
2. Add your greens to the "MAX" line. I add fresh organic baby spinach and a few little bits of broccoli..
3. Add your fats. I add a tablespoon of flax seeds or chia seeds and a teaspoon of coconut oil.
4. I then add a sprinkle of ginger powder and cinnamon which help to regulate blood sugar levels.
5. Add water to the "MAX" line.
6. Put top on (the blade assembly) and blend it until it pulverizes everything. I do it for about 15-20 seconds.
7. Remove the top and add your protein powder. I add one scoop of the Syntrax Nectar.
8. Put the top on (the blade assembly) and blend it for about 3 seconds. If you blend it too long, it makes the drink too foamy and it often starts leaking out. 3-5 seconds is all you need to mix in the protein powder.
9. Remove the top, drink and enjoy!
This recipe also works with a powerful blender. I saw a blender with 1100 watts of power (Nutribullet only has 600) called Ninja and it was only $139! Great price. If I had known about it, I would have bought it instead of the Nutribullet. If you have a regular blender, you can omit the greens and have a fruit-protein shake. As an alternative to fresh greens, you can add your greens as a powder available at most pharmacies and health-nutrition stores.