Fresh Blenders – Apples – Product Review
A few weeks ago I was contacted by Fresh Blenders, a company that sells bagged fruit for smoothies. Some of the fruit they sell include apples and pears. They sent me two huge bags of apples, both sweet and tart, to try out in my smoothies. Apples are one of my favorite snacks. In fact, I eat one every single day. They really pack a nutritional punch!
- Vitamin C – apples contain this powerful natural antioxidant that prevents damage caused by free radicals, as well as boosting the body’s resistance against infectious agents.
- B-complex vitamins (riboflavin, thiamin, and vitamin B-6) – these vitamins are key in maintaining red blood cells and the nervous system in good health.
- Dietary fiber – apple skin contains fiber. The British National Health Service says that a diet high in fiber can help prevent the development of certain diseases and may help prevent the amount of bad cholesterol in your blood from rising. It can also promote weight loss because it keeps you full!
- Phytonutrients – apples are rich in polyphenolic compounds. These phytonutrients help protect the body from the detrimental effects of free radicals.
- Minerals such as calcium & phosphorus, which are important for bone health; and potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267290.php)
A little bit about the apples from their website:
Stemilt grows the best Washington apples in the best orchard locations. Here, we grow classic apple varieties like Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and Red Delicious, and new, up-and-coming varieties.
They sent me a bag of the Fujis and a bag of the Granny Smith. I immediately opened the bag and tried a Fuji, it was crisp and sweet! According to Stemilt,
Fresh Fuji Apples
Fuji apples were developed in the late 1930s by growers at the Tohoku Research Station in Morioka, Japan. Fuji apples are a cross between two classic American apple varieties – Red Delicious and Virginia Ralls Janet. This variety is often misspelled as Fugi apples.
The Fuji apple variety was introduced to the United States in the 1960s. Fans of sweet apples adore Fuji because with 15-18% Brix, or sugar levels, it is the sweetest apple around! Fuji apples are also great storing apples, and because of that, are available year-round!
I really liked that the bag stood up in the fridge, making more room for other food on the shelf. These apples were good (but maybe not as good as our NYS apples in the Fall–but I’m biased 😉 ) But since it actually isn’t fall here now, our apples leave little to be desired, so these Washington apples were a great substitute!
They were so good, I ate one every day and unfortunately never had a chance to make a smoothie with them. But in case you want to try a fresh blender apple in a smoothie, here is a recipe from their website:
N0 Dairy Very Berry Smoothie
A refreshing, subtly sweet, dairy-free fruit smoothie that delivers nutritionally where traditional “milkshakes” lack… packed with good-for-you antioxidant properties. Stemilt Fresh Blenders Sweet Apples are the perfect partner to a bevy of berries and luscious almond-milk-based, dairy-free “yogurt.” A touch of honey and a snippet of fresh basil add all the natural sweetness necessary for a pleasingly crisp “milkshake-like” morning beverage.
Ingredients
- 1 Stemilt Fresh Blenders Sweet Apple, cored and quartered
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 1 cup fresh raspberries
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 6 large fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- 3 to 5 fresh basil leaves
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¼ cup (or less, as preferred for consistency) unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1, 6-ounce container dairy-free, plain cultured almond milk “yogurt” (like So Delicious)
Directions
Add apple, ice, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, basil, honey, almond milk, and dairy-free “yogurt” to pitcher of high-speed electric blender (one suitable for crushing ice and handling firm textures). Blend on high (or use “smoothie” option, if applicable) for approximately 1 minute. (If necessary, stop machine intermittently to scrape down sides or press ingredients down to remove any air pockets that might impede blending.) Pour into glasses and serve immediately.
Nutritional Information
Per Serving: Calories 229.2 (11.8% from fat); Fat 3.0g (sat 0.0g, poly 0.2g, mono 0g); Protein 4.8g; Carbohydrates 48.9g; Fiber 12.2g; Sugar 30.0g; Cholesterol 0.0mg; Potassium 213.8mg; Sodium 128.4mg.
Recipe from Stimelt Fresh Blenders. For the locals, fresh blenders are now available at Price Chopper!
Disclaimer: The company sent me apples free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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