I know this post may come across as an ad for Daily Harvest, but I promise you, I’m not important enough to be paid to do something like that:) Plus, they’d probably prefer a health nut who was smart enough to jump on this wagon a long time ago. I feel very late to the game, but excited, just the same.
I know I’m not an expert, but I can honestly say that I’m actually pretty smoothie-savvy. Raising toddlers that don’t love veggies, I quickly learned that smoothies are the way to get healthy stuff into their diets. In an ideal world, I’d give them a smoothie every day. In reality, fruits and veggies go in and out of season and toddlers rarely wait patiently while you wash and chop everything. It sometimes feels like it takes an hour!
Therefore, the thing most appealing about Daily Harvest is the convenience. I don’t have to wash or chop anything. I can literally just pop it in a blender and have all kinds of good stuff within seconds. If I can make a smoothie that the boys will drink, it’s a lot more satisfying than throwing away the vegetables they barely touch… you know?
1. Acai and Cherry – Beautifier
I picked this smoothie first because the ingredients looked similar to smoothies the boys have had in the past…
It was a hit! The boys absolutely loved it, so I only got a little taste, but it was really good…. I cheated a little and added a splash of apple juice to make it a little sweeter and more appealing for the kids. Next time, I’ll try it with just water because I’m not sure this smoothie even needed the extra sweetness.
Full disclosure, there were the tiny kale chunks in all smoothies that had kale as an ingredient. Anytime I use kale, they’re there. They don’t seem to bother the boys at all, but I always wonder if it’s my blender? Or just the norm? Anyway, I was curious if this magical smoothie-creator had found a way around those, but no such luck.
2. Watermelon and Cucumber – Hydrator
This smoothie was so good too! The cucumber and watermelon combo made it super refreshing. I don’t know what sea buckthorn is, or what it tastes like, but I didn’t taste anything weird and am assuming it’s super healthy.
This one didn’t go over so well with the boys. I, of course, was annoyed. I then told my husband to give it a try since the boys weren’t interested. He took one sip and told me he couldn’t do it. He has a major aversion to pickles…. I’m talking HUGE… and apparently that transfers over to cucumbers. I can only assume that’s the reason the boys didn’t take to it either? Cucumbers do have a very distinct flavor, I just happen to love it. The weird thing is that the boys will eat actual cucumbers. It doesn’t make sense. Oh well, more smoothie for me!
PS I think it’s brilliant that they set it up so the smoothie can go directly back in the cup. It even has a lid that has a hole for a straw… so smart!
3. Strawberry and Peach – Reviver
Our third attempt was another success with the kids! I’ve always been skeptical about oats blended into a smoothie. I think oats, automatically jump to lumpy oatmeal, and I somehow can’t see the connection to a SMOOTH fruit smoothie. I can report that you can’t feel any weird texture from the oats. Very impressed.
4. Cold Brew and Almond – Energizer
I’m a huge fan of fun coffee drinks. I wish I could drink straight, black coffee, but I wasn’t blessed with those taste buds. Good news…
… I really think this smoothie can replace those high-sugar coffee drinks I love so much. I’m not crazy, I know that something this healthy doesn’t actually taste AS good as a blended sugary drink, but the convenience of whipping this delicious thing up in my own kitchen totally trumps the sugar high.
I must admit that I didn’t use the recommended liquid, almond milk. I’ll have to get a little healthier before I’ll like the taste of almond milk again. It’s always taken me a little while to get used to it. So until then, I’m just going to use regular milk.
The only complaint I have about this smoothie is that cacao doesn’t blend. I’ve tried using it before during previous health-kicks, and I just can’t figure it out. It’s supposed to replace chocolate, and I think it smells kind of like chocolate, but the texture is totally different. My favorite part about chocolate is the way it melts… just saying.
5. Mango and Camu – Immunity
Well, more cucumber, so you know what that means… No luck with the boys, but I enjoyed it a lot! I think spinach is one of my favorite smoothie ingredients because I never taste it, but I still get to feel like I’m eating something healthy.
I really need to figure out a way to get the boys to drink this one because I’m guessing we’re going to need immunity assistance with preschool coming into our lives for the first time this fall. I’m a little scared.
6. Banana and Greens – Elixir
I’m not going to lie, even I was a little hesitant about this one. I’ve attempted wheat grass shots in the past, and they taste like fresh cut grass. I love the smell in the summertime, but no thanks to eating it.
I really liked it!! It may have been that splash of apple juice again, but it’d probably be good either way. The funny part is that the boys actually tried this one and seemed to like it. I say “seem” because they liked the initial sip and asked for more but didn’t actually drink any of what was given.
In Conclusion…
- The men in our household will not drink a smoothie that has cucumber in it
- Cacao is impossible to blend
- Daily Harvest is pretty awesome, and I can’t wait to try more fun stuff… I just saw they have a healthy ice cream?!?
Overall, I was really happy with our first week. I feel confident that the ingredients in these smoothies have much more variety and a higher quality than the pre-made smoothies currently in the freezer section of the grocery store. I like the setup of selecting what you want online, and the smoothies arrived frozen and ready to go. Could I make similar concoctions on my own for less money? Probably. Would I attempt that route if I had more time to dedicate to it? Maybe. Since my days aren’t overflowing with time right now, I’ll probably take a pass:)
Oooooh! I want to try one!
I’ll make you one!!