Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Shake [made with PB powder]

This high protein, good quality hydrolyzed collagen protein shake is low fat and high nutrients made with Naked Peanut Butter powder + Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides + Vanilla Extract + cocoa powder + Banana + frozen Almond Milk Ice Cubes.

Have you ever heard of the Slim Fast Plan? “Lose weight and keep it off”. Well, it was a delicious [how I remember] “health” food protein shake that I remember my mom drinking when I was growing up. She would mi the powder with milk and ice and then pour it into a reusable HUGE cup and take it along and nurse it where ever we went. And I just couldn’t wait until the day when I could partake of the lovely beverage.

The day finally came when my mom allowed it. I was in high school, I think a sophomore ha! I was a cheerleader and needed the “health benefits” obviously! So, my mom would make me a shake every morning and put it in a red solo cup so I could throw it away.

And thus it was born. The Slim Fast Plan addiction! Little did I know that I would carry my love for Slim Fast for almost a decade.

And it would be literally and figuratively a part of me! Including but not limited too….

• The Slim Fast splatter on the top of my red chevrolet cavelier that would dry throughout the high school day and become fairly permanent. One serving would produce two red solo cups that were 7/8’s of the way full. So, a little tricky getting into and out of the car and especially when I was in a hurry. And so, I would put one on top of my car, put the other one inside and then slam the door and speed off…completely forgetting I left the other cup FULL of slim fast on top of my car. Then, once I got to school and realized the brown smoothie dripping down my windshield of in the rear view mirror it was too late. I couldn’t do anything about it until I got home from school. Geez louise. Embarrassing but it happened.
• Or the next day when I would only have room for one of them in the cup holder and balance the other on the console…until the first big stop sign that would appear out of NO where of course. Nothing smells as bad as rancid slim fast that has dried in the crevice of the seats. Yuck. listen to me, I was a slob!! I couldn’t get it out. No matter how hard I scrubbed there would always be some left somewhere.
• How about the many years of more often than not, enjoying a slim fast with my pan of brownies in college. It was a perfectly balanced meal. Made sense.

How the Slim Fast legacy ended:

Fast forward 10 years after I started my Slim Fast ritual. I am working in the ER as a Nurse and pregnant. Because breaks were hard to come by, one had to bring something that could be inhaled–or in my case, GULPED. Of course, it was a can of Slim Fast.

This one particular break. I was in the middle of gulping my slim fast when a fellow nurse said uninvited, “do you know what you are feeding your baby?? Just take a look at the side of that can of garbage? You can’t even pronounce any of that. It’s not real food.” I was young and mortified. I took a short glance, realized she was right, and tossed it in the trash. Never to drink a Slim Fast again.

You’re welcome Jude.

all the OTHER protein shakes

I am a creature of habit and one of the main reasons I loved a good slim fast shake was because it was decided for me! I knew exactly what I would eat every. single. day. I felt good after drinking it! AND something in my brain told me that I wouldn’t have to eat anything else because I was “full”. I already had my meal. I liked that aspect of it as well. So, I needed a new ‘Slim Fast’. Some drink for me to drink for a meal. Something healthier.

I’ve gone through many a protein shakes to try and replace my first protein shake love.

I’ve tried….

• the Premier Protein shake from Costco
• the Gold Standard Whey powder from Costco
• ORGAIN clean protein
• OWYN protein shake
• Fairlife protein shake

And all are okay….I’ve discovered that most have weird films in the inside and that kind of turns me off. As soon as I see the fake film, I’m burned. ha!

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides

The reason for my frequent switch up of protein shakes are due to my bowel issue. Like I said, I like something consistent for one meal because I don’t have to think about but I have just had a tough time finding it but when it is not doing me right I need to go a different direction.

I did do Gold Standard Vanilla Whey for a while. I mixed it with banana and peanut butter. However when I visited an acupuncturist for my bowel issues, one of the first things she mentioned was to quit with the fake Gold Standard Protein Powder.

"It has all sorts of fillers and artificial crap and could be contributing to your issue, try Collagen Peptides instead. Plain." she says.

So, I went right home and pulled out my Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides. I already had the peptides in my cupboard because they were suggested by another friend but was struggling how to make them taste good. They are plain jane [there is nothing in it but hydrolyzed collagen peptides], so no flavor, no fake sweeteners, nothing to make it taste like anything. Just powder. I couldn’t find the right combination for me. I would try something and then get sick of it and go back to my old Gold Standard, fakely flavored and sweetened–but good!

Then, about 1 year ago, I rediscovered how to make a good shake. It finally came to me. That protein shake that I crave and is also good for you!

Collagen is a protein responsible for healthy joints and skin elasticity, or stretchiness. Collagen is in your bones, muscles, and blood, making up 3/4 of your skin and a third of the protein in your body. source

potential benefits of collagen include:

• healthier nails
• thicker hair
• skin elasticity
• stronger bones

Vital Protein Collagen Peptides Shake Ingredients

#1: plain, unflavored Vital Protein Collagen Peptide

– Although there are no fun flavors, there are also no fillers and nothing artificial in it.

#2: Unsweetened Almond Milk Ice cubes:

– I have made this with and without the ice cubes and for the BEST consistency, freeze some almond milk and then use them in your shake! It helps it to not be overly watery and also more creamy. I use 1/2 cup almond milk and 1/2 cup [4-5 almond milk ice cubes]

#3: Naked PB Powder

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-I use 1 scoop of this peanut butter powder in place of like a huge scoop of real peanut butter. I use this to decrease the fat content and saturated fat.

Real Peanut Butter has 18 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat and 7 grams of protein where as Naked PB powder has only 50 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, o grams of saturated fat and 6 grams of protein.

That is a HUGE difference. And Naked PB is not like the other powdered peanut butters which have added sugar and other additives. Naked PB has ONLY roasted peanuts. Nothing else.

#4: REAL Peanut Butter

-I usually add about 1/2 – 1 tsp of REAL homemade peanut butter just to keep with the real peanut butter flavor. Althought Naked PB powder is great for nutrition but it does lack the flavor of the real deal. But by adding the powdered, I can decrease my REAL peanut butter from 1 tablespoon to appro 1 tsp! Saving on unwanted fat and saturated fat.

#5: Vanilla Extract

-By using vanilla extract, you are adding additional sweetness without getting any of the calories or grams of sugar. I usually add 1 tsp. It really ups the taste!

#6: Banana

-I used to only use 1/2 a banana to save on the sugar however, now that I have switched from the artificially sweetened protein powders to a PLAIN powder, I need the extra flavor and decided I am happy it is natural sugar instead of the fake stuff. So I use 7/8 to 1 whole banana depending on the size and the ripeness.

-the more banana you add, the sweeter and creamier it will be.

#7: Almond milk Ice cubes

-By using Almond milk ice cubes, it stays ‘smoothie’ longer and is thicker than by just using regular almondmilk

#8: Regular Ice Cubes

-We have a pebble ice machine and although I woud love for that to work….it just melts too quickly and makes my smoothie too watery! You must use the 1/4 cup regular size ice cubes. They blend perfectly.

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