blenders

Question
Hello!  This may be a bit out of your expertise, but I am going to try anyway.  I am considering buying a blender to help transition to a more healthful diet, and am wondering if you have the "Vitamix" blender considering your lifestyle. If so, could you please help me in my decision to buy one by answering these questions:   
1.  Could the Vitamix, blend a carafe full of sliced fruits and veggies on its own, without the aide of the tamper, or any water/juice, or ice?   
2.  Have you had any problem blending frozen fruit right  out of the freezer, such as strawberries?   
3.  Do you know anything about the "Blendtec Wildside" blender and how it compares with the Vitamix?  
I really appreciate any help or answers, advice you can give to me.  Thanks so much!  I appreciate you!  

Answer
Hi Joanna,

Thanks for appreciating me, but I may, indeed, not be the right expert for you. Blenders and healthy, holistic diets seldom go a long way.

You would best contact a sales rep regarding the specific blender of your choice. I have never heard (as a European, perhaps) any of the blenders you mention. They sound as if they promise you vitamin rich and wild culinary delights. But beware.

I will say, that I own the cheapest, simplest blender to chop nuts and puree SOME vegetables (which cannot be put through a moule without losing their fibre). This mainly for baby food or culinary treats. Not ever for soups, sauces or general cooking. There are other traditional methods which enhance not only flavour, but also cosmic-nutritional value.

A ricer or a moulee is the best way whenever you need to go beyond fine dicing or chopping of food.
A tamper as an aide is not an issue. One has to be prepared to make SOME effort in cooking! The question you should be asking is why add more that can compromise flavour or texture, or nutritional value? Use a blender only if it makes a specific recipe.

I cannot think of any single moment in time that I would ever use frozen fruit. Not even if the Queen herself asked me for a raspberry coulis for Christmas. Better get import over frozen. There may be certain treats you feel like making, fair enough, but when it comes to discussing a healthy diet, frozen products must be considered per item. Only a few can qualify as healthy (peas in winter possibly). If you live out in the middle of nowhere, compromises will have to be made, perhaps. But know them to be such. Frozen strawberries are, if you really want to extract a harsh word from me: impossible! Raspberries, blueberries and even blackberries maybe (but you can always tell, unless you disguise them in a silly shake, and then what is the point; nutritionally they are dead, already. So think in terms of flavour solely). Dried strawberries are a different product, used (again for flavour solely) in mueslis. It's a luxury product and a bit sad, really.

It is great to think about including more veg and fruit in your diet, but remember a juice, a smoothie, a compote, jam, or sauce is never the same as the veg or fruit in its proper shape, colour and form. People who swear by vitamin/mineral or calorie intake will be quick to swear by blenders, but this is not a holistic approach to diet.

I wish you lots of luck in asking around for more consumer advice. I hope you get the right blender for your needs (easy to clean and the ability to mix small amounts I always find a plus point).

Take care and enjoy your healthy meals,
Evelyn.  

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