I slept 9+ hours last night in preparation for my big day watching the Olympics (again). The diet hasn't been so great the past two days, so I need to clean it up today so I'm ready for the fit test tomorrow.
For today, here is a fantastic smoothie recipe that sounds completely insane, but what better place for that? A green monster is a banana protein shake that is full of fresh spinach. It is bright green. Wait, stick with me on this. You don't taste the spinach, at all. Google it and you'll find tons of variations. This is not only loaded with about 30 grams of protein, but also with three-plus servings of fresh produce. In blender:
GREEN MONSTER
1/2 cup skim milk, or vanilla almond/soy milk*
1 peeled banana (frozen banana also works great)
1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
Sweetener to taste (I use about 10 drops liquid stevia**)
splash of vanilla extract
1 1/2 to 2 cups fresh spinach leaves
a few ice cubes and extra water if needed
Optional:
1 TBSP flax seeds (optional)
1 TBSP vanilla or banana instant pudding mix (adds extra thickness and flavor)
Notes:
*Soymilk and regular skim milk are high in protein, but almond milk is not -- it has only 1 gram per cup. Still, it's tasty and a good source of vitamin E, and I use it a lot. The choice here depends on your nutritional requirements.
**Stevia is a sub for sugar, but it is not "fake sugar." Stevia is a naturally sweet herb and it is calorie-free. Liquid stevia is great because it takes just a few drops and a bottle lasts forever. It's also great for flavoring things like yogurt. If you use powdered stevia, I recommend the brand Truvia. If you aren't concerned about using sugar, I recommend agave nectar. It is more liquidy than honey and will blend better. It also is low on the glycemic index.
Enjoy! Tomorrow: results so far.
(Image from "Iowa Girl Eats." Great blog with awesome photos.)
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