Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Adventurous Smoothies with Green Blender

As the mom of 2 teenage boys, I struggle to get them to eat anything healthy. Fruits, maybe, but veggies? I hear this complaint from all the parents I see in my clinic, so I know I'm not alone here. When the boys were little, I used to make fruit smoothies for them, calling them "fruit shakes", and in an effort to improve our nutrition, I've recently started making them again. It's been fun getting creative with ingredients and there are so many resources on the internet!

Recently GreenBlender approached me to see if I wanted to test their subscription service, offering to send me a box. Coincidence? I didn't hesitate to say yes!


GreenBlender is a smoothie delivery service company based in NYC. They send all the ingredients, pre-portioned, so that you can make healthy smoothies at home. GB uses locally sourced, organic produce and the ingredients are 100% vegan. Each week you get all the ingredients to make 5 different smoothies (enough to make 10 portions). The website has a ton of recipes and ideas to make your smoothies just perfect!

My GreenBlender box came via FedEx. I was excited to open it and see what was inside! I received the "St Patrick's Day Smoothie" box, and I was pleased to see that everything was cold when I opened the box.

Adventurous Smoothies with Green Blender

The first smoothie I made was the Mint Chocolate Shamrock. I would never have thought to put fresh mint into a smoothie, but there it was. They also used green leaf lettuce from Gotham Greens, which is a company that grows all its produce in pestide-free, ecologically sustainable, 100% clean energy greenhouses. I've been buying this lettuce locally at Whole Foods and just love it. I was excited to see GG included in this box! It was easy to put all the ingredients in the blender because they were all premeasured. The only thing I did differently was to add kefir in place of the water that the recipe called for. We aren't vegan and my athletic son needs protein. The kefir made the smoothie more creamy and both Matthew and I gave this one a thumbs up.

Adventurous Smoothies with Green Blender
Pre-blend
Adventurous Smoothies with Green Blender
The Mint Chocolate Shamrock
Adventurous Smoothies with Green Blender
Pre-gymnastics meet
Adventurous Smoothies with Green Blender
He came in 1st out of 15 boys--could it be the smoothie? We thought so!
The Luck of the Eye-rish smoothie was orange, using orange, carrots, and goji berries, and with the addition of the kefir, tasted like a dreamsicle. I think this was Matthew's favorite smoothie.

Adventurous Smoothies with Green Blender
Luck of the Eye-Rish pre blend
He also enjoyed the Lepre-clean, which contained cucumber, apple, honeydew, and ginger as well as the Emerald Green smoothie, which contained kale, pear, kiwi, and pineapple.

Adventurous Smoothies with Green Blender
Lepre-clean pre blend
Adventurous Smoothies with Green Blender
Lepre-Clean
Adventurous Smoothies with Green Blender
Emerald Green pre blend
I didn't want to leave my oldest son out, and since he's allergic to dairy, I made the Irish Coffee smoothie as the recipe called for. This smoothie contained collard greens, pear, grapes, oats, green coffee, and coconut milk. We both thought it was pretty tasty, but I would have preferred it with the kefir. Tom would have liked more coffee flavor--we've never tasted green coffee, but you wouldn't have known there was coffee in this one.

Adventurous Smoothies with Green Blender
Irish Coffee pre blend
Adventurous Smoothies with Green Blender
Irish Coffee
I really liked the GreenBlender smoothies, as did my sons, and found it a great way to try smoothies with ingredients that I would never have tried before. Luckily all of us are pretty adventurous when it comes to food, and so we didn't feel the need to leave out any ingredients, except the nuts which both boys are allergic to. There were some interesting ingredients that I had never heard of like camu camu and chlorella, which was as green as you might think! I thought these smoothies were a great way to get veggies into our diets. Adding kefir or yogurt is my recommendation if you are not vegan. I liked that everything was already measured out so I could quickly whip these up in the morning before school and work. But I should also note that there is a little prep work before you blend everything together. Obviously the fruits and veggies wouldn't be their freshest if they came pre-peeled and chopped, so you do need to do that yourself.

After making all these yummy smoothies, I realized that I need a better blender if I want to continue to make creative smoothies! My old Osterizer really moaned and groaned while trying to blend everything. Tom's smoothie, the Irish Coffee which contained the oats, was a little "chewy" and not as smooth as we would have liked, and this is when I told my husband that I want a Ninja blender for Mother's Day.

Do you want to try your own GreenBlender Smoothies? Click on any of the GreenBlender links or use the code LONGWAYHOME to get 20% off your first order!

Do you make smoothies? And do you put veggies in your smoothies? Any fun recipes you want to share? What blender would you recommend I buy?

I was given a box of GreenBlender smoothie ingredients in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

I'm linking this post with DebRuns for Wednesday Word. Today's word is adventurous!











I'm also linking up with Confessions of a Mother Runner and Miss Whisk for Meatless Mondays!

88 comments :

  1. Ooooh I want these!!!!
    I definitely could use much more smoothie creativity-----AND A VITAMIX.
    For some reason the very thought of them to my door makes me smile.

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    1. Me too! I liked the whole deal. I may have to just bite the bullet and sign up.

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  2. I have a Ninja pro 1000 from Target and it's awesome! Totally worth the investment. But I've also just used my nutribullet for smoothies and have found it to work great too. It's a little less than the Ninja I have. The cleanup is definitely easier with the bullet.

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    1. That's good to know. I was looking the the nutribullet as well. I just want to have smooth smoothies!

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  3. This sounds like a subscription service I might actually enjoy! Last December, my sister treated me to a Nutri Bullet for my birthday and it really makes a difference with blending things like kale in a smoothie. I may need to try some of these ingredients you mentioned, but really find a smoothie to be a perfect post long run recovery beverage/fuel.

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    1. We really liked it here--I'm still deciding about signing up for the service!

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  4. Green Blender sounds like the Blue Apron version of smoothies. What a great idea for trying to get those who aren't always conscious of what they're eating to try and eat healthier.

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  5. Interesting! I've never heard of this before but it sounds like a neat way to try new smoothie ingredients. And bonus points since everything was cold upon arrival! -C

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    1. There were no downsides to this one. My only thing would be to add yogurt or kefir--they were pretty "green" without it. Unless, of course, you like that!

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  6. I'm actually trying out this company next week and I can't wait to try it. I'm a huge fan of green smoothies but I'm looking for some new recipes and I'm sure I wont be dissapointed.

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  7. I make smoothies ever single day! I have for a long time. I have my trusty little Nutri Bullet that has been faithful to me thus far. I try to switch it up with my fruits and veggies and add protein powder in. I even pack my Nurti Bullet when we go away to the beach for a few days in the summer! I have never heard of this company before. What a great idea for those looking for new ideas.

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    1. This was so convenient, and it would be a no-excuses way to get your veggies!

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  8. I'm not a smoothie person (but need to be a little more open-minded about it). How does the price on the subscription compare to buying the ingredients locally?

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    1. I'm checked out the prices, and it's not bad but obviously it would be cheaper to buy everything on your own!

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  9. I thought the recipes sounded yummy but unfortunately I found they "sounded" better than they tasted. Glad you and the boys liked them.

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  10. Holy smoothies!!! I have to say that I usually enjoy eating my calories instead of drinking them, although I know how nutritious and easy smoothies like this are. Once it starts to heat up around here, I'm more inclined to make a smoothie post-run. I will have to check this out since it seems to make smoothie life a lot easier!

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  11. Their flavor combos are certainly creative and yes lots of things I had thought of adding or combining either. Always fun to try new stuff! My son would not come near them!

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    1. I would think with all your creative recipes that your kids would be adventurous!

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  12. These look great and my daughter would love them! I will have to give them a try. Thank you!

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  13. It totally sounds like the Blue Apron of smoothies! I feel like I may totally enjoy this subscription service too!

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  14. Those look like some delicious combinations and some I never would have thought to put together.

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    1. I was surprised by some of the combinations too, but we were all game to try them.

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  15. Glad that you liked Green Blender! Isn't it a fun service!

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  16. These smoothies look pretty good!! My younger sister asked for the Ninja one Christmas, and has used it a whopping 3 times in 2 years! and still uses the regular blender to make her smoothies! when we asked her why she didn't use it, she said it was too much work to clean it!

    I don't make smoothies at home, I get them at this awesome coffee shop that has the best smoothies ever!

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    1. Oh, that's good to know about the Ninja! I wonder why it's so much work to clean. Ugh.

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  17. These look really good, very interesting flavor combinations! I used to make smoothies when I was really dieting, but haven't done so in several years. I should go back to them, especially now that our weather is turning warm. Great review!

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    1. I love smoothies, and yes, they would be great in the warm weather!

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  18. These are so fun! I wouldn't have ever thought to pair some of those flavor combos together - but they look yummy!

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  19. My Vitamix has been a real workhorse, it's at least 10 yrs old, but I am on the hunt for a new one. Use it all the time. I also have a very old Magic Bullet, which I also use a lot.

    I don't like smoothies during the winter; I go for them more when it's warmer. And while I'd try something like that to review, I'd never pay to have my smoothie ingredients delivered!

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  20. I received my box yesterday! I made one smoothie yesterday and it was delicious. I will make another one today. have a NutriBullet and love it.

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  21. I like smoothies and I even bought a nicer blender at home just so I could make more of them. But ultimately I get too lazy to prep all the ingredients and do all the clean-up afterwards! So this type of service would be a nice help with the prep steps. If only they could help with the clean-up, LOL. The finished products look so nice, too! When I make my own smoothies, my husband calls it "sludge." That doesn't help...!

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    1. There was still a little prep work, but not much. I've already fallen off the smoothie wagon. I need to get back at it.

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  22. I love that everything is there and portioned out! I checked into this but for now they don't deliver to my zipcode. Poo! Maybe they will soon!

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  23. Not sure I could get past the look of these to try them, but I've heard they have great health benefits!!

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  24. Yey for GreenBlender! I really liked the Shamrock one and the Irish coffee - yum yum!

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    1. Matthew's favorite was the Lepre-Clean. I liked the Shamrock one the best.

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  25. YUM!! These all look awesome - love the St. Patrick's theme!! The mint chocolate shamrock looks so delicious! I just bought the Ninja professional series blender and LOVE it. It comes with a food processor and a mini blender also.
    Great review!!

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  26. Not a smoothie drinker. Never make them at home. The only ones I've had are Starbucks - chocolate banana.

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  27. That's so awesome! Seems like a great (and easy) way to try lots of new recipes! x

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  28. I have a smoothie most mornings but don't add much in the way of veggies other than spinach or kale. The best thing I did was learn how to freeze my own bananas - peel, chopped in 3-5 pieces, place on a lined baking sheet and put in freezer for a couple of hours. Then pop them in a ziplock bag - they don't stick together that way.

    I have a 16 speed Oster blender. I use the "crush ice" button to get everything into small pieces, then blend. That seems to help.

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    1. I have that same blender, but it still doesn't make the smoothies smooth...

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  29. The Irish Coffee and Mint Chocolate smoothies sound delicious! I've read about this smoothie service on a few other blogs and I'm really interested in trying it out! I hear ya on the blender- I'd love a Ninja but my fiance thinks it's insane to spend that much money on a blender. haha

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    1. I almost bought the nutribullet. I'll have to research that one...

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  30. how cool is this. i do make smoothies at home but i'd love to try a service that does the homework for you. I'm so glad to hear you all enjoyed it..i'd be curious to know blender you buy...because I'm looking for one too.

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    1. I'm on the hunt for a powerful, inexpensive blender...I'll post when I find one!

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  31. All of those smoothies look so delicious and creative! I am all for making smoothies with unique ingredients. I'm expecting my first delivery this week and I'm really looking forward to trying them! I have the Nutribullet and it works great.

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    1. That's on my list, and may be what I go for. Much more affordable than the Ninja. I can't wait to read your reviews.

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  32. I almost never make smoothies, but I love them, so I don't really know why. This sounds like a lot of fun! :)

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  33. I've never heard of this service!! So convenient and easy. I could see using them during the winter months when local produce is harder to come by.

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    1. That's a great idea! Do you think it would fly by my husband? :p

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  34. I'm not a huge smoothie drinker, but I tried Green Blender last year and thought it was a great option for people who are really into smoothies. Loved that everything came pre-portioned - so easy!

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  35. Congrats to Matthew! I'm sure it was the smoothie that helped him place first, and had nothing to do with his athletic skills. ;-)

    Thanks for linking up!

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  36. Wow! Look at your son at his meet! That's amazing! Congratulations to him!

    So, my blender broke a few years ago, and I never replaced it. We honestly only used it for two things, and I don't really love smoothies, so we are just without. This subscription service is really creative, though, and I have been hearing great things!

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    1. Smoothies are such a great way to get fruits and veggies into kids! I would think your little guy would love them!

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  37. What a fun box! That is definitely a great way to mix up the morning smoothie! I like you would need a better blender for those ingredients! Nice review!

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  38. I read about Green Blender before - it sounds like a great service! Smoothies are my #1 go-to snack to get some good nutrition in for my kids. You can "hide" quite a bit of greens in them. Your smoothies look delicious and I would love to try goji berries in my smoothies. Sounds awesome! A ninja Blender sounds great - hope one will be heading your way:)

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    1. I had never tried goji berries before but it was an amazing combo!

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  39. My husband and I have a green smoothie daily. This looks like a great service. I highly recommend the Vitamix.

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    1. Good to know! Someone comments that the Ninja was a pain to clean. Is the Vitamix easy to clean?

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  40. These all sound delicious. In theory, I'd love to make smoothies. I'm just lazy. But really, I don't know what to put in them! This service would solve that problem. I'd still have to get over the lazy part. My husband gave me a very nice juicer a couple of years ago. Ask me how many times I've used it!

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    1. I want to replicate these but it just seems like so much work...

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  41. I like your idea of adding kefir or Greek yogurt to these smoothies! I'm not much of a smoothie person but when I do they need to have substance, even if they're just a snack. Also, congrats to your son on the gymnastics win!

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    1. We needed some protein in these, plus the kefir really "smoothed" them out!

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  42. I like to use lowfat milk or yogurt in smoothies (when I'm using a mix that calls for water) to add some healthy calories and protein in. Smoothies are especially great for breakfast, for me, and that's what I've been having lately. I always seem to get on a kick - eggs for a few months, then smoothies for a few months, etc. That's great that both of your boys liked those smoothies you made!

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    1. I didn't have any trouble convincing them to drink these. They were really good!

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  43. Awesome! Of course there is a service for this. Love it. And the fact that you got your boys to participate with you. :)

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    1. Isn't there a service for everything? I like this one tho! And my boys were all in!

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  44. I love this! Anything to streamline the healthy intake process

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  45. I am addicted to my green smoothies. What a great service. My vitamix changed my life :) I like to use both fruit and veggies in my smoothies. Lately I have been loving adding cinnamon to them.

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    1. I really need to make some healthy smoothies on my own. This service made it so easy!

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  46. Oh my yum! These all sound amazing! I would love to try the orange one with the goji berries. Such a new twist!

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