ridiculously delicious shakes

I'm sure this is no secret, but I thought I'd throw out a couple ideas for you guys trying to add a little variety. I have been starting my day with a protein shake for breakfast for several months. But, like everything else, it gets old quickly. I went with a new twist and found a simple thing that makes them AWESOME!

So, I start at Costco (BJs, Sam's, etc...) and I always have a big old bag of vanilla and chocolate protein powder. I use a regular blender. I buy Blue Diamond Almond Breeze almond/coconut milk in original and chocolate. In my regular grocery store, I buy the old bananas for about 25c a bunch. I take the bananas, peel them, cut them into small pieces and freeze them. And finally, when I make coffee in the morning, I make a 12 cup pot and keep the last half in the fridge. Using these ingredients, I have come up with a few awesome shakes that are pretty lean on calories, rich in protein and delicious.

 

Mocha (~200 cals)

4oz cold coffee

4oz chocolate almond milk

1 scoop chocolate protein powder

1/2 cup ice

 

Pina Colada (~250 cals)

about 1/2 cup of frozen bananas

8oz almond/coconut milk

a few pieces of fresh pineapple

1 scoop of vanilla protein powder

(no ice - the banana makes the smoothest, thickest shake ever!)

 

Chocolate Banana smoothie (~350 cals)

1/2 cup frozen banana

8oz chocolate almond milk

1 scoop of chocolate protein powder

 

the chocolate milk is 120-130 cals per 8oz

the almond/coco milk is 60 cals per 8oz

coffee is calorie free

bananas have about 100 cals per small banana, I use about half

my protein powder is about 130ish per scoop

The Almond and soy milks are lactose free which has been an amazing revelation for me. I never tested it, but I am willing to wager that I have been lactose intolerant for years. I can get away with white cheeses, but rich dairy and milk-based products have become specifically difficult for me since my VSG (probably before, but it was often confused with eating too much or the wrong foods)

I try to round my shakes out to about 250 cals, but they are fat free, high in protein and all of the carbs are derived from the fruit with just a bit from the milk. They are so smooth and rich, they keep me full (I'm still 6' 1" and 210lbs) for hours - sometimes I can't even finish them.

Anyway, if you don't do anything else, try freezing the banana and mixing it into your shake in lieu of ice for a smooth and delicious shake. It's totally worth the extra 50-100 calories.

I'm still kicking butt and really having a good time with my new slimmer physique. I hope you all are doing awesome! 

I don't do fruit shakes very often (but need a banana every once in while for the potassium!) -- but here's another couple of hints:

1. Freeze any leftover strawberries -- or keep a bag in the freezer.  The strawberry/banana combo is amazing.

2. I toss in some Fage 0%, a little vanilla and some pure sucralose powder (just a bit to offset the tartness of the yogurt).

3. If you just pulverize the frozen bananas and frozen strawberries with a little protein powder and yogurt - you get a soft serve ice creamy kind of treat! 

4. Silk also makes an almond milk that has 30 calories per cup and is in the milk case at the store.  

I am shocked that a protein coffee or a protein shake can "hold me" for 3-4 hours!

PS -- you look great!

Yum!  I'm going to bookmark this post, Thanks!  Also, you can add a cup of baby spinach to any of these and get some good fiber too for very few calories and carbs

Armywife, how DO you bookmark a post??

Yumm...sounds good!

Is the protein powder you buy at Costco lactose free?

Thanks for sharing.

 

Thank you for these great ideas! I'm printing them and will try them soon!