Protein Dessert Smoothies

Hello everyone!


If you've ever dieted, you've probably had a craving at times for some kind of high calorie dessert food.  I found an article online that has recipes for smoothies that are healthy and satisfy that craving without the extra junk.

1. Vegan chocolate shake (Thrive Juice Bar)

Ingredients

1 tsp raw cacao nibs
1 tbsp organic cocoa powder
6-7 raw cashews
2 tsp blue agave nectar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 scoop organic dairy-free vanilla gelato (or any vegan vanilla ice cream. Regular vanilla if you don't need it vegan)
1 tbsp almond butter
1/3 ripe banana
1/3 cup rice milk
1/2 cup coconut water
1/2 avocado
2 or 3 ice cubes

Blend together, best served immediately but can be in the fridge for 2 days.

2. Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie

Ingredients

1/2 frozen banana
1 cup frozen mixed berries (I love Trader Joe’s Very Cherry Berry Blend)
1/2 scoop vanilla brown rice protein powder
2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup cold water
1 1/2 Tablespoons peanut butter or PB2

Directions

Blend all ingredients in a blender and enjoy!

3. Orange Creamsicle Smoothie

Ingredients:

• ½ cup crushed ice
• ½ cup orange juice pulp (from ~3 oranges) or one whole peeled orange, pulled apart *
• 1 cup coconut milk (or milk of your choice)
• 1 scoop organic vanilla protein powder (my favorite is Tera’s Whey)
• ¼ tsp. pure vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp. honey (optional for a sweeter taste)

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.

4. Chocolate Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Ingredients

10 large strawberries
2 small bananas (fresh or frozen)
6 ounces plain Greek yogurt
1 cup chocolate soy milk
1 tablespoon peanut butter

Cut the tops off the strawberries.
Slice the bananas, and save four slices (to be used as garnish).
Place the strawberries, banana, yogurt, chocolate soy milk, and peanut butter in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth

5. Protein Milkshake

This one has a base and then different variations to make different flavors.

Base for Shake:
1/2 cup	Cottage Cheese (or 1 Cup Reduced Fat Greek Yogurt)1
1 scoop	Protein powder (something that has around 100 calories per scoop - I love Designer Whey™ Protein Powder)
1-4 pkts	Stevia or low calorie sweetener of choice
5-10	Ice cubes (depending on how thick you like it, use less for a thinner consistency)
1/2-1 cup	Water (alter this according to desired consistency)
Optional	1/2 tsp xanthan gum (you can get this from most grocery stores in the gluten free section! Just a pinch of it makes your shake so thick and creamy) Peanut Butter Maple Shake (These ingredients added to base) A few drops maple extract 2 tbs peanut flour OR 1 tbs regular peanut butter Optional: 2 tbs sugar free butterscotch pudding mix Servings: 1 Calories: 260 ( add 40 if using regular peanut butter)Weight Watchers PointsPlus: 6 Thin Mint Shake (These ingredients added to base) 2 tbs cocoa powder 2-3 drops of mint extract Optional: 1 tbs lite hershey’s syrup Servings:1Calories: 250Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 5 Superman-Ice Cream Shake (These ingredients added to base) 2-3 tbs sugar free/fat free pistachio pudding mix Servings:1 Calories: 250Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 5 Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake (These ingredients added to base) 2 tbs cocoa powder 2 tbs peanut flour OR 1 tbs regular peanut butter Servings: 1 Calories: 260 (add 40 calories if using regular peanut butter) Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 6 Strawberry Banana Shake (These ingredients added to base) 1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries 1/2 banana Servings: 1 Calories: 280Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 6 Lemon Cream Pie (These ingredients added to base) 1-2 tsp lemon juice OR 1 True Lemon packet Optional: 2-3 tbs sugar free lemon pudding mix Optional:  1 graham cracker or a few honey Teddy Grahams sprinkled on top of the shake Servings: 1 Calories: 180 Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 4 Strawberry Shake (These ingredients added to base) 1/2 cup strawberries (Fresh or frozen~ If you are using frozen use less ice!) Servings: 1Calories: 220 Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 4 Banana Cream Pie Shake (These ingredients added to base) 1/2 frozen banana Optional: 2 tbs sugar free banana pudding Optional: 1 graham cracker or a few honey Teddy Grahams sprinkled on top of the shake Servings: 1 Calories: 230 Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 5 Oatmeal Cookie Shake (These ingredients added to base) 2 tbs oats 2 tsp chocolate chips Dash of cinnamon Optional: 2 tbs vanilla or chocolate sugar free pudding mix Servings: 1Calories: 250 Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 6 Key Lime Pie Shake (These ingredients added to base) 1 tbs key lime juice OR the juice of half a lime Optional: 2 tbs sugar free vanilla pudding mix Optional:  1 graham cracker or a few honey Teddy Grahams sprinkled on top of the shake Servings: 1 Calories: 180Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 4 Cookies and Cream Shake (These ingredients added to base) 1/2 (100 Calorie) Oreo Pack (Toss the cookies right into the blender) Optional: 2 tbs sugar free vanilla pudding mix Servings: 1 Calories: 230Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 6 Pina Colada Shake (These ingredients added to base) 1 tbs coconut extract (Found in the baking isle next to the extracts) 1/2 cup pineapple (Fresh or frozen) Servings: 1 Calories: 220Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 4 Strawberry Cheesecake Protein Shake (These ingredients added to base) 1/2 cup strawberries (Fresh or frozen) 2 tbs light cream cheese (Or 2 tbs sugar free cheesecake pudding mix) Servings: 1 Calories: 260 Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 5 Lemon Raspberry Shake (These ingredients added to base) 1/3 cup raspberries (Fresh or frozen) OR 2 tbs low sugar raspberry jam 1 tsp lemon juice OR 2 tbs sugar free lemon pudding mix Servings: 1 Calories: 210 Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 5 6. Reese's Peanut Butter Cup smoothie  Ingredients 1 Frozen banana 1 cup almond milk 1 Tsp chia seeds 1 Tbsp Greek yogurt 1 Tbsp Peanut Butter 1 scoop chocolate protein powder 6 ice cubes Put all ingredients in a blender, mix up and enjoy! 7. Banana Bread Smoothie Ingredients 1 cup water 1 banana, frozen 1/3 cup cooked quinoa or buckwheat 1 tbsp raw walnuts or hemp seeds 2 tsp cold-pressed flax oil 1 medjool date, pitted flesh from 1 vanilla bean or 1/2 tsp alcohol-free pure vanilla extract 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon pinch allspice extra walnuts and ground cinnamon for topping Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. 8. Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Ingredients 1/2 cup pumpkin (canned or freshly cooked) 1/2 frozen banana 3/4 cup almond milk 1/2 scoop (or approx. 2 T) vanilla protein powder 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice pinch of ground ginger Combine in blender and blend until smooth. 9. Carrot Cake Protein Shake Ingredients (makes two, so cut it in half if you only want one... or you can opt to chill the second glass for the next day!): 1 large banana, frozen (it will save you a headache if you peel it, then put it in a bag and freeze it... but if you forget, you can always peel it afterward with a knife and your very very frozen fingers) 1 cup milk (skim milk or unsweetened vanilla almond milk are both great, but any milk substitute will also work -- just be aware that slight flavor changes will come with any major substitutions!) **Caloric information compiled using unsweetened vanilla almond milk 2 servings protein powder (Just use the prescribed amount per persoof powder for one "serving" of your particular brand) 2 tsp pure Vanilla Extract 1 tsp Cinnamon 1 small carrot (or two baby carrots), peeled Tiny dash of salt Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender Add a few cubes of ice only if your blender is good enough to chop them all up!  Blend well and serve! Would you try any of these? I already think I would try a few! Especially the Reese's cup.