My husband and I have recently purchased an Apple Watch and joined up to “MyFitnessPal” in an attempt to get into better shape. It has been an eye-opening experience as we have, over the past month, re-evaluated pretty much everything we have been eating and have been making adjustments for a healthier lifestyle.
I mean – I guess I knew that “grilled cheese sandwiches” were not a health-food, but I didn’t realize just how evil they were until I entered a “recipe” into Myfitnesspal and evaluated the nutrients and calories. Good Lord!
Even the greek yogurt smoothie I was making on a daily basis had to be cut (too many calories and sugar). Our love of comfort food has taken a back-seat to better choices.
So far it has been working. He has lost about 8 lbs., and I have lost the same. We have been adding some exercise to the mix, but honestly, not too much. It seems like we are eating MORE now rather than less — but the “more” is comprised of healthier choices.
I have replaced my daily greek yogurt smoothie with a protein shake. I didn’t care for it very much by just putting it into the shaker cup, so I froze some espresso ice cubes and utilized my Vitamix to turn it into a Frap. Honestly, it’s pretty darn good. I look forward to it twice a day actually. It helps me meet my protein goals and I typically replace my lunch with it. It fills me up and gives me energy and tastes like a good frap.
I tried it with a different protein powder (Vega – Protein & greens / vanilla) but it wasn’t as good. The Vega powder is too “thirsty” or something – it soaks up all the almond milk and is hard to drink through a straw. The Orgain powder makes a nice thick and creamy smoothie that will pull up through a straw easily.
On Sundays, I make up about 4 batches of Espresso (with my Mr. Coffee espresso machine) and freeze them in ice cube trays. Then on Mondays, I just pop them out and put them into a bag in my freezer. They last all week.
Here is the recipe:
“Frappuccino” Protein Smoothie
Into a blender (Vitamix or otherwise) combine:
- 8 oz Silk Almond Milk
- 4 or 5 Frozen Espresso Ice Cubes
- 2 rounded scoops of Orgain Creamy Chocolate Fudge Protein Powder
- 1/2 Tsp Rodelle Dutch Processed Cocoa
- 8-10 plain ice cubes
Blend until smooth and slushy.
According to the Nutrition facts on MyFitnessPal:
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings 1.0 | |
| Amount Per Serving | |
| calories 185 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 7 g | 10 % |
| Saturated Fat 0 g | 1 % |
| Monounsaturated Fat 2 g | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g | |
| Trans Fat 0 g | |
| Cholesterol 0 mg | 0 % |
| Sodium 357 mg | 15 % |
| Potassium 358 mg | 10 % |
| Total Carbohydrate 13 g | 4 % |
| Dietary Fiber 6 g | 25 % |
| Sugars 1 g | |
| Protein 22 g | 44 % |
| Vitamin A | 10 % |
| Vitamin C | 0 % |
| Calcium | 54 % |
| Iron | 19 % |
