Peanut Butter Cup Protein Shake

As the weather warms up, all I want are ice cold shakes and smoothies as post workout recovery fuel. I recently discovered Trader Joe’s peanut flour and have been trying to find fun ways to use this product. A few weeks ago I was making a post workout chocolate shake and decided to toss in a little peanut flour and was in love with the nutritional stats as well as the flavor of this protein shake. So for the nutritionals… This shake boasts 34 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber. It clocks in at 285 calories and just over 10 grams of fat. If you’re feeling sassy, you can add a couple handfuls of spinach. Sounds a little crazy, but trust me… you don’t taste the spinach, only peanut buttery, chocolaty goodness.

What You Need:

¾ cup milk
1 serving chocolate protein powder
1/4 cup peanut flour
1 Tbs unsweetened cocoa
1 heaping cup of ice
1 Tbs chia seeds (optional)

What To Do:

Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.


Serves 1

Bon Appétit!
Mary

Tropical Green Monster

This is a tropical version of my green filled protein shake that I have featured a few times already. When I was a kid, my favorite juice was pine-orange-banana. If I added a bit of orange juice concentrate, I think it would taste almost exactly like my beloved P.O.B. juice. This creamy smoothie hits the spot on a warm summer morning. I promise, you can’t taste the spinach!

What You Need:

1 ¾ cup milk
1 large frozen banana
2 cups frozen pineapple
2 servings vanilla protein powder
4 cups fresh spinach
2 Tbs chia seeds



What To Do:

Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.

Serves 2


Bottoms Up!
Mary

Green Mocha

As you can see, I’m obsessed with putting spinach in my protein shakes. This girl can’t resist getting a few servings of greens in! For this shake, I used chocolate almond milk to intensify the chocolate flavor, because I love chocolate. Feel free to use which ever milk you like. If you really like coffee, add 5 tsp of the extract or start with 3 tsp and then go from there.  In hind sight, I wished I'd added a few more ice cubes for a thicker shake.

What You Need:

1 ¾ cup milk

2 scoops chocolate protein powder

2 frozen bananas

6 ice cubes

4 cups raw spinach

3-5 tsp coffee extract, to taste

Optional: 2 Tbs chia seeds, 2 scoops green super food

What To Do:

Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.

Serves 2

Bottoms Up!
Mary

Blueberry Vanilla Protein Shake

Not only is the color of this shake stunning, but it’s packed with antioxidants, fiber, protein, omega 3’s & 6’s. I know that it may be easier to just run down to the local Vitamin Shoppe and score a value sized bottle of fish oil, but I strongly urge you to give chia seeds a shot. They are almost flavorless and can be blended into, or sprinkled on a number of delicious foods. Nothing is better than getting the nutrients your body needs from a natural source. Unlike flax seeds, chia seeds do not need to be ground. This means that even if you don’t feel like breaking out the blender for a shake, you could simply sprinkle them on oatmeal, yogurt or cereal and milk. By using blueberries and spinach here, we send the good nutritionals through the roof. Drink this cool, creamy shake for breakfast or as a recovery meal after a workout.

What You Need:

1 ¾ cup milk

2 cups frozen blueberries
1 frozen banana
2 ½ cups fresh spinach
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 serving’s vanilla protein powder
2 Tbs chia seeds

What To Do:

Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.

Serves 2

Bottoms Up!
Mary

Good Bye Acai, Hello Chia: Mango Vanilla Green Monster

Don’t be frightened by the title (or the picture)! I know it looks like swamp sludge, but I PROMISE that you cannot taste the spinach at all. This shake is great for breakfast or for post workout muscle fuel because it’s easier for your body to digest liquids and who doesn’t like a yummy shake after a tough work out. I’m a huge fan of Sun Warrior’s protein powder which can be ordered online at Amazon and the same goes for the chia seeds (yes, like the chia pet you had as a kid). Chia seeds are one of the latest crazes as far as super foods goes. Good bye acai, hello chia! Here’s a link that will tell you more about the many benefits of this ancient super food. http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/content/en/dave_foreman/chia.jsp

What You Need:

1 ¾ cup milk (I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
2 servings vanilla protein powder
2 cups frozen mango chunks
1 frozen banana
3-4 cups raw spinach
Optional: 2 Tbs chia seeds and 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract



What To Do:

Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.

Serves 2

Bottoms Up!
Mary