Back-to-school week is all about new beginnings. More so than January 1st, I find it’s a time when I will be making “New Year’s” Resolutions, mostly to do with school (better, more diligent note-keeping, much further-in-advance lesson planning, keeping my desk tidy, keeping on top of my marking etc…) but it’s also a time to take stock of what I’m eating, especially after a somewhat indulgent summer in France đ
Most of my food resolutions involve eating more fruits and vegetables and making healthier snack choices and something I have been interested in investigating to cover both of these is fruit and vegetable juices and smoothies but even my trusty Diamond Blender, while pretty powerful doesn’t manage to blend raw fruits and vegetables enough that you can use them in a smoothie (also, kale…). It’s why, since I attended the launch of the KitchenAid Torrent Blender in June, I’ve been keen to get my hands on one to see if if can do just that – and help me more easily fit in my “5 a day”!
Well, I’ve had the blender less than a week and I can report that it manages raw carrots, cucumber, apples and kale with ease. Frozen fruits are made short work of too (no annoying “bits” of fruit skins floating in your smoothie!). I’m loving my daily smoothie!
The Torrent features the “Magnetic Drive” system that securely locks the pitcher in place while you’re using it. Unlike other blenders that sit on top of the motor, the pitcher slides in and out like a coffee maker, so it’s actually not as tall as a regular blender and if you have modern-sized kitchen cupboards (unlike me, sadly), there’s no need to move it out from underneath cabinets and no need to twist the pitcher into place, or hold down the lid during blending. I’m loving the four pre-programmed, hands-free settings (smoothies, juices, soups, sauces, iced drinks, milkshakes and more). Simply choose a program and walk away – the Torrent stops on its own. The built-in ingredient feed means you can add new ingredients at any point during the blending process – no mess, no fuss. My only negative so far is that it’s a bit noisier than a regular blender but the fact that most of the programs are around 1 minute 30 seconds means it’s running for less time but still gets the job done.
I’m looking forward to experimenting over the next couple of weeks and sharing more tips and a recipe with you but for now – here’s the great news, dear reader: You can…
Win a KitchenAid Torrent Blender!
Because I think everyone should âsmoothie all the thingsâ, thanks to the kind folks at KitchenAid Canada, I have one KitchenAidÂź Torrent Blender to give away to one lucky Canadian resident!
How to enter:
There are 3 ways to enter (maximum of three entries per person for the duration of the contest).
1. Leave me a comment on this post telling me how a Torrent Blender would help you stick to your “Back to School” resolutions.
2. Tweet the following message: Enter to win a @KitchenAid_CA #TorrentBlender on @eatlivtravwrite (Canada only) Details: http://bit.ly/WinTorrentBlender then come back to leave a separate comment letting me know you did.
3. For a third entry, follow both me (@eatlivtravwrite) and KitchenAid Canada (@KitchenAid_CA) on Instagram, then come back to leave a separate comment letting me know you did.
Eligibility and contest rules:
â Open to Canadian residents only.
â No purchase of any product necessary for entry.
â Winner will be chosen randomly (using www.random.org) from all qualified entries on Wednesday September 23rd 2015 after 6pm EST.
â Winner will be notified via email Thursday September 24th 2015 and will have 48 hours to respond to the email.
â The prize consists of of one KitchenAidÂź Torrent Blender in a colour of choice MSRP $599.99.
Disclosure: KitchenAid Canada sent me a Torrent Blender to use and review (full review coming soon when I announce the winner of the contest!) and will provide one (1) Torrent Blender for the winner of this contest. I have not been further compensated for writing this post and all opinions are my own.
My 8 yr old son Jake would use this every morning efore school. he loves to make smoothies and has even started to add a few spinach leaves…I know, babysteps
Back to school after 9 long years! I need all the help I can get to find fast nourishing ways to start the day for me and my teenage kids!
all done. ..tweeted liked both Instagram pages now have my fingers crossed
The blender would help me get back on track to healthier eating during this ‘back to school/start of fall time. I also had a summer of travel and indulging in some delicious foods, but now that we’re heading into fall, it’s time to get back on track, and making healthy smoothies would help me with that!
Wanting to eat cleaner and healthier! No added anything bad and all good stuff. I could make the best smoothies to aid in that
tweeted
https://twitter.com/Prairiebelle/status/641570366528184321
following you both on instagram as prairiebelle44
Smoothies and blended juices are on my radar. I would love a tool that makes that easier!!!!!
Mardi, just sent my tweet !!!
I’ve never owned a blender, but lately have been seeing and thinking of making things that require one. This looks like it might be the right one for us.
Tweeted!!!!
What perfect timing it would be to win the KitchenAid Torrent blender as mine has started to leak. This considerably cuts down on my smoothie making. Fall is definitely a time for new starts and eating healthy is top of the list and I can imagine how many other ways (besides my morning smoothie) this blender could help out. Soups, sauces and smoothies oh my!
Instagram likes done!!!!
following both (@eatlivtravwrite) and KitchenAid Canada (@KitchenAid_CA) on Instagram! Woo hoo!
I am the WORST at eating breakfast in the morning and the blender I currently have is no good. If I had this one, I would use it every day to make healthy soothies for breakfast.
Good news, I tweeted Enter to win a @KitchenAid_CA #TorrentBlender on @eatlivtravwrite (Canada only) Details: http://bit.ly/WinTorrentBlender !
I follow you and Kitchen Aid Canada as @reallifekitchen
This new amazing torrent blender would help me stay on track. I currently have such a horrible blender that it makes making my morning smoothie ritual such and ordeal. It doesn’t even blender the ice sadly. This would encourage me to make more smoothies and try making other non-smoothie related foods.
I already follow you both on IG as @ccculinista. Thanks đ
My bts resolution is for the kids to make their own breakfasts….they could make morning smoothies with this!
Tweeted.@withinthekitchn
Follow both on IG. @withinthekitchen
I agree Mardi but stopped because of the bits and pieces that donât manage to blend too well. A smoothie should have a smooth consistency…..
I do have a sweet tooth so I would love to make Desserts with this Torrent Blender!! Coffee Frappe, Mango and Yogurt Smoothie, Tropical Blueberry Smoothie …………..
This would help me get back to smoothies, juices and simple soups, my current blender leaves things too chewy.
A new Torrent KitchenAid blender would allow me to make more homemade bean-to-bar chocolate with alternate sugars and low sugar! It is so much healthier for me and my kids than the store-bought stuff.
Mornings are hectic as classes start 8am Monday-Friday. Being in chiropractic school, I need all the help I can get to maintain my personal health and wellness, including good nutrition- and smoothies are an integral morning ritual!
This blender would help me make better smoothies for our Monday breakfast routine- smoothie day!
Tweeted!
Followed on Insta!
This blender would help me by making it easier to have a smoothie in the morning for my breakfast.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/flower_child_23/status/641621704675078144
I follow you both on instagram
@vinyauto
Tweeted!
I would LOVE a Torrent Blender & it would help us stick to your âBack to Schoolâ resolutions: More fibre, less sugar and eating more green!
Ohhhhh this blender is seriously beautiful! Can you believe I don’t even own a blender? Not sure how that happens…. This blender would definitely help me stick to my “back to school” resolution of eating healthy! I indulged in waay to much beer and sugary sweets over the summer! Thanks so much for the chance to win!
Tweeted as well! https://twitter.com/MyDailyRndmness/status/641660892669714432
Just got a new Kitchenaid mixer and would love to add this blender to help create beautiful and healthy made from scratch meals!
The blender would help me stay on track with back to school because I could make breakfast smoothies really quickly!
I am always so rushed in the mornings so having something to help me prepare a healthy breakfast first thing would be a blessing. Thanks!
BTW, I also tweeted. đ
Following both on instagram (@kbbuys)
Tweet: https://twitter.com/katiebuys/status/641668846265327616
Smoothies every morning, with the Kitchen Aid Torrents help
This product would help me by sticking to a resolution to eat healthier and I could make healthy smoothies in a snap!
Leaving the house at 6am and leaving two teenagers to get up and make their own healthy breakfasts is something I wouldn’t have to worry about if I had a Kitchen Aid Torrents, it might even encourage them to put the almonds in their smoothies, for the extra protein. My current one neither blends almonds or kale đ
Having a Torrent Blender would make me more likely to stick to my Back to School resolution of making homemade lunches and snacks for back to school rather than purchasing prepackaged foods.
I tweeted https://twitter.com/NewfieChic/status/641767614159679488
I follow you both on instagram as @newfiechic
My youngest son, age 16, has finally come over to the smoothie side! Need to make the most of the next 2 years while he’s still at home so we can share the love <3 What a great way to start the school year, with a gorgeous Torrent blender.
I am pregnant, due in a month, and have a toddler. I have such trouble getting enough fruits and veggies (mostly veggies!) into the two (three) of us – having this blender would help SO much. Smoothies are such an easy way to get lots of nutrition, and especially once this new baby arrives, “speedy” and “easy” will be my go-to recipes!
Just having a strong blender with no mess and no fuss would help me stick to making healthy breakfast and lunch smoothies.
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/yyz_talk/status/641839192490819585
I follow both you and KitchenAid Canada on instagram @tracey_insta_gram
It would help me stick to my routine by being able to make alot of yummy snacks and other stuff for my family!
Thank you! I tweeted!
https://twitter.com/kissifer19/status/641972466080813056
Thanks again following both on Instagram as @kissifer19
Email–> amyjaneheffernan@gmail.com
I would love the Torrent blender for so many uses. Our family is gluten free & I make 90% of everything. With this one I could make all our soups,sauces & the family smoothies!
I tweeted!
I follow both on IG!
clearly this bit of kit would help me keep a tidy kitchen. Oh and eat better!
TWEETED! @ALEXBIELAK
A torrent blender would help me stay on track by helping me make breakfast and lunch smoothies!
I tweeted https://twitter.com/RebTheCatSitter/status/642206853527568384
I follow both you AND Kitchenaid on Instagram as @Rebthecatsitter
Thanks!
A Torrent blender would help me stay on track with Back to school resolutions by preparing fresh Smoothies, Soups, Dressings & Sauces at home so as to not eat out or order in. Back on the Health Track. This would be a dream Machine. Thanks for the chance.
I Tweeted. (@JusticeSadie) https://twitter.com/JusticeSadie/status/642223783500226560
I tweeted https://twitter.com/ivypluchinsky/status/642389358595584000
IvyMandias follows both on instagram!
this would help me with my morning smoothies!
I would love a new blender for my breakfast smoothie!
I would use the blender for smoothies to make sure I get a healthy breakfast on the busy mornings.
Following on Instagram!
I’m really bad when it comes to eating breakfast. I find the easiest ways when making breakfasts all the time. Since school started, a blender can help the whole family in getting healthier. I can make a smoothie quickly and get all the nutrients I need for a healthy start every morning.
https://mobile.twitter.com/sararai4u/status/642802311471976448
Tweeted:)
Following both instagram accounts
@sararai4u
Back-to-school res + KitchenAid Torrent blender = SUCCESS
WHY?
Resolution 1 . Get more sleep.
Solution to 1. Win the KitchenAid Torrent blender. Save time (1min 30s for smoothie success) thus sleep-in.
Resolution 2. Eat breakfast.
Solution to 2. Win the KitchenAid Torrent blender. Make smoothie, drink smoothie, dash.
Resolution 3. Get fitter.
Solution to 3. Win the KitchenAid Torrent blender. Science proves that eating breakfast kickstarts metabolism thus reducing the need for workouts producing torrential amounts of sweat.
you’ve been tweeted!
i am following you and KitchenAid on Instagram. not creepy at all.
I adore KitchenAid, and this blender is a thing of beauty. My “back to school” resolutions are underway with a new business plan, a fresh diet, and a new exercise program. It would be amazing to be able to make healthy veg and fruit smoothies at home every morning to help give me the nutrition and energy that I need to work hard on my dreams. Thank you!
Following both you and KitchenAid_ca on Instagram!
Also Tweeted! (@rebetee)
Hi Mardi,
I love making smoothies for my families, and my kids love them. The KitchenAidÂź Torrent Blender would be a HUGE improvement over my ancient blender, which is starting to smell like smoke when I try to blend frozen fruit! Please keep us in mind–we would love to add the Torrent Blender to our breakfast routine, and I’d love it for other recipes like soups and dressings!
I just sent out the tweet!
And I just followed you both on Instagram!
I am always looking for ways to support my vegetarian 16-year old daughter in her quest for a healthy diet. This blender is an incredible tool for this challenge.
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/Marmaloo3/status/643602203400273920
Never been great on resolutions, but my ‘back to school’ or September resolution is to eat better. Having just survived a nasty gastro bug, my resolution is to get more priobiotic yogurt into me — think I see smoothies in my future.
@kathyrun follows @KitchenAid_CA and @eatlivtravwrite on Instagram
and tweeted @kathyrun
Anything that helps us stick with the morning smoothie routine will be fantastic!!
I have a smoothie everyday and i think this would be incredible, i only have a standard blender so i am limited to the stuff I am able to do. Thanks
The Torrent Blender would help me make smoothies in the morning, allowing me to consume all my nutrients for the long day ahead of me. It would also help me create protein shakes.
I follow both accounts on instagram @christinadragan
we could make a delicious and healthy smoothie every morning – it would be awesome!!
https://twitter.com/Jemrah1/status/644828839118524416
Smoothies would be a must!
I find my morning eating is horrible so getting this blender would help me to make morning smoothies to carry with my to work and would keep me from hitting fast food drive-thru!
tweeted đ https://twitter.com/JustPlainSuzi/status/645439002489802757
I follow you both on Instagram (serendipitysuzi)
The Torrent Blender would help me ensure my kids get good nutritional breakfasts in the form or smoothies. And I would too.
I tweeted your tweet as indicated.
Here is the link –> https://twitter.com/SueSueper/status/645679085579038720
I follow both you (@eatlivtravwrite) and KitchenAid Canada (@KitchenAid_CA) on Instagram.
Here is my instagram URL –> http://instagram.com/suesueper
This Torrent blender looks like the magic tool to make the best smoothies ever. I would love to be the winner of this beautiful inspiration for getting in some much needed fruits and veg!
The Torrent Blender would encourage me not to skip breakfast and make healthy smoothies.
Having a Torrent Blender would encourage me not to skip breakfast
I would love to add this KitchenAid blender to my family’s morning (and anytime) routine. We love smoothies – Kale, spinach, banana,raspberry…Our current blender is just not powerful enough…. We’d love to replace it with a Torrent of Power to make these drinks and our veggie soups smoother and more delicious. Mouth feel is very important to encouraging a healthier lifestyle.
Thanks Mardi!