I am sure Frappuccinos are good. I mean they sell a kazillion of them a year globally (www.nostatistical-data-could-befound.com), so they've got to be pretty tasty.
What stops me from ordering one is the knowledge that one Grande (16 ounces) will set me back 110 calories and push my recommended daily sugar intake through the roof - almost six teaspoons - and that's the "light" version I'm talking about.
Order a full fat Grande, and you're looking at 240 calories and almost 12 teaspoons of sugar. Yikes, no thanks. I would much rather give my body some nutrition while providing it with a tasty cold drink to cool off with during these hot days.
So, what do I suggest? A protein smoothie is fast and easy to make.
It's also tasty and full of nutrients the body can both metabolize and put to good use.
If you are new to protein powder, I suggest you start with a protein isolate blend, unsweetened, or if you are like me and have a sweet tooth, sweetened with Stevia.
These can be purchased at any higher-end grocery store as well as any health food store. I also suggest you purchase the smallest containers you can of both the vanilla and chocolate flavours, so you can ensure you like the taste (believe me, some powders are way better tasting than others!), and so you can cycle through all of the recipes.
Happy blending and let me know your favourites.
Chunky Monkey
1 scoop chocolate protein
powder 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/2 frozen banana (see tip
below) 1 tbsp. all-natural smooth peanut butter
1/4 cup 0% Greek yogurt
2-3 ice cubes Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Piña Colada
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 frozen banana (see tip below)
1/2 cup pineapple (fresh or canned, drained)
1/4 cup 0% Greek yogurt
2-3 ice cubes Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Chocolate Mint
1 1/2 scoops chocolate protein powder
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
Peppermint extract, to taste (start with less than 1/8 tsp, adding more as desired) 5 ice cubes
2 large handfuls fresh spinach (you can't taste this at all!) Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
1 scoop vanilla protein pow-
der 1/3 cup canned pumpkin
1 frozen banana (see tip below)
5 ice cubes
3/4 cup unsweetened almond
milk 1-1/2 tsp. pumpkin spice Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Almond Joy Smoothie
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
1 cup coconut water 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 tbsp. flaked coconut
3-4 ice cubes
1/2 tsp. coconut extract Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Tip: Peel your bananas, cut them in half and place them in a zip-locked baggie before freezing them. This way they are easy to pull from the freezer to add to your blender.
They're also portioned perfectly, whether you need a half banana or a whole one.
P.J. Wren is a local personal trainer and fitness writer who can be found around town sipping any of these tasty and healthy shakes. Follow her at www. gofitgals.wordpress.com and catch her weekly fitness show on Delta TV.
