Did you know that 1 in 2 Australians get TWO OR LESS serves of fruit and vegetables in a day? Did you also know that almost one million Australian adults had absolutely NO fruit or vegetables each day? The most startling finding in the 2013 breakfast research conducted by Vitamix was that the younger generation was more likely to skip their fruits and veggies compared to the older generation. I know there are a lot of people out there trying to do the right thing for their health and the health of their families. They try to eat healthy, make right food choices and stay fit. And there are many who have good intentions, but a busy lifestyle often turns their efforts to vain. I might have something for you today to motivate you towards a healthy and nourishing start to the day.
A few weeks ago I got involved with the lovely people at Filtered Media and the Vitamix 7@7 Campaign. The 7@7 campaign is all about re-claiming breakfast, and your health. with the Vitamix 7@7 Go-for-Green Breakfast Challenge: at 7am every day, have a green smoothie with at least 7 fruit and vegetables, and do it for at least 7 days.
I set out to style and photograph the 7 recipes for the Vitamix 7@7 Campaign created by leading media personalities like Fast Ed, Teresa Cutter, Sally Obermeder, Janella Purcell, Kemi Nevkapil, Ironman Pete Jacobs and Vogue’s Sigourney Cantelo. They sent me a Vitamix on loan to play around with and shoot all the recipes. Join the Vitamix website to download the FREE e-book and see my photography. The e-book is fantastic and will give you ideas for the giveaway question below. My favourite was the "Strike A Pose Smoothie" by Vogue Beauty Director Sigourney Cantelo. It has mango, acai berry powder, coconut and whole kiwifruit. Divine! See some other outtakes from the shoot in this post.
If you haven’t heard of Vitamix yet, it is the high performance blender that has taken the world by storm. It pulverizes fruits and veggies to a pulp so smooth, you won’t be needing a strainer anytime soon. Smoothies, nut butters, nut milks, dips, dressing, fiber packed juices and even ice cream gets made in this amazing machine within a matter of minutes. I first saw a demonstration for Vitamix last year at the Better Homes And Gardens Show where they whipped up a Cabbage and Green Apple Ice Cream before our eyes using the Vitamix!!! I have wanted one ever since. (It is a pity I can’t enter my own giveaway).
And because you said "Vitamix!" when I asked what you wanted given away on the Cook Republic blog, I have managed to talk Vitamix into giving away one to a very lucky reader. So are you ready to WIN A VITAMIX? Here is what you have to do.
TO WIN A VITAMIX BLENDER WORTH $995
You MUST have an AUSTRALIAN POSTAL ADDRESS
You MUST enter via the RAFFLECOPTER BOX below
You MUST COMMENT on this post and tell me "WHAT WOULD YOU CREATE WITH YOUR NEW VITAMIX IF YOU WON ONE? (Ingredients Please! – Get Creative People)"
Answering that question will UNLOCK other ways to gain extra entries in the giveaway. You MAY do those ONCE or EVERY DAY.
Giveaway runs until Wednesday June 19th, 2013. ONE (OMG, so lucky!) WINNER will be picked randomly and announced on the blog and facebook page. So get your entries in now!
Giveaway runs until Wednesday June 19th, 2013. ONE (OMG, so lucky!) WINNER will be picked randomly and announced on the blog and facebook page. So get your entries in now!
Good luck guys! May the Blitz be with you!
I have no idea what I would create, but I would have great fun trying out many different recipes every day.
I would make all of the soup. Every soup ever.
I’ve been hearing good things about clean eating & green smoothies , so I would try a green breakfast smoothie first . It might be an acquired taste but I’m up for the challenge .
I’d really love to start making green juices/smoothies in the morning. My current blender just doesn’t cut it,so having a Vitamix would really help my mornings get off to a great start.
I would definitely be creating breakfast smoothies (lots of experimenting) with a blender that isn’t about to give up . . .
I would definitely be creating different blends of fruits and vegetables to find combinations that taste really delicious! 🙂
The most mind-blowing shake in the world, of course.
I would create Sneh’s berry lassi 🙂
Fennel and basil puree to go with fish
I would create yummy dips for entertaining ( ok i lie, dips for me!)
I’d make lots of soups starting with creamy pumpkin. So easy…..cooked pumpkin + bacon + onion + chicken stock + a dash of cream. Yum.
I imagine being able to start my day with a healthy fruit smoothie & I love different dips, so experimenting with them would be fun!
OMG! this sounds so good! I would definitely be making all the different kinds of nut butters as well as try making my own soy milk!
OMG what wouldn’t I do? From the finest nut milks to silky smooth nut butters, smoothies everyday without having to peel/chop veggies and fruits, and all sorts of soups. 🙂
Anything to get me eating greens (I don’t eat many greens) – but balanced with yummy sweet fruit! Apparently you can blend spinach and kale – who knew?? Add in some strawberries, apple, carrot, maybe some citrus, and go nuts! Hmm, maybe nuts too!
Oh my, what a wonderful addition to the kitchen this would make! I’d make lovely green and fruit smoothies for breakfast, nut butters and dressings to enjoy with my lunch, and hearty seasonal vegetable soups for dinner! xx
OOOOHHHH… this sounds amazing! I haven’t actually heard of a Vitamix before, but it sounds perfect! I used to make smoothies some mornings until my bullet blender died. My favourite was spinach, Greek yoghurt, chia seeds, flax seeds, frozen blueberries, frozen pineapple and a dollop of honey.
Oh what to make, what to make! I would try out something like this . . . plain yogurt, coconut milk, coconut flesh for added texture ,the juice of a single lime, a dollop of honey, a sprinkle of chia seeds, and ice. But ooo the possibilities. A x x x
Ohhhh what an awesome giveaway! Hard to pick one thing out of all the ideas in my head but I can’t resist the idea of making ice cream. I would go with a coconut milk and macadamia ice cream with a strawberry ribbon. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
Pumpkin soup – nothing better on a cold winters day
What a great giveaway…..as I am not keen on eating breakfast I would love to try creating delicious and healthy smoothies….
Beetroot, carrot, apple & LSA smoothie would be my first choice, but basically I would be happy to whizz up any available veg into soups or fruit into smoothies.
I would update my mum’s Banana Smoothie by adding organic gluten free oats to banana, mango, an egg, a spoon of organic extra virgin coconut oil, organic vanilla extract, organic coconut cream (which is actually just pure coconut) and organic rice milk. It is an awesome breakfast pick-me-up, and omitting the raw egg makes it good even for kids. And it tastes amazing 🙂 Or I’d use it for juicing, soup making and a hold bunch of other stuff! And thanks for the chance to win 😀
If I won a Vitamix Blender I would definitely commence the green juice trend, after watching Martha Stewart for years who is an avid green juice drinker I have tried to introduce this into my diet. I have a great juicer but I know the Vitamix is that step ahead in that all the nutrients from the fruits and vegetables are retained and I have been wanting one of these forever! I too have tasted the apple and cabbage icecream – hard to believe but it is truly delicious!
I would commence immediately with this smoothie:
1tbs fresh ginger (love it), two stems of fresh mint (leaves and stem included), 1 green apple, 1 carrot, 1 mandarin, 2 kale leaves, 1tbs organic chia seeds, 1/2 cup cold water, 1 cup ice – blend
I was just gifted a massive bag of chestnuts from my dad’s farm, would love to try making chestnut flour in the Vitamix!
I just read a recipe on Baked Bree (sorry for the other blog ref!) that sounds so delicious, for Cherry Almond Smoothies including the following ingredients: Vanilla Almond Coconut milk, cherries (fresh or frozen), raw almonds, raw honey, cinnamon, almond extract and coconut oil. She used a Vitamix to make it, so it’s a proven winner 🙂
Soup – especially roast vegetable or pumpkin with cumin. Warming, perfect for winter also excellent to help me get the body I want for summer.
I would make a banana smoothie with lots of yoghurt, cinnamon and honey
Baby food!
As a fan of the Paleo food program the Vitamix Blender would create amazing healthy breakfasts for my family including a Fruit Salad smoothie made with a banana, peach, apricot, mango, apple, orange and strawberries blended with coconut milk, sweetened with stevia, served icy cold in a tall glass and dusted with a sprinkle of cinnamon!
I’d love to try a Chilli Chocolate Smoothie with milk, drinking chocolate or cocoa, banana and chilli powder … wow, that’d have a kick!
I would make a smoothie with: Strawberries, mango, almond milk, spinach and frozen banana, yummo!!
I’d love to make lots of ice creams with the Vitamix because it’d be so much easier and less mess!
Carrot, apple, celery and ginger frappe! Quantities to suit your taste, touch a taste of ginger, plenty of ice. Yummy way to start the day, with a little “bite” to it to really get your motor running.
… make that either a touch of ginger or a taste of ginger lol.
A healthy smoothie with banana, pineapple, coconut milk and ground flaxseed, have been told it helps with high blood pressure.
Surely everyone has heard of a Vitamix? I’m dreaming of a beetroot, apple, carrot and ginger juice right now. Tomorrow it might be different. 🙂
Holler, Sneh.
At the moment I can’t get enough of a green smoothie – you’ll need a handful of kale, a handful of spinach, 1/4 of an avocado, 1/2 a banana, 2T greek yoghurt, 300ml coconut water, a scoop of ice, half a handful of macadamia nuts, 1/2 a cheek of mango, 1/2 a handful of raspberries, and a spoon of peanut butter or tahini.
I’d place all of the greens at the bottom of the Vitamix and add all of the other ingredients, and then blend to drink. Enjoy!
A soup of love that is rich in health, prosperity, good fortune, optimism, eternal happiness and joy with a strong flavour of potato and leek!!
I have long wanted a vitamix but now at 60+ years of age its just not going to happen on my social security budget, but I am green with envy for my Aussie friends who can enter this contest. Who ever wins I truly wish much joy and use for you and Good Luck to all who enter.
I would love to win one for making some healthy smoothies and soups. Wish I was in australia,… Nice giveway. happy to follow you
My favourite thing to make in my current blender is ‘Blender cupcakes’ so I’d give them a burl and then I’d probably just goes nuts making anything and everything.
Making dips so much easier to make and saving me from getting RSI from making them. Thanks for the op.
Green breakfast smoothie for brekky, and soup for every other meal. I love soup!
It’s winter warmer time so I would make my favourite Roasted Tomato soup with tomatoes, chicken broth, onion, garlic, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, basil and oregano. Delish.
I’d make a yummy berry and ginger smoothie with a dash of beetroot!! Too good!!
As a cook from scratch vegetarian, this would be amazing for my family. I would incorporate it daily life from smoothies (yes, the latest green smoothie fad) to soups to hommus to ricotta cheese. It would be limitless what could be done with this vitamix. Anyone who wins it will be very blessed indeed ?
Green smoothies with whatever I have available. This mornings: Baby spinach, banana, pear, coconut water and spirulina!
Breakfast! Every morning a different combination of healthy fruits and vegetables – the options are endless … and yummy
I would make my own coconut butter and save lots of money! Just blend up desiccated coconut… only works in a vitamix though!
I’d puree every meal that we eat so that the baby can have the same as us, puree veggies to hide in the kids meals and make delicious smoothies full of fruit and veg for the whole family
I have been dying to make a recipe a friend made for us
Emerald Ecstasy
2 cups of Green Grapes
1/2 Pineapple
1 banana
1 Green apple
1/4 bunch Spinach
and ice
this is so healthy and very tasty
WHAT WOULDN’T I MAKE! i would make pumkin soup and some virgin pina coladas mmmm
Love this thing!
I make a green juice several mornings a week but I use an old crappy blender that is hard to clean and quite small. I’d love a vitamix to blend up my kale, spinach, ginger, mint, parsley, lemon, apple and cucumber juice!! (otherwise it can go on the wedding registry)
anything with ginger! maybe pineapple, carrot, celery, apple, ginger, coconut and cinnamon….
Spinach strawberry and mango smoothie to get the whole family shaking in the morning.
Ohh Sneh you need to start thinking about people with US postal addresses as well 😉 !! Lol
Organic and green is alright with me it , mixed with a Vitamex Blender is the way it should be.
simple…frozen bananas and strawberries…whizz it in the vitamix and make banana and strawberry ice-cream…you can’t get easier, healthier or tastier that that !
My smoothie would include some of my favourite juice flavours with a bit of extra green and grain for healthy – ness..
Kale, cucumber, lemon, mint, pineapple, green apple and chia seeds.
YUM!
Sneh, did you see your photos up on Vogue Australia website?? They look AMAZING!!!
http://www.vogue.com.au/blogs/editors+blogs/green+shake+confessions,24739
thank you Heather! I did, so stoked 🙂
I would make almond milk
Ice cream is a given but if I was to get creative it would be nut butters and spreads. Maybe a Gingerbread flavoured almond and coconut butter? YUM! Pina Colada pineapple coconut ice cream…
The best damn smoothie ever. My smoothies are more like ‘lumpies’ i can never get them right even though they are one of my favourite treats.
I would make some deliciously indulgent Macadamia nut milk !!!
Ingredients
1 cup raw macadamia nuts
4 cups filtered water
1 tsp. vanilla bean paste
Optional Ingredients
Pinch cinnamon
1 date, stevia, coconut syrup or raw honey for sweetness.
Method
Place the macadamia nuts, water and vanilla paste into your Vitamix.
Turn the machine on the variable speed 1, quickly turn up to variable speed 10 and then override to High speed
Leave running for about 30-40 seconds until it is nice and creamy.
YUMMMMMMM !!!
Oh the things I could make with this! I need a blender…no, I need this Vitamix!
I would make a gorgeous baked yoghurt dessert that I recently learnt – hung yoghurt, condensed milk, cream and fruit whizzed, then poured into glasses and baked in a water bath for a few mins, then chilled. Simple but divine!
4 Kale Leaves, 1 cup baby spinach leaves, 1 banana, 3 sprigs parsley, 3 sprigs fresh mint, 1 cup of organic rice milk and you have one wicked green smoothie!! My 2 year old LOVES it, she drinks it all up and walks away with a green mo 🙂
I would love a Vitamixnto create a plethora of tasty and nutritious smoothies. I’m a vego so I have to be creative about how I get my protein, I love smoothies with banana, yoghurt, chia seeds, peanut butter, cinnamon a splash of agave and a handful of fresh spinach. I would love a vitamin because I have blown up 2 cheapo blenders in the last 6 months because of my enthusiastic smoothie mixing.
A Banana Blizzard with frozen bananas, milk, vanilla extract, and maple syrup.
Mocha Shake – brewed espresso, chocolate ice cream, milk, crushed ice, and cinnamon.
I would finally get the chance to indulge in smoothies every morning, i would follow the 7@7 guide and create mouth-watering combinations including feijoa – my absolut fav!
Id make my daily Green smoothie and Id definetely try a soup in the Vitamix – it looks so easy to do!
I would make some wintery soup – chicken, lemongrass, ginger, chilli and lemon.
My Sunday morning pre bike ride smoothie – one red apple, one frozen banana (a nice overripe one) about 5-10 almonds, a squirt of honey, dash of cinnamon, a glug of soy, rice or oat milk and a good heaped tablespoons of natural yoghurt … mmmmmmm so good.
My kids will eat heaps of veggies in smoothies that they would never touch in it’s whole form! When my daughter wouldn’t eat broccoli, guess what?! i steamed it & put it in a smoothie! I’d love to try persimmon in a smoothie, I reckon that would be delish!
I would make juices for sure, but how nice and smooth would my cream of whatever soups be?
I would make a banana and honey smoothie with some peanut butter added in – I figure they taste so good together on a sandwich, that it has to work as a smoothie. Low fat vanilla yogurt and some wheatgerm to complete the concoction,
mean green juice
1 cucumber
4 celery stalks
2 apples
6-8 leaves kale
1/2 lemon
1 tbsp ginger
Directions
Wash all produce well
Peel the lemon, optional
Juice
Pour over ice
Enjoy!
I would probably do sweet and savoury versions of cashew creams! My food processor and immersion blender can’t get the same kind of silken smooth texture as a high-powered blender can. I tasted a cashew cream made with a proper high powered blender and am super keen to get one now!
“Rise and Shine” Breakfast Shake
fresh squeezed orange juice
banana
Greek yogurt
organic vanilla extract
Apple, carrot, celery, chilli and a little ice to tame the heat.
I’d use the Vitamix to play with colour. Smoothies with raw beetroot or blood orange, or multicoloured soups, say a pumpkin and broccoli with a dollop of creamy potato in the middle. Who says I can’t play with my food?
I’d love to start making green smothies, so a Vitamix would be perfect! I’m thinking kale, spinach, pear, mango, orange , flax seeds and ice. And I’d love to make some homemade almond and peanut butter. Yum!
I would perfect my summer thirst quenchers over the winter, i’m thinking cucumber, mint, lime and ginger with soda water!
And this is where I wish I lived in Australia! Such a great giveaway!
Smoothies. Milk, frozen banana, peanut butter, chocolate.
My current processor is not that flash so loads of nut milk, and green smoothies will be a must. I also want to make my own LSA which I hear is a cinch in the Vitamix. I’m afraid though, at night, it will be transformed into an icy cocktail maker!
I would create a complete breakfast FULL OF FRUIT drink for my family with whatever fruit is available , on those mornings when there;s no time to sit down & have breakfast……………..OR I’ll create a sort of love potion(or at least like) called “FRUITY-LOVE-LICIOUS” to give to all the guys from Bon Jovi when they come here in December…………I want pictures with them & autographs too of course!!
blueberries
spinach
raw milk
banana
chia seeds
Oh how much would I love to win this Sney!!! My raw cheesecake would be so much nicer (and smoother!) if I used a Vitamix instead of my little cheapy blender.
i would definitely start making all nut butters at home, especially my husband’s favourite crunchy peanut butter. i’d also give dosa batter a whirl in this since i hear it works well! no more hefty wet grinder to take out and put away each time i crave dosa!
Oh my gosh, I would so LOVE to get my hands on one of these… Anyway. My dream smoothie include whole fuits and veg plus a whole heap of wholefood goodness:
whole orange, raw beetroot, carrot, a bit of ginger and parsley, some lime, spirulina and wheatgerm, macadamias and goji berries. Oh and some avo! Tasty with a dash of texture.
Maple syrup, vanilla, yoghurt smoothie. Yet to perfect my recipe but the ingredients are basically just that!
What I would make with the Vitamix is freshly made bubby food for our new little one who’s just about to start solids, he could have and enjoy exactly what the rest of the family is eating for din din 😀 Whether it be Bangers and Mash with peas and corn for tea to custard and fruit for dessert 😀 Good Luck Everybody 😀
congrats on blog of the year! you deserve it! if i won this new vitamix i would create an amazing fondue for this cold cold weather. i am thinking along the lines of a four cheese blend ( whatever tickles your fancy, i love brie!) , with some chilli salt, paprika and cumin to spice things up a little;) oh and cos serve it with a vitamix bread!
I’d make a fibre and antioxidant filled smoothie made of:
Fresh peach slices
Fresh pear slices
Dried dates
Fresh grated ginger
a terrific way to start the morning only my blender can’t handle the dates! A Vitamix would definitely help me start my day right, every single morning!
Sugar and spice and everything nice… joining the healthy revolution in style.
One thing I love is to combine sweet and spicy, tangy flavours. Toss in some strawberries with a dash of maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice mixed in with swirls of almond milk, oats and mint leaves. A handful of cashews and a generous serve of crushed ice… the result? A smoothie to die for!
Loving your posts. I just started a raw diet, so I’d love to be able to make pie crusts from walnuts, chia seeds, almonds, pecans, dates etc. Then to make the fillings with home made almond milk, pureed rhubarb, or organic berries and coconut. Savoury dishes from kale, garlic, pumpkin and homemade rice flours. I desperately need a great blender to make all sorts of healthy raw recipes for my blog.
Yummy and easy peasy brekkie everyday! Kale, Swiss chard and ginger shots, seasonal food smoothies…Also, this winter’s best thing to eat – nut butters!
I would give the Vitamix a whirl by first making nut milks – almond, cashew and brazil nut.. Then I’d make my homemade peanut butter and my Morning Glory juice – kale, pineapple, cucumber & mint.
‘Naughty’ Chocolate mousse
300g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
3 eggs
1/4 cup caster sugar
1 tbs cocoa powder,
300ml thickened cream
Blended in my Vitamix to make a consistency that is light and fluffy yet extra smooth and creamy!
Smoothies for my toddlers.
“what would you create with your new vitamix if you won one?”
This is what I would create.
1 passion fruit no skin
1 cup of berry juice
handful of baby spinach
2 oranges no skin
2 carrots with skin
2 apples with skin
Mix and add water if need be.
YUMMY
i would become a pesto addict and smoothies every day for breakfast
I always wanted to make a raw cheesecake but my blender can’t do the nuts to the consistency that I need. So fingers crossed hopefully I will get to make it soon.
A lovely, nutritious mint, celery, carrot, watermelon and citrus vita boost!
I would grind my own whole grains and then add them to a fresh fruit smoothie.
I’d whip up an instant ice-cream made from frozen natural yoghurt, stewed pears, frozen banana and cinnamon. I’d finish it off by topping the creamy treat with a berry coulis and crushed almonds. Mmmm, the options are endless, anything could happen!
If my dream came true and I owned a Vitamix I would make my ultimate green smoothie love. Spinach, celery, green apple and mint. Yum
Every imaginable nut butter!
With my Vitamix I would make an energizing green smoothie of spinach, pineapple, strawberries, and chia seeds .
oh man what I wouldnt do with one of these. Raw soups, smoothies, nut butters, banana softserve, lassis yummmm
I would start my day with a super healthy smoothie – apple, kale, ginger, coconut water, kiwi fruit and a squeeze of lime. I would end my day with healthy coconut ice cream. Think creamy coconut cream, a touch of coconut oil and a sprinkle of spice like cardamom or cinammon. Delish!
Oh my, a Vitamix, yes please! I’d love to win, and the very first thing I would make would be a smoothie riff on a favourite juice combination of mine: pear and parsley. Lots of ripe pear and plenty of parsley fresh from the garden, then a handful of baby spinach to boost the chlorophyll, a big piece of cucumber and some celery for extra vitamins and depth of flavour, a little handful of fabulous raw almonds from Loving Earth, and to finish, a spoonful of chia seeds for some extra minerals and super omega action! Fresh, green, nutritious and delicious. Kapow! Ready for anything!
Wow- tough call to have to nominate just one dish. Given the chill is starting to set in for me it would have to be a steaming bowl of hot porridge. I would use the vitamix to make some fresh almond milk which would be used to cook the steel cut oats. I would then make a raspberry puree with a touch of cinnamon and swirl this through the porridge with a drizzle of pomegranate molasses and a sprinkle of molasses sugar. Heaven in a bowl.
I’d either try one of those crazy green juices (spinach, green apple, kiwi, kale, coconut water, ice) or make a totally absurdly crazy post-run smoothie (either: pineapple, maple syrup, raspberries, blueberries, natural yoghurt, ice and mint; OR cocoa powder, protein powder, yoghurt, nutella, shot of coffee and ice… nom)