Post Work-Out Smoothies

As I mentioned a few days ago, one of the thing's that I've recently "invested" in is a personal trainer.  With that being said, I also stated how he wasn't too impressed with my diet.  One of the major reasons as to why I hired a personal trainer is because I want to tone.  Due to this, I knew I was going to have to augment my protein by a lot.  Now, everyday regardless of if I am working out, or on a rest day I consume at least one protein shake, (yes, I was even told I am no longer allowed to call them "smoothies" but they are now "shakes".  For the purpose of my blog however, I am going to continue calling them "smoothies" ;) ).  

Due to the increase in my protein, and the fact that I am having a smoothie everyday, I also now have a lot more recipes to post.  Not all of them are amazing, sometimes I'm lazy, and just throw in whatever I want without making too much of an effort in remembering what goes in them, or to even take a picture for that matter.  Some however, need to be shared because they are just so tantalizing.

Snickerdoodle Smoothie

Recipe slightly adapted from here

For starters, one of my recent favourites - the snickerdoodle smoothie.  If you're a regular to my blog you will know that cinnamon is one of my favourite spices.  When cinnamon is added to anything I just about fall in love.  When I see a recipe for a smoothie that has the title "snickerdoodle", I don't even think twice about clicking on the link.  Needless to say I quickly bookmarked the link, and made it a few days after seeing it.  This is amazing.  It truly does taste like a snickerdoodle cookie without any guilt whatsoever.  It is a perfect pre-work out/post-work out smoothie.  It is delightfully spiced, full of greens, reminiscent of an incredible cookie, and just, mmmm, cannot wait to enjoy this again!

- if you have yet to try a green smoothie, don't be alarmed.  You do not taste the spinach at all.  If you were blindfolded and were to take a sip you wouldn't even know that there is spinach in it.  This is a great way to get vegetables into your diet!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup soy milk (or other non-dairy milk)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 2 cups loosely packed spinach
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional)

Directions:

Blend until smooth.

Tropical Avocado Smoothie

Recipe taken from here

Avocado is not an ingredient I frequently toss into my smoothies as I usually gobble them up in salads or ice creams before I think of tossing them into a smoothie.  However, if I find a recipe that suggests tossing in an avocado I specifically make sure I keep half of an avocado at least to try out the recipe, such is the case here.  I love the addition of avocado as it adds this creamy smoothness that you don't usually get from a smoothie.  This smoothie is definitely different from the smoothies I regularly make as I didn't toss in a frozen banana.  I really enjoyed it, the only thing I would change is to add a frozen banana so that the drink were more chilled with a smooth milkshake consistency, other than that, completely amazing.

Ingredients:

• 1 kiwi, ripe with the skin left on
• 1/2 an avocado
• 1/2 cup pineapple chunks, fresh
• Big handful of baby spinach
• 1/2 cup soy milk (or other non-dairy milk)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder (optional)

Directions:

Scrub your kiwi gently to remove any dirt or pesticides, and cut the ends off (discard).

Blend until no chunks of kiwi skins are left.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie

Recipe adapted from here

One of my favourite "desserts" are Wendy's Frosty's.  When I read this recipe, and saw that Gina had written that this taste like a Frosty but with peanut butter it was bound that I was going to be trying it.  This was definitely very, very similar.  I've seen imitation Frosty recipes going around the web lately, however they always seem to incorporate condensed milk.  This version does not contain condensed milk and still results in a very similar flavour.  I really enjoyed this and would certainly recommend it for the peanut butter chocolate lovers out there.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup low-fat vanilla Greek yoghurt
• 2 tbsp peanut butter

Directions:

Combine until smooth and creamy.

Cherry Vanilla Almond Smoothie

Recipe slightly adapted from here

I have to say one of my favourite flavours is the flavour of cherry.  However, this is not a fruit you will ever see me eat.  I have this irrational fear of fruits with pits.  I know that sounds ridiculous, but they just... freak me out.  My mom's boyfriend once bought a bunch of grapes that were said to be seedless, however, this was false.  They were not seedless, and because of this, the next hour after taking a few bites from different grapes to reassure me they were in fact not seedless, I cut every one in half and removed each seed.  Yes, I know, this sounds incredibly crazy, but it just urks me.  The only fruit I give exception to to this rule are clementines since it's not in every one.  Wow, okay after reading what I just wrote, I sound like a nut, oh well.  The point of this rant is, Costco has bags of pitted cherries that I go bonkers for.  I love them, because then all the amazing looking recipes I find online that incorporate cherries I can then try them.  One of my favourite one's up to date is the Raspberry Cherry Basil Smoothie, which I happily enjoyed this afternoon after my work out.  The other day however, I enjoyed an incredibly amazing savoury smoothie.  This recipe was packed with sweetness, protein, summer flavours, will definitely enjoy this again after future work outs.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup low-fat vanilla Greek yoghurt
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup soy milk
• 1 cup pitted cherries
• 2 tbsp whole almonds
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 tbsp vanilla protein powder
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp almond extract

Directions:

Put all ingredients into blender and pulse for a “chewy” consistency. If you want it smooth, just use puree setting and blend longer.

What do you enjoy after your work outs?