Weight Loss Shakes and Smoothies

Creating your own weight loss smoothie is a delicious, affordable and time efficient way to lose weight. After reading my recipes and tasting the tantalizing flavors, I believe you will find substituting one or two meals a day with a weight loss shake or smoothie is so easy and delicious that deciding to give it a whirl is a no brainer.

I have used protein drinks to keep my caloric intake low while meeting my daily nutritional requirements for many years. I love the taste of my protein drinks. I have done much experimenting and have learned to make them so yummy I can hardly wait to enjoy the pleasures of my flavor bursting creations.

Here is a glimpse of the thinking process I went through in creating these drinks. I made the decision to use coconut milk and protein as the base for my smoothie or shake. Experimenting with the food ideas floating in my head I put the ingredients into my 2 cup blender and whizzed them together until it was smooth. The result was better than I could have imagined. The drinks had the consistency of a milk shake. The flavor was rich and almost decadent. It totally satisfied my sweet tooth and left me feeling full. Since that first protein smoothie creation I have experimented with new ingredients and flavors.

Last week I had visitors stay at our house. As I was making my protein smoothie Brian came in and asked what I was making. I told him I had created a weight loss desert drink. He looked puzzled so I asked him if he would like to try it. He said, Sure! I blended a protein smoothie for him and could tell he was impressed. He said, "Wow Mekenzie, this is so good!" Brian told his daughter, who was also staying with us, about the smoothie. I asked her if she would like one. After sipping on her smoothie she looked up and said, "This is delicious, how do you make it?"

In this hub I will share the recipe's I use to make my homemade weight loss and meal replacement smoothies.

This smoothie is rich in protein and may be used as a meal replacement. I use a Whey Protein which I purchase through a nutritionist or a protein base through Vollara. Whatever protein base you use make sure it contains the purest of ingredients. You can find these quality protein's in your Mom and Pop health food stores or inbox me and I will help you to get my protein base.

Follow directions below: Once mixed pour into a tall glass and get ready for your taste buds to start dancing. A protein smoothie can be used as a meal Replacement. You can use the protein mix with ice and milk or add the fruit as I have suggested to create a Protein Fruit Smoothie

ENJOY!

A blueberry smoothie is a very appealing and delicious treat. The deep blue/purple color of the smoothie is as delicious as it looks.

We pick our own blueberry's in the summertime and freeze them to be used in various dishes throughout the year. Our guest Brian found blueberries in our freezer downstairs and plopped them into his smoothie. It looked so good that I had to make one for myself. We both found it to be a decadent treat! Go get some blueberries, freeze them and prepare to whip up your own blueberry smoothie. Most likely you won't need ice cubes because the blueberries are frozen and create the desired milk shake consistency. You are in for a treat - trust me.

Blueberry Smoothie

INGREDIENTS:

• 3/4 cup low fat milk (may use coconut, soy or almond - but please add at least 1/4 cows milk)
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 packet truvia (stevia)
• Ice - if needed (experiment)

DIRECTIONS:

Pour milk into your blender. Add blueberries and 1 packet of truvia. Pulse and blend until thick. If needed add enough ice to make it thick like a Milkshake or Smoothie.

BLUEBERRY WEIGHT LOSS SMOOTHIE (Meal Replacement)

• 1 cup low fat milk (may use coconut, soy or almond - but please add at least 1/4 cows milk
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• protein mix
• Ice - if needed (experiment)

*optional: Add 1/2 banana and 2 Tblsp. Greek Yogurt

Pour milk into your blender. Add blueberries - if desired add banana and yogurt. Add a handful of ice. Pulse and blend until thick.

Create a festive treat complete with sprinkles on top

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese or tofu
• Scoop vanilla protein powder
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 - 4 stevia or truvia packets (experiment - to taste)
• 3-5 drops butter or almond extract
• 1/2 to 1 cup water
• ice cubes
• 1/2 tsp xanthan gum (optional)
• colored sprinkles

Cottage cheese may not sound like a treat in a shake but this is what will make the consistency like a milkshake. If you are sensitive to dairy, use tofu to get the same consistency!

Xanthan gum is available at most grocery stores in the gluten free section! To help make your shake smooth and creamy add just a pinch.

Note: Widespread testing of xanthan gum has not been completed, but it is considered a safe, natural additive to foods. Eating too much xanthan gum can have an unpleasant laxative effect on some people, possibly due to its high-fiber content.

This recipe is for the chocolate lover in you. Experiment with the ingredients until you get a drink that makes you happy.

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 oz. milk (may use almond, coconut or soy milk)
• heaping tsp. cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp. real vanilla extract
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup plain yogurt (may also use vanilla or chocolate yogurt
• a sprinkle of Truvia for appropriate sweetness
• handful of ice
• optional: 1/2 banana

DIRECTIONS:

Pour milk into blender with cocoa powder and vanilla (add or decrease cocoa according to taste.) Add yogurt and handful of ice. If you add the banana it will change the taste of the chocolate .. you may like it or you may not. Experiment with the ingredients to tailor make your own yummy smoothie.

Enjoy!

This Smoothie is so simple to throw together. The finished product may look strange because it is green, but it tastes terrific.

I have to admit I was not excited at all when my daughter handed me my first green drink. I assure you that I thought I would hate it, but I didn't, in fact I loved it!

This green smoothie has also been kid tested. Both of my daughter's make green smoothies for their children. The kids love this green drink and think it's a special treat. This drink can also be made into Popsicles - the kids love them.

Just 4 ingredients you can mix up in seconds. You won't even taste the spinach. It packs a bunch of nutrients and anti-oxidants in a gulp. What a way to get your fruits and veggies in.

INGREDIENTS:

• 3/4 to 1 cup crushed pineapple
• large handful of spinach
• 1/2 banana
• lots of ice

Optional: Strawberries and a slice of fresh ginger

DIRECTIONS:

Whiz and pulse until smooth. Pour this refreshing vitamin rich drink into a tall glass. If it doesn't blend well add a little water or yogurt. Try it, you'll be surprised you like it.

Enjoy!

I hope you will experiment with your own smoothie or slushie creation. Whether you need to lose weight or just need a simple meal replacement, a smoothie is the way to go.

A Slushie can be blended in seconds. Making a slushie adds body to your juice and fun to your drink. Pull out a straw and watch the kids eyes light up.

Experiment using different juices. I was surprised by the slushy I made with pink grapefruit juice. The juice I used had sugar in it which created a wonderful slushy texture and an extremely thirst quenching treat.

Feel free to add your own smoothie and/or slushie recipe's below. I have fallen in love with them myself.

I fell in love with McDonald's 100% Fruit Slushy. One day I decided to see how hard it would be to make one at home.After some experimenting, I learned that fruit juices with sugar make a better slushy. The sugar seems to keep it from separating.

The 100% juice slushy still works but it separates leaving most of the icy juice on top. I can handle a separated slushy, how about you?

FRUIT JUICE SLUSHY - Simplest Recipe Yet.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup of Juice (orange banana pineapple juice, grape juice, grapefruit juice etc.)
• handful of ice (experiment with amount)
• Optional - 1/2 almond milk and 1/2 fruit juice (provides better consistency and a creamier base - surprisingly delicious)

DIRECTIONS: Mix and Pulse with blender until it has a slushy consistency.

FRUIT AND JUICE SLUSHY

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup fruit Juice
• 1/2 banana
• 5 strawberries
• handful of ice

DIRECTIONS: Whiz and pulse with blender for a smoothie with more texture.

Enjoy!