Tag: Smoothies

Chocolate Strawberry Protein Smoothie

choc straw smoothie2 resized

It’s that time of year again moms and dads.  School is back in session.  No more night swimming or sleeping in.  The mom only overnight wine tasting tours are on hold.  The leisurely weekday breakfasts have come to a sudden halt.  There is a gloom in the hot molten air that can only be described as buzz kill.

I’m sure some of you are scratching your heads as to why we are already back in school.  Ask California’s Governor Jerry Brown to answer that one for you.  Apparently it had something to do with California Standard testing which has been dissolved.  Hey Jerry!  Can we have a September start date again?

Back to reality.  Literally.  6:10 a.m. wake up times are again my new reality for the next 10 months.  Back to being super organized in the morning, even more so since I have two in school.  Two completely different lunches to pack, two kids that lose shoes on a daily basis, two kids to keep from killing each other while they brush their teeth.  The most handsome third grader and first grader are now in my midst.

boys 1st day resize

 

With the organized chaos that ensues every morning sometimes I forget to make food for myself.  For instance, this morning I made 3 breakfast sandwiches with a side of strawberries.  As my husband and two boys were eating their sandwiches I looked down at the plate I set out for myself.  Empty.  With only 10 minutes before departure time my stomach growled loudly, reminiscent of the mountain lions that keep coming out of our foothills.  My only option was to make a smoothie, another sandwich wasn’t in my time constraint.

I’ve made this smoothie once before and inhaled it, creating massive brain freeze.  This time I used self control as to not repeat such idiocy.  In a moment of clarity I remembered that I had promised to post the recipe about a month ago on my Instagram.

So as promised here is the healthiest well balanced version of a chocolate covered strawberry you will ever ingest.  This smoothie has a whopping 26.5 grams of green organic whey free protein.  I started using the Orgain protein powder because it took care of my aversion to whey in my protein shakes.   This powder is a legit source of clean protein made from Organic Brown Rice Protein, Organic Sprouted Chia Seed, Organic Hemp Protein, and Organic Pea Protein.  The sugar comes from monk fruit and organic stevia.

We need to talk about the raw green chocolate powder in this smoothie.  If you haven’t started using raw green powder start today.  These powders are nutrient dense and cost less than buying the 1 pound of greens it takes to make 1 ounce.  Because the powder is raw the enzymes are still in tact when they are turned into powder form.  Raw greens will give you increased energy and repair cellular damage.  I know the next question, “what does it taste like?”.  My honest answer is I have no clue.  I always put it in a smoothie and I can’t taste it.

This surprisingly vegan, gluten-free smoothie will easily make it’s way into your rotation. It’s incredibly filling, nutrient dense, and above all it tastes like dessert.  I hope you enjoy it amongst the controlled chaos in your life.  Cheers!

choco straw smoothie5 resized

 

Now for some exciting news!   As of August 4, 2014 I became a full time food blogger!  Woohoo!  So what exactly does that mean?  More posts with more healthy, decadent recipes.  More giveaways, more awesomeness that you will notice in each post.  So stay tuned!  If you haven’t already, now would be the perfect time to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss anything.  A lovely email with the newest post comes straight to your inbox.  No checking social media to make sure you didn’t miss anything.

You can subscribe by typing in your email on the right hand side of the homepage.

Questions?  Comments?  Feel free to leave a love note at the bottom of this post.

Feeling social?  We are on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

  

Peach Pie Protein Smoothie

peach pie protein shake 2Eating breakfast is essential.  It turns on your body’s fat burning oven and gives you the energy you need to start your day.  Skipping this meal can lead to overeating throughout the day.  When you skip a meal, your body signals your brain to play catch up.  Bad choices are made when our bodies go into starvation mode. Your best plan of attack is to drink a full glass of water right when you wake up.  This cleanses your body of impurities and hydrates.  Plan on eating within the first hour of waking up to fully kick-start your metabolism. Eating within the first hour can sometimes be a challenge for me.  Especially since we are on our 4th week of summer break here.  I love simple breakfasts that don’t require tons of prep and clean up.  Shakes fit this mold, and fill my tank.  This peach protein shake is quick, satiates, and tastes like dessert.  Serious bonus. On that note, you can end your day with this shake.  Just add 1/2 a cup of your favorite frozen yogurt, and tada!  You can pull the wool over your kid’s/husband’s eyes and make them think they are drinking a non-nutritious shake. Onto the fabulous reasons to drink this peachy goodness.  The protein in the powder and almond milk will keep you full till your mid-morning snack and build muscle. Who can resist the taste of a fresh peach?  I know I can’t.  Knowing they are full of vitamin A, C, & B, contain iron and fluoride, and protect from free radicals, make them even more appealing. Cinnamon, well there are so many benefits to ingesting a daily 1/2 teaspoon dose of this spice, I needed a list:

  1. 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower your bad cholesterol (or LDL).
  2. Cinnamon may help treat Type 2 Diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels and increasing the amount of insulin production in the body.
  3. Cinnamon has anti-fungal properties, and it’s been said that candida cannot live in a cinnamon environment.
  4. Cinnamon can reduce the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.
  5. Cinnamon has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.
  6. Honey and Cinnamon combined have been found to relieve arthritis pain.
  7. When added to food, cinnamon inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.
  8. Just smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory.
  9. Cinnamon fights the E. coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices.
  10. Cinnamon has been found to be an effective natural remedy for eliminating headaches and migraine relief.
  11. Cinnamon can also help stabilize blood sugar (which is great for weight loss). A couple of dashes in your morning tea or cereal is all it takes.

(facts from http://organicauthority.com)

So, when you see the peaches at your local market, make sure you grab a few to make this delicious breakfast treat. You are missing out if you don’t!

Peach Pie Protein Smoothie
 
Author: 
Nutrition Information
  • Serving size: 9 oz.
  • Fat: 4.6
  • Carbohydrates: 28
  • Sugar: 23
  • Sodium: 285
  • Fiber: 4
  • Protein: 27
  • Cholesterol: 20
Recipe type: Smoothie, Breakfast
Ingredients
  • 8 ounces vanilla almond milk
  • ½ of a peach (skin removed) or ½ cup frozen peaches, sliced
  • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • optional additions: (1 tablespoon)
  • FiProFlax
  • chia seeds
  • flax seeds
  • hemp hearts
  • wheat germ
Instructions
  1. Put all ingredients in a high powered blender and blend till smooth. I like the milkshake option.

Delicious Green Smoothie

green I added delicious into the name for two reasons.  First,  because it is.  Second, because most people hear green smoothie and immediately they decide it can’t be good.  I then go on to tell them there is spinach and peanut butter in and it.  That is when they start running.  To the doubters I say, “Stop being a wuss and try it!”.  Maybe that was a little harsh.  No never mind, definitely not.

This protein, fiber, iron, flavor packed smoothie is really good.  Everyone I have ever made it for continues making it at home once they try it.  Bonus:  it’s quick and easy to make and clean up is a snap.  It can replace an entire meal.  I will drink it after a workout to rebuild broken down muscles.  So put your big girl/boy underwear on and try it.  You’ll thank me, I promise.

6 oz. almond milk

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

1/2 banana for women, 1 whole banana for men

1 tablespoon natural peanut butter (or pb2*, almond butter is another great alternative)

1 tablespoon FiProFlax* (see note below)

1 big handful of spinach

1/2 cup of crushed ice

Put the ingredients in the blender in the order listed, except for the ice.  Puree the mixture till smooth (there will be small bits of spinach in a regular blender).  Add the ice and blend until it is the smoothest your blender can muster.  Mine will leave small chunks, but I am fine with that.  Drink and pass on the recipe once you realize how awesome it is.

*You can find FiProFlax and PB2 on Amazon.

fiproflax

Benefits of flax seed:

  • Lower blood cholesterol
  • Reduce viscosity of blood
  • Lower arterial blood pressure
  • Prevent colon and breast cancer
  • Improve mood
  • Diminish allergies                
  • Produce healthier skin