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!

Carrot Cake Protein Shake

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Question: Can You Have Your Cake and Drink It Too?

Why, YES, you can... And Why It's GREAT For You:

• Almost TWENTY TWO Grams of Protein
• Very low in saturated fat
• Very high in calcium
• High in iron
• High in manganese
• Very high in phosphorus
• High in riboflavin
• Very high in vitamin A

Compiled using CalorieCount via About.com

When I first met Justin, I remember wanting badly to make him a cake (gifts are my love language and delicious-yet-healthy treats are my food language, so by the transitive properties of gifting-love-dom... umm... nevermind). I remember standing in the baking aisle at Jewel, with him on the phone. There I was, staring right at a box of carrot cake mix, and I asked him… “Do you like carrot cake?”  His response? It’s not my favorite.

Woe is me. I guess we’ll go with Chocolate, then..

So, when I suggested trying out and altering a Carrot Cake Milkshake recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie, I was utterly surprised at his response: Let’s do it! Looks delicious.

In fact, it was even his idea, after returning from doing the Body By Science workout at the gym, to turn it into a protein shake. And so we did.

Protein shakes are something I’m working on for you guys… because I want to show you that protein shakes should be utterly delicious. So here’s “Episode Two” (For episode one , check out peanut butter banana protein shakes). Because it should not only be good FOR you, but it should also TASTE good, too! 

Carrot Cake Protein Shake

Servings: 2

Calories Per Serving: 216

Protein Per Serving: 21.8 g

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Weight Watchers Points (Old): 4

Weight Watchers Points Plus (New): 5

Ingredients (makes two, so cut it in half if you only want one... or you can opt to chill the second glass for the next day!):

• 1 large banana, frozen (it will save you a headache if you peel it, then put it in a bag and freeze it... but if you forget, you can always peel it afterward with a knife and your very very frozen fingers)
• 1 cup milk (skim milk or unsweetened vanilla almond milk are both great, but any milk substitute will also work -- just be aware that slight flavor changes will come with any major substitutions!) **Caloric information compiled using unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 2 servings protein powder (Just use the prescribed amount per persoof powder for one "serving" of your particular brand)
• 2 tsp pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 1 small carrot (or two baby carrots), peeled
• Tiny dash of salt

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender
2. Add a few cubes of ice only if your blender is good enough to chop them all up! 
3. Blend well and serve!

Recipe | Peanut Butter Banana Protein Shake

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For those of you who are fitness buffs like me, protein shakes are a must. Even if you're not hitting the gym on a regular basis, protein is still a must-have in your diet. Most studies suggest that the average adult needs between 40 to 55 grams of protein each day. 

The icing on the cake (or on the protein shake, I guess?) is that this recipe makes one mean yet delicious shake. I often crave it. Proof that it is delicious.

Picking your protein? There are many options. Look for a Whey protein. Whey protein is the same protein found in milk and is best for post-workout supplements because it is fast-absorbing and as a result can quickly get to work repairing your muscles.Try to get this in your system within 40 minutes of working out if you're using it as a post-workout shake!

 

Want the full recipe? Read on, my friends! :)