This is a guest post from Dan Scalco.
Dan Scalco is the blogger behind Food Box HQ, a site dedicated to reviewing food delivery services all over the world.
The thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are Dan’s and not those of SmoothieBox.
DIY smoothies or SmoothieBox, which option is more cost-effective?
When it comes to following a healthy diet, fruits and vegetables are a must.
Not only are they some of the most nutrient-rich foods on the planet, but they also tend to be low in calories which is a benefit if you’re trying to lose weight.
Though you could certainly eat plates full of fresh fruits and veggies to meet your nutrient requirements, that isn’t always easy to do.
That’s where freshly made green smoothies come into play.
Smoothies are made by blending fresh fruits and veggies with other nutritious ingredients like almond milk, Greek yogurt, and nut butters.
With the right ingredients, you can create a wealth of different flavors and nutrient profiles.
But smoothies are more than just delicious and nutritious - they offer a wide variety of other benefits as well.
Services like SmoothieBox are my personal favorite way of consuming smoothies.
But how does SmoothieBox compare to making your own smoothies at home in terms of cost and efficiency?
Keep reading to find out.
What are the benefits of green smoothies?
Before we jump into the cost comparison of DIY smoothies vs SmoothieBox, let’s first talk about the benefits of smoothies in general.
The beauty of green smoothies is that you can use just about any fruit and vegetable ingredient you can find which opens up an endless array of flavor combinations.
You can also add milk or non-dairy milk, coconut water, fresh herbs, spices, nuts, seeds, and more to change the flavor and the nutrient profile of your smoothies.
Not only are smoothies great in terms of flavor, but they offer a wide variety of health benefits as well.
Here is a quick summary of the top benefits green smoothies have to offer:
- Breaking down some of the fibrous content of fresh fruits and vegetables through blending makes them easier to digest.
- Fresh fruits and veggies are rich in antioxidants, so smoothies are rich in these nutrients.
- Drinking a blended fruit and vegetable smoothie is a faster and more palatable way to enjoy large quantities of fruits and vegetables.
- Increasing your intake of whole, unprocessed foods like fruits and vegetables can reduce your cravings for unhealthy foods like snacks and sweets.
Beyond the benefits of getting fruits and veggies through a smoothie, there are some questions whether it is better to make them at home or to rely on a delivery service like SmoothieBox.
The factors that go into this decision include things like the cost of fresh ingredients, the cost to purchase and operate a blender, and other factors such as time and convenience.
Keep reading to see a direct comparison of the cost to make SmoothieBox recipes versus the cost to order smoothies via a SmoothieBox membership.
SmoothieBox vs DIY smoothies
When purchasing ingredients for DIY smoothies, you will often be forced to buy larger quantities than you need.
For example, while you may only be using 20 grams of grass-fed collagen protein per smoothie, you’ll be paying somewhere around $40 per pound.
This may not be a problem since you can store the collagen protein, but fresh ingredients like bananas, avocado, and kale may not last long enough for you to use the entire quantity in multiple smoothies.
Also, should you make the smoothie at home, consider that you’ll have to go to the grocery store to pick up the ingredients which means spending time, energy, and money (in the form of gas in your car).
All these small costs add up.
Whereas SmoothieBox offers free delivery.
Here’s a breakdown of the exact time it takes for me personally to actually prep and make smoothies on my own each week…
- Decide on a smoothie recipe — 10 to 15 minutes
- Walk/drive to the grocery store — 15 to 20 minutes
- Pick up groceries/ingredients and check out — 20 to 30 minutes
- Cut up fruits and vegetables for the smoothies for the week — 20 to 30 minutes
At the bare minimum, it takes me over an hour to gather up all the necessary ingredients and prep them to make smoothies every week.
By signing up for SmoothieBox I immediately get back four hours of my life each month.
Final thoughts
In the end, when you consider the cost and time associated with a DIY smoothie, it’s a much better decision to go with SmoothieBox.
Not only will you be saving money, but you’ll also save loads of time. Trust me, I know from personal experience.
If you decide to give SmoothieBox a try, you’ll find that the subscription process is quick and easy.
Plus, you have the ability to customize your plan depending on your smoothie preferences.
So, if you want to enjoy fresh-made smoothies delivered to your door, give it a try.