Zero Carb, Flavorless Protein Powder (+Recipe for Chocolate Berry Protein Smoothie)

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(Left: Great Lakes Gelatin; Right: Chocolate Berry Protein Smoothie)

Two months ago, I invested in some Gelatin Protein Powder. I read this post from Food Renegade about a healthy protein powder that had no added sugar, chemicals, etc, and was pretty much immediately sold. But, I had to try it out before telling you guys to buy it.

Well, go buy it. This stuff is a miracle.

     

^Link for the single / Link for the 2 pack^

Why should YOU invest in some Great Lakes Gelatin?

• High protein content. In 100 calories worth of this powder, you have yourself 24 grams of protein. 125 calories = THIRTY GRAMS OF PROTEIN. That is really hard to beat with a regular protein shake.
• Low carb content. That 30 grams of protein is accompanied by ZERO CARBS. I'd like to see any protein powder or protein bar beat that. Seriously.
• No flavor. You can throw this stuff in a smoothie with fruit, or with chocolate, or with... well, whatever the hell you want. But, you can also pour a bit of it into your coffee and stir it in and it will change absolutely nothing. So, go ahead and sneak this into your loved ones' morning cup of joe. They won't notice.
• Good for your bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, SKIN, HAIR, AND NAILS. Basically, it rocks. My mom used to have wrist pain and after a week of stirring this into her coffee, NO MO WRIST PAIN. That's right. I said it.

GO GET SOME HERE. Follow that link (or the links/images ads) to get the kind that will not congeal (i.e. will not turn into jello consistency and can be mixed into either hot or cold temperatures).

Now that I've hooked you on the product, here's my new favorite breakfast smoothie. It is high in protein, and has just a small amount of natural carbs due to cacao powder and fruit.

(Left: Great Lakes Gelatin; Right: Chocolate Berry Protein Smoothie)

Chocolate Berry Protein Smoothie

Chocolate Berry Gelatin Smoothie - Chemical Free
Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup frozen mixed berries
• 1 tbsp raw cacao powder
• 3 tbsp gelatin powder
• 6oz coconut water
• 5 drops liquid stevia (or 1/2 packet stevia/sugar)

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until well combined.
2. Serve and smile!

Chocolate Berry Protein Smoothie

      

^Link for the single / Link for the 2 pack^

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

• What's your favorite protein powder? I used to be obsessed with Perfect Fit's Vanilla Protein Powder, and I still use it, but now I am using it slightly less because it seems gritty when compared to this Great Lakes powder.
• What's your favorite protein shake recipe? I like combining berries with either chocolate or peanut butter (using PB2).

Chocolate Banana Bread (with added Protein)

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Let's be honest, we've all let produce go to waste. Some things are unsalvageable (hello, most vegetables). But other things, just like a good wine, only get better with time.

Enter bananas. I have to admit, it takes the pressure off knowing that I don't have to finish my bananas before they turn brown. I first experimented with low cal frozen banana ice cream. It's a delicious treat, and extremely creamy. But as it gets colder, I've decided to make something warm instead.

Banana bread is wonderful. There's really not much better than taking a bite of a steaming hot piece of banana bread, straight from the oven, with a tasty slab of butter melting on top. Nothing. Better.

...except maybe if you made it healthier. Say, by using whole wheat flour... adding in some protein powder... and some greek yogurt to keep it moist without dumping too much added fat indo the mix.

Ah, and I should mention that the protein powder is chocolate protein powder. So now we're not just working with banana bread, it's healthy protein chocolate banana bread. I know, chocolate was the only word you remember from that sentence. Go ahead and take a bite!

Whole Wheat Chocolate Banana Bread (with added protein)
Ingredients:
...for the bread

• 1 1/2 scoops chocolate protein powder
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 2 egg whites
• 2 tbsp vanilla greek yogurt
• 1/3 cup oats
• Optional: 1/3 cup chocolate chips (if you want it really chocolatey - I skipped this step)

...for the topping

• 1/3 cup oats
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• drizzling of honey
• sprinkling of cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Mix dry bread ingredients in a medium size bowl.
3. Add bananas, egg whites, and greek yogurt, and mix well.
4. Spray a bread pan with nonstick spray, then pour mixed ingredients into the pan.
5. In the same bowl (which should now be mostly empty), mix topping ingredients with clean hands. Be sure to sprinkle enough honey into the mix so that the topping begins to stick/clump together. 
6. Sprinkle topping over the bread mix.
7. Put in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean (the topping will still be gooey, but the bread should be solid and clean). 

Protein Packed Chocolate Frozen Yogurt with Berries

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May I Have Your Attention, Please: This Just In! Ice Cream Is Finally HEALTHY For You! Go ahead, eat as much of this creamy, rich chocolate frozen yogurt... it will melt in your mouth, but only after wowing you with its sweet chocolatey ways.

Ummmmmm, froyo is the bomb. I first developed an addiction during my Senior year at Rhodes College, when a local Memphis froyo joint called "YOLO" opened up less than give minutes away from my apartment. I was a goner. So were my friends. Pretty much everyone I knew. (Sidenote, if you work at YOLO, you're welcome... we probably single handedly paid your operating expenses that semester).

I have to be honest with you here, this was sort of an accident. It all began with a lack of milk (sounds like the opening line for a hilarious book). You see, this workout-a-holic needed her post-workout protein shake. But how's a girl to nom some protein shake sans milk? 

Suddenly, I thought... I could make yogurt! And then another light bulb... and a scream... FROZENNN YOGGURRRTTTT! Imagine Justin's face as I stood in the middle of the kitchen, screaming about frozen yogurt. What a lucky man. ;-)

Have to give some mad props to my friend Monique over at Ambitious Kitchen for this one... After making this frozen yogurt as plain chocolate a few times (and eating it up before I remembered to snap a pic), I finally got a few shots of it con blackberries after I caught a glimpse of her Blackberry & Chocolate Greek Frozen Yogurt Cones and was truly inspired. Seriously. I actually ran back into the kitchen to make this again and add blackberries (after all, my favorite ice cream from Graeters is Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip, which seems fitting).

Protein Packed Chocolate Frozen Yogurt 

Servings: 4

Calories Per Serving: 145

Grams of Protein: 23g per serving

WW Points: 3

WW PointsPlus: 3

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Greek Yogurt, Vanilla (I used Chobani)
• 2 scoops Chocolate Protein Powder
• 1 heaping handful of Blackberries
• Optional (for thinning): 2 tbsp Coconut Milk

Directions:

1. Stir Chocolate Protein Powder into Greek Yogurt. You can either stir it in completely or leave it swirled. Up to you!
2. Freeze for 2 hours. 
3. Remove from freezer and let sit for 30 minutes, or until you are able to stir it a bit around the outside. 
4. To mix it up (which gives it the smooth texture), either pop it in a blender or add 1/2 tablespoons of Coconut Milk and try to stir until you're able to stir it up with a fork.
5. Add blackberries and serve. :)

Notes:

• You can make this with any flavor of protein powder! If you're looking for Vanilla Frozen Yogurt, stir in some vanilla protein powder. I've also tried Cookies and Creme protein powder, which would be wonderful in this treat! 
• Are you going to make this? Send me a pic! I'd love to share it with readers, whether you follow the recipe exactly, or add your own twist! Email it to carly@createliveblog.com or post it on my Facebook wall!

P.S. if you're a fan of ice cream-like desserts, but not into greek yogurt, try this recipe to make ice cream using bananas, this recipe for brown sugar tapioca and ice cream, these chocolate mousse filled edible cups, or this recipe to make a twist on Chunky Monkey Ice Cream... using pudding!