Making a Protein Shake

Making A Protein Shake
a quick and easy meal!

Step 1: Liquid (1-2cups)

  • Milk – cow, almond, oat, hemp, soy, coconut, kefir
  • Water

Step 2: Fruit – fresh, frozen or canned in its own juice (½-1cup)

strawberries                      raspberries                              melon
banana                               peaches                                    mango
blueberries                        kiwi                                           apples
pineapple                           blackberries                           cherries

Step 3: Protein – Use one option or combine a few together!

  • Protein powder – whey, soy, hemp, brown rice, pumpkin seed (check the label and use up to 15-20g protein from powder)
  • Skim milk powder (2-4 tablespoons)
  • Cottage cheese or greek yogurt (1/4cup)
  • Cooked or canned and rinsed lentils or legumes (1/4cup)
  • Tofu – silken or soft (1/2cup)
  • Liquid pasteurized egg product (1/4cup)
  • Nuts, seeds or nut butter – peanut or almond butter, hemp hearts (1-2 tablespoons)

Step 4: Healthy Fats

  • Avocado – fresh or frozen (1/4-1/2small)
  • Ground flax and chia (1 teaspoon-2 tablespoons)
  • Seeds and nut butters
  • Liquid oil – olive, grapeseed, avocado (1-2teaspoons)

Step 5: Fibre (1 teaspoon-2 tablespoons)

  • Ground flax, chia, wheat bran or germ, psyllium husk, raw oats, oat bran

Step 5: Optional

  • Chocolate – 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
  • Spices/flavouring – cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, turmeric, vanilla extract, lemon zest
  • Instant coffee
  • Vegetables – fresh or frozen spinach or kale, cucumber, celery, broccoli
  • Sweeteners – dates, honey, maple syrup

Tips

  • Drink right away. Smoothies tend to separate after about 20 minutes and can be reblended if needed. Depending on ingredients, it may thicken over time.
  • Blend into desired consistency. Use more liquid for thinner shakes. Use frozen foods or ice cubes to make thicker.
  • Creamier texture – frozen banana, avocado, yogurt, cottage cheese.
  • Peel, slice and freeze bananas to have on hand. Peeling first prevents browning!
  • When choosing a protein powder keep it simple and watch for added ingredients like sugar.  Opt for flavours like vanilla or plain and add ingredients like cocoa powder or cinnamon which gives you more flavour options.

Recipe Ideas

Combine and blend until smooth.  Add liquid ingredients first and frozen items last.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana
1 cup of 1% milk,
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1-2 teaspoons peanut butter
1 tablespoon hemp hearts
1 teaspoon ground flax
1 frozen banana

Blueberry Spinach
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
scoop of plain or vanilla protein
powder (20g protein as per label)
1 tablespoon chia

Tropical Tofu
1 cup of skim milk
½ cup soft tofu
1 teaspoon ground flax
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
1 cup frozen fruit (peaches, mango and pineapple)
2 handfuls or fresh spinach
1 cup frozen blueberries

Mixed Berry
1 cup of water
4 tablespoons skim milk powder
2 teaspoons wheat germ
1 teaspoon honey
½ small or ¼ cup diced frozen
avocado
1 cup mixed frozen berries