By Jamie Garcia
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be a challenge for those of us with an 8 to 5 job. If you’re anything like me (a vegetarian) or simply someone who doesn’t consider Mickey D’s to be a substantial culinary go-to, you’ve long since crossed “drive-thru” off your list of lunchtime options. With the Vitamix 5200 Super Blender, embracing a healthy lifestyle just got a whole lot quicker, easier and dare I say…. fun.
Whether you’re preparing a light smoothie for your pre-gym workout, or whipping up a frozen dessert for the kids, the Vitamix series of blenders makes eating healthy a snap. Holding up to 64 oz of your favorite blended foods, it’s easy to pre-make lunch, snack, and dinner options, which you can store in your refrigerator and take as needed for the entire week.
With the ability to chop, cream, blend, cook, grind, knead, churn and more, a world of healthy and delicious culinary possibilities await you and your loved ones. The 64 oz container tackles everything from whole fruit smoothies and tantalizing ice creams to creamy dips, chunky salsas, and homemade soups. The 32 oz Dry Grains container, on the other hand, helps you grind your favorite whole grains into fresh flour for breads and cereals, and will even knead the dough for you.
Not a creative culinary confectionist? Not to worry! The Vitamix 5200 Super Blender comes with two complimentary cookbooks to aid in your quest for healthy eating solutions. The Whole Grains cookbook includes a variety of whole grain and gluten free recipes, while the Whole Food Recipes cookbook contains hundreds of other recipes from fresh green smoothies to daring pasta sauces, and much more!
If you think this all-in-one blender is a little pricey at $549.00, I don’t blame you. It all sounds great until you read the price tag, and begin asking yourself, “How much do I really need this?” Like any conscious consumer, it is always worth checking out the competition before you spend top dollar on an appliance, so let’s take a look at a couple comparable and slightly more affordable products on the market.
The Blendtec series of blenders, specifically the Total Blender Classic WildSide, is the most prominent competition for the Vitamix, and costs $454.95. Other models range from $385 – $1,035 depending on their specifications. Both Vitamix and Blendtec blenders boast the same high quality, come with a 7-year warranty, and the differences are few and subtle. Choosing one over the other comes down to your personal preference for design and a minor difference in price since both are high quality, top-of-the-line, power food-processors.
If you’re looking for a quality product at a lower price, I would suggest the BlenderChef 12 Speed Blender (52655) from Hamilton Beach. For only $49.99, is may be the most powerful, high-quality, durable blender you can buy for such a low price. It is less of an all-in-one machine, as it requires separate attachments for blending and food processing, however, it will still make most of the things you’d expect from the Vitamix and Blendtec blenders without breaking your budget.
Now then, on to the pros and cons of the Vitamix 5200 Super Blender…
Pros:
- 7-year full machine warranty with optional $120 extended warranty for an additional 3 years.
- easy to clean, and dishwasher safe
- 4 color options: black, brushed stainless, red and white
- Tamper tool — included to help you process thick mixtures like peanut butter and ice cream. It fits securely into the 64 oz. and 32 oz. containers with a special collar and tapered design to prevent it from hitting the blades.
- Cookbooks with hundreds of healthy recipes
- Online community support
- Break-resistant, BPA-free copolyester pitchers with stainless steel blades and a durably-built base.
- Capable of pulverizing ice, frozen fruits, nuts, seeds, grains and coffee beans with ease.
- Versatile in promoting a healthy lifestyle
- A fast and easy, high quality, power and performance food processor
Cons:
- 20.5 in tall — not an ideal height for fitting underneath all kitchen cabinetry
- The switch and dial interface for manual blending is not ideal for cleaning in between those nooks and crannies
- An expensive buy for those on a budget
Experienced Nutrition and Lifestyle coach, Linda Wagner, is the author of her personal blog, Nutrition to Invigorate Mind, Body & Spirit, where she frequently posts tips for maintaining a healthy well being, as well as recipes for smoothies, soups, dressings, dips and more. These recipes almost always require the use of her favorite blender, the Vitamix.
“I use a Vitamix, which is an amazing, state of the art, professional grade, high speed blender. They are the ONLY line of blenders that will get you the creamy consistency you desire. I love, love, LOVE my Vitamix and highly recommend investing in one if you are ready to make serious changes to your diet. I have had mine for almost 5 years and use it daily!”
Wagner is also a “Wellness Warrior” for Cleanse America, a national wellness initiative, aiming to transform of the state of health in America through body, mind, and spirit.
Although the price is high, so is the quality and performance. You can pay once and reap the benefits for years to come, or select a payment method that works for your budget. If you are serious about your health and are confident that you will use your Vitamix multiple times a day, I would definitely suggest buying this machine. It will pay itself off by adding years to your life!