The time is fast approaching when many make their New Year’s resolutions. The most popular ones usually involve some sort of steps to lead a healthier life. Exercise and eating better often top that list. When made and consumed wisely, a smoothie can be an excellent nutritious treat. Here is a list of the best blenders, smoothie makers and accessories to kick-start your health.
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When made with a balance of ingredients, a smoothie can be a very healthy, nutritionally dense meal. The secret is to make sure you add a balance of ingredients in your blender, not all fruits and juices. When evaluating any recipe, make sure it has carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats.
It is also important to use water or skim milk as your liquid base and add a protein source, which will help you feel full after consuming. Then, remember to wait before making a second one as it can take as long as 40 minutes for the brain to release satiety hormones that make you feel full.
The biggest concern with smoothies is portion control. It is possible to have too much of a good thing. When choosing an insulated tumbler or travel mug, either pick a small size or don't fill the large one up all the way. The ideal smoothie should only be 8 to 12 ounces.
KitchenAid K400 Variable Speed Blender with Tamper
With its ribbed jar, asymmetrical blade and adaptive motor, not only can this KitchenAid blender make a smoothie in about 20 seconds, it creates a smooth and consistent texture. The self-clean cycle is a convenient and much-appreciated feature.
Ninja Nutri-Blender Pro with Auto-iQ
Ninja's Auto-iQ feature combines pulsing, blending and pausing patterns to deliver an exceptionally smooth beverage. The 1,100-peak-watt motor on this Ninja blender provides enough power to easily crush ice at the touch of a button.
Ninja Foodi Smoothie Bowl Maker and Nutrient Extractor
This popular Ninja Foodi blender lets you make bowls and beverages. It has an impressive 1,200-peak-watts of power and six one-touch programs, so you can easily blend, pulse, extract, make a smoothie and more.
Black + Decker PowerCrush Blender
This Black + Decker blender is specially designed so you can crush ice with ease. It has three speeds and a quad blade and is large enough to make six smoothies at once.
This Oster blender has a number of settings, such as food type and thickness, that let you customize your blend. There is even a setting designated for making smoothies. The texture technology takes the guesswork out of getting the perfect consistency.
Magic Bullet Single-Serve Blender
The Magic Bullet blender is a popular single-serve model that offers an outstanding balance of features at a reasonable price. It comes with three different-sized cups, resealable lids and a 10-second recipe guide.
Hamilton Beach Personal Blender
If budget is your top priority, this entry-level personal blender has a single-button operation that lets you make one 14-ounce smoothie. It is tiny, but powerful enough to blend frozen fruit and ice.
12-Ounce Stainless Steel Insulated Mug
For people who want to take their smoothie on a morning commute, this double-walled mug will keep your beverage cold for up to nine hours. It holds the perfect amount of smoothie (12 ounces) and has a sliding lid to help prevent splashing and spills.
12-Pack Reusable Smoothie Straws
Environmentally conscious smoothie drinkers will appreciate this assortment of 12 reusable straws. They come in six bright colors and feature an extra-wide opening to suck up the thickest beverages. Purchase also includes two cleaning brushes and a storage bag.
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Allen Foster writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
