I Tried Revive Superfoods Smoothies: My Review (and Promo Code!)
This is not a sponsored post! If you use my referral code AHL10000 you will receive 55%* off your first box and I will receive some rewards on my Revive Superfoods account.
*Discount was 55% at the time this blog post was published, but may change.
I am a person who milks mornings for every last ounce of sleep. What this means is that my “get ready” time is very limited and there is no room for error. Out of bed, teeth brushed, clothing on, 5-minute hair and makeup, then out the door. I eat my breakfast on the go or when I sit down at my desk, so having something easily transportable is key. Since I’m an active and health-conscious person, nutrient-dense meals are top priority.
Enter the smoothie. I realized long ago that I could turn this simple dish (cup?) into my morning nutrient power-house. Stuff it with leafy greens (for fiber, vitamins and minerals), plant-based protein powder, brazil nuts (for selenium), flax seed (for omega-3 fatty acids), banana (for potassium), rolled oats (complex carbs), and a handful of berries. I know that no matter how crazy my day gets I always have at least 1 perfectly rounded meal.
COVID-19 has changed my day-to-day, just like most of you. I am no longer going to the farmer’s market every weekend, or popping into the grocery store during the week to replenish my supplies of fresh produce. I actually have not been to a real grocery store in over a month. I still want my morning smoothie, and Revive Superfoods is one way to make that happen – without having to leave the house.
What is Revive Superfoods?
Revive Superfoods (previously Revive Organics) is a subscription food delivery service that sends frozen ready-to-blend smoothies in pre-portioned cups. All you have to do is add liquid, blend, and enjoy. They have recently come out with ready-to-eat “supermeals” and premade oat bowls, but the smoothies are their main attraction. You choose whether you would like a weekly or monthly subscription, and how many cups you want to receive (9, 12, or 24 cups). You pick your cups, and you can cancel your subscription at any time. All cups contain whole ingredients that are farm-frozen, paleo/vegan friendly, gluten/dairy-free, and 100% halal.
If you’ve heard of the US company Daily Harvest, this is a very similar service – but Canadian!
What I like: Variety
My typical smoothie looks like this: greens, banana, berries, protein powder, and a few other ingredients. Some days I use strawberries and some days I use blueberries, but other than that I don’t really mix up the flavours. I will admit, it gets boring. Very boring.
I was excited to try the different flavour combinations offered by Revive Superfoods. From classics like strawberry banana, to more exotic mixtures like pineapple/matcha and mango/turmeric (verdict: I am not a fan of turmeric). They use some unexpected ingredients like chickpeas, zucchini, and cauliflower – and I swear you can’t even taste them. I loved that I could see the whole ingredients in my cup before blending.
What I like: Convenience
There really is zero prep work involved in these smoothies. Just fill the cup with liquid (milk, juice, water), pour into your blender, and blend. All of the ingredients are chopped and pre-portioned. Revive recommends drinking the smoothie straight out of the paper cup, which means no dishes to clean later.
You can customize these with the amount of liquid you use, and any additions you want to add in. I learned that I like a slightly runnier consistency to my smoothies, so I added a bit more liquid. I make my smoothie the night before, and they usually thicken up a bit in the fridge so using more liquid makes them easier to drink. You can easily turn the cups into smoothie bowls, too, by adding less liquid (I have a Vitamix blender and use the tamper to achieve this). I also always added my smoothie staple ingredients: flax seed, a brazil nut, and a half or full scoop of plant-based protein powder. Some of the smoothies already have protein added, but I like to add a little extra especially on mornings when I work out.
What I don’t like: Packaging
This is definitely my main gripe with any meal delivery service, and especially pre-portioned foods. I am a person who regular buys dried goods in bulk using my own containers, refuses to buy anything in styrofoam, and generally tries not to buy anything online when I can go to a store nearby. It hurt a little bit every day as I tore off the plastic film from each cup. The cups and lids are recyclable (though you should always double check with your municipality), but I would love to see some kind of exchange program put in place with reusable containers.
What I don’t like: Price
These cups aren’t cheap. They range from 5.99 to 6.75 CAD per cup, depending on your subscription. The more you buy, the cheaper they are. When I purchased my first box, I received a 65% discount which made the price easier to swallow.
You can use my referral code AHL10000 to receive 55% off your first box (as low as $2.70 per smoothie). Remember that you can cancel any time!
Is it worth it?
The age-old question! The term “worth it” is so subjective that there really is no answer. What’s worth it to me and what’s worth it to you are two totally different things.
My thoughts: With a discount on the first box (and given the realities of social distancing), I think Revive Superfoods is worth a try. One box, a bunch of different flavours, and you get to decide it the convenience factor is enough to offset the price.
Long-term, I don’t think that I would rely on the subscription for my daily breakfast (simple banana-berry smoothies, I still love you). I might keep a stash in the freezer for mornings when I’m in a crunch or when I feel like some fancy ingredients I would never otherwise have. I really do love that you can stop and start your subscription any time, so I can put it on pause for a while as needed.
Smoothie bowl made with Blue Magic smoothie cup and homemade granola.
