Protein Shakes/Smoothies (part 2)

(You can find Protein Shakes/Smoothies part 1 here)

I just had surgery a few days ago, and my doctor wants me to get a LOT of protein while I'm healing. So I'm going to be having lots of protein shakes again!  (These recipes were inspired by some Herbalife recipes).

Protein Powder: I've discovered that I have a sensitivity to whey protein powder, which is what I was using before. Lately, I've been using egg white protein powder, which is just as good. Use whatever kind you like. The only kind I've found to taste badly in these shakes is brown rice protein powder.

Gums: You'll also notice that I use xanthan gum and guar gum in my shakes. These are completely optional. I use them because it thickens the shake and makes it creamier; but not at all necessary. Just don't overdo the gums, because it'll be waaay too thick.

Milk: I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but you could use whatever kind of milk you like.

Yummy "extras": Finally, these shakes aren't super "healthy"--I use a lot of pudding mixes in them, which have sugar. But the pudding mixes make the shake taste so much better, and when you're having shakes every day, it's a great way to keep from getting bored.

Nutrition Facts: I'm not going to break down every one of these (you can do that at Sparkpeople.com if you want) but I'll list a general idea of the calories in each ingredient for you to figure out yourself:

protein powder- 110 calories
sugar free syrup/extracts- 0 calories
regular flavored syrups (1 Tbsp)- 40 calories
1 cup almond milk- 40 calories
1 Tbsp. pudding mix- 50 calories
1 Tbsp. nuts- 70 calories
1 Tbsp. chocolate chips- 70 calories
guar gum/xanthan gum-0

Here are the recipes for a few favorites... Just throw all the ingredients in the blender and let it rip. Each of these makes about 20-24 oz.

Cinnamon Roll Protein Shake

Cinnamon Roll Protein Shake

1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 serving vanilla protein powder
1 Tbsp. Oreo pudding mix
1 Tbsp. butterscotch pudding mix
1 Tbsp. Torani sugar-free caramel syrup
1 Tbsp. pecans
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. each guar gum and xanthan gum (optional)
1 cup ice cubes (I use 10 cubes)


Triple Chocolate Protein Shake

Triple Chocolate Protein Shake

1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 serving chocolate protein powder
1 Tbsp. Oreo pudding mix
1 Tbsp. chocolate fudge pudding mix
1 Tbsp. chocolate chips
1/4 tsp. each guar gum and xanthan gum (optional)
1 cup ice cubes (I use 10 cubes)





Cake Batter Protein Shake (this really does taste like cake batter!)

1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 serving vanilla protein powder
1 Tbsp. Torani sugar-free french vanilla syrup
1 Tbsp. cheesecake pudding mix
1 Tbsp. white chocolate pudding mix
1/4 tsp. each guar gum and xanthan gum (optional)
1 cup ice cubes (I use 10 cubes)


Butterfinger Protein Shake

Butterfinger Protein Shake

1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 serving chocolate protein powder
1 Tbsp. Oreo pudding mix
1 heaping Tbsp. PB2
1 Tbsp. butterscotch pudding mix
2 tsp. chocolate chips
1/4 tsp. each guar gum and xanthan gum (optional)
1 cup ice cubes (I use 10 cubes)




Butter Pecan Protein Shake

1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 serving vanilla protein powder
1 Tbsp. cheesecake pudding mix
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. butter flavored extract
2 Tbsp. pecans
1/4 tsp. each guar gum and xanthan gum (optional)
1 cup ice cubes (I use 10 cubes)

Oatmeal love!

I've talked about my love for oatmeal numerous times in my blog, but I've never actually made a post of all my favorite ways to eat it. So I'll do that here!

I eat oatmeal hot or cold, depending on my mood. So first I'll talk about hot oatmeal:

I never prepare oatmeal with just water. It turns too mushy and it has no flavor. I use almond milk to cook my oatmeal. Sometimes I cook it on the stove and sometimes I cook it in the microwave. Sometimes it boils over in the microwave, so here I'll write about cooking it on the stove.

In every bowl of oatmeal, I use:  40 grams of Old-Fashioned Oats (scant 1/2 cup); 3/4-1 cup almond milk, depending on how liquidy you like it).

Then I choose add-ins, whatever I'm in the mood for. Here are some favorite combos that you just throw right into the pot with the oats and almond milk:
*raisins, cinnamon, pure maple syrup (top with walnuts)
*mashed banana, PB2
*cocoa powder, PB2, pure maple syrup (to sweeten)
*1 Tbsp. brownie mix(!!!), PB2
*pumpkin, cinnamon, raisins, pure maple syrup (top with walnuts)
*chopped prunes, PB2, pure maple syrup
*stir in chocolate chips and coconut when done cooking the oatmeal
*chia seeds, mashed banana, cinnamon
*mashed banana (top with mixed dried tropical fruit (chopped) and coconut)

Steel cut oats topped with dark chocolate peanut butter

Oats with chia seeds, banana, cinnamon, and maple syrup

Oatmeal with dark chocolate chips and coconut

Oatmeal with banana, raisins, cinnamon, chia seeds, and maple syrup

Oatmeal with pumpkin, raisins, cinnamon, and maple syrup

Steel cut oats with apples. raisins, and brown sugar

Oatmeal topped with mixed dried tropical fruit

Oatmeal topped with Barney Butter

While I love hot oatmeal, eating cold oatmeal is the BEST. Sometimes I eat it out of an almost-empty nut butter jar or a peanut butter bowl (see below), or sometimes I just eat it out of a bowl.

If you're a nut butter fan, when you jar is almost empty, you can make your oatmeal right inside the jar and eat it that way. If you're like me and aren't patient enough to wait for the jar, you can make a peanut butter bowl--just take a blob of peanut butter (or other nut butter) and smear it around the bottom and up the sides of a bowl. Then put it in the freezer for 10-15 minutes, and it will look like this:

To make cold oatmeal, you can prepare it the night before or you can prepare it the morning of. I never think far enough ahead to prepare it the night before, so I use chia seeds to thicken it--it only takes about 10 minutes that way. If you don't use chia seeds, you can either reduce the liquid by about half, or you can let it sit overnight to soak up the liquid.

For cold oats, I combine in a bowl:  40 grams (about 1/2 cup) old-fashioned oats, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1 Tbsp. chia seeds, and a teaspoon of maple syrup.  (If you are soaking the oats overnight, you can leave out the chia seeds). Then add one of the following (or your own ideas!):


*cocoa powder  (tastes best in a peanut butter jar/bowl)
*cinnamon and raisins  (tastes best in an almond butter jar/bowl)
*any kind of dried fruit  (no nut butter needed)
*cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and coconut  (no nut butter needed)

Stir well, and then pour it into the nut butter jar or the peanut butter bowl. Set it in the fridge for about 10-15 minutes until the chia seeds do their thing and thicken it up. (If you don't use chia seeds, you'll have to soak it a lot longer to absorb the liquid).

These are actually hot oats in a jar... I like cold better

Barney butter jar, raisins, cinnamon, chia seeds

Barney butter jar, cocoa powder, chia seeds, maple syrup

Barney butter jar, raisins, chia seeds, cinnamon, coconut

Peanut butter jar, cocoa powder, chia seeds

Peanut butter bowl, cocoa powder, chia seeds

In addition to hot and cold oatmeal, I've also been in love with this baked oatmeal, these oatmeal bars, this granola, and these oatmeal cookies.

Flourless Monster Cookies

Baked oatmeal

Granola

ENJOY YOUR OATMEAL!

Snickers Protein Shake

Since I'm getting surgery next week, my doctor wants me to get a LOT of protein. This protein shake tastes JUST like a Snickers bar. It's a yummy treat!

Snickers Protein Shake

1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or whatever milk you'd like)
1 serving of chocolate protein powder (I used EAS brand whey protein powder)
1 Tbsp. instant vanilla pudding mix
1 Tbsp. instant cookies & cream pudding mix
1 Tbsp. peanuts
1 Tbsp. Torani sugar-free caramel syrup
1 cup ice cubes

Put everything in a blender and blend until smooth. Makes 1 (2 cup) serving.