VitaMix has two "cookbooks" that you can get - different models come with a different book. At the end of the day there are thousands of blender recipes on the web, and sites that cater to just coming up with them. There is also a very active PEG tubie (life long users) forum on FB that has individuals in it that have recipes.

For those like me that want to drink it orally, while I try to consider taste since I don't want it to be an unpleasant experience, I have been known to make some pretty nasty tasting, but wildly nutritious things. So I drink for health and pleasure, and then other times I think of it as medicine that I have to take. Weird I know.

Their books are a good place to start, and for convenience there are good recipes out there that have benefits. But when you start to think out of the realm of a single meal replacement idea or a really refreshing and healthy fruit drink, and you delve into the world of complete nutrition, you have to become a bit of a student. Since I enjoy this aspect, I'm a bit more adventurous. I mean when you wonder about what is the nutritional value of a whole avocado PIT ( this thing will turn it into water) you start to blend some pretty weird stuff. (Caveat here, some seeds can be highly toxic and should ot be included in your blending and actually contain the precursor chemicals to making cyanid�) So I wanted to really learn about optimum nutrition and balance the components of it. There are lots of fad books about it that I would not recommend, but the Internet as usual has a mix of crazy shit and serious stuff. But if you take the time to learn you are investing in yourself. You are investing in your health nutritionally which when combined with a modest exercise program pay off big dividends. And in the end you are boosting your immune system. (Disclaimer: while some immune system strength is impacted by nutrition, you can't override your genetic makeup as a person.)

Like Ed Brown, I have some serious crap coming unglued in my body. I have more medical issues from my treatments than most, now 15 years out from treatment protocols that predated IMRT. I'm not bitching, they bought me 15 years. I am in hanging on mode, and every little thing that I can do to stick around a couple more years I am on it. This device is a tool in that armamentarium to accomplish some goals. It isn't going to fix things, it's just with a little extra knowledge, going to not allow other things to pile onto my existing issues. Bottom line, I wish that I had started this in my 20's and 30's long before cancers were part of my vocabulary.

Brian, if it helps, I was doing things like that long before cancer world. I juiced for years and my mother was teaching Japanese cooking for health for decades when I was younger. I got to this point even faster than you so that didn't seem to help.

Hang in there...one issue at a time.

So I love the idea of raffling one of these at the walks, and I also love the idea of seeing them be on some programs that people and OCF could chip into to get them in the hands of patients, who might find them out of their range. Note re the costs; there are lots of different models. I have the new 7500, and I love it, but there are a few lower priced models too. People would have a choice. But OCF MIGHT get a small break on these which would benefit the purchaser, and we do need to cover the processing of it all - we don't have a huge staff as you know and processing orders while it is the least expensive person at OCF doing that, still costs money - and If you bought it from us we would get some small percentage back from VitaMIx, more than Amazon gives us perhaps for being a dealer of theirs and as a non-profit charity. The also have certified refurbished ones that have long warranties on them for sale, that for those who were the most price conscious might fit the bill.

This is an American company and an American made product. I personally like the idea of American manufacturing staying alive, and the entire manufacturing world not be transferred overseas. (Sorry that's my red white and blue coming out and we don't talk politics on these boards.) They have the best reputation I have heard of anecdotally for standing behind their products, and seldom charge even shipping for any repairs, their fault or not.

Depending on cost I would be interested in a refurbished model.

Thank you VERY much Brian!!!!

Brian, this seems like a worthy course of action. I have a regular old common blender that I use maybe once a week and I can't see myself buying one of these. But if you do set up a program to get them to folks who can't afford them, count me in for a donation.

Speaking of watermelon and cantaloupe.... I had a friend who had a dog that loved those things. Of course, he was a melon collie.

Glad your collie can't elope.

Brian - Count me in too, for a donation to a fund that will get the VitaMix to those who can't afford them.

David 2 - your melon collie can't elope cuz he can't drive. That's why he's a melon collie. :-)

I wouldn't participate because I already have (and love) a Vitamix but I think it's a great idea. I would also be happy to donate to a fund to provide them to people who need them.

Fwiw - today I note that Groupon is selling the I think it's 6000 model, which they say lists for $600, for $300.

(Drum roll please) OCF is now officially a Vitamix affiliate. There is a badge on the forum home page, and we are going to add it to some other OCF web site pages on PEG feeding and nutrition in the next few days. So TODAY - OCF's program with them is the foundation gets 15% of every sale, and all of our referrals get free shipping, which regular buyers do not. You must use our link to get to their site for this to happen, OR you have to put in our affiliate number 06-010058 when you place your order on their web site store. It applies to any unit that you buy there, though I personally think the 7500 is the most bang for the buck.

This is up and running. So the next thing that OCF is going to do is buy some of their reconditioned SECOND GENERATION machines (bigger motor and other features) that come with a full warrantee at really good pricing, (most have been used for a day at a demonstration) and we are going to develop a donation program for oral cancer patients that also have financial issues and give some of these away to those in need. How we are going to qualify people is yet to be determined, as we need to know certain things, like that they are an oral cancer patient/survivor, and that they have financial hardships, but we also don't want to be too invasive in this qualification process. Obviously there are many conditions that lead people to need PEG or liquid feeding but we can't open this up to the world. We probably need input on what you all think is reasonable to have people produce to meet the criteria.

OCF will also invest in purchasing units to have at all of our big walk events as raffle items around the country in 2015.

I'm open to any other ideas you all have as ways to maximize the opportunity for patients, survivors, and the foundation.