As much as I love preparing dinner, trying new recipes, and introducing my family to different flavors, I struggle with other meal-times– namely, breakfast and snacks.
Breakfast is notorious for its high-calorie, high-carb and sugary assortment of options, ranging from cereals to cinnamon rolls. Though eggs are a great alternative, the family will grow weary of this protein source if we eat them every day. (Not to mention, feeding eggs to my child, Luke, takes lots of prodding, so I save it for special occasions).
Likewise, snacks can often be problematic. What an adult might like to eat – nuts, fruit, cheese and crackers – isn’t necessarily high on the list of a child’s snack demands.
Alas, I discovered protein smoothies, the magical food – saving time, money and worry – while also filling up my little one’s belly with nutrients!
For breakfast, Luke loves a smoothie that we revised from a selection at our local Whole Foods. Though Luke calls it a “chocolate smoothie,” it’s actually loaded with protein, fruit and vitamins.
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
- 1 banana, frozen and chopped into small pieces
- 1-2 TBS peanut butter
- 2 dates, chopped
- 1 cup of soy or almond milk
- 1 scoop of Isagenix IsaLean Dutch Chocolate Shake
Blend on high until mixture is smooth and you’ve got a healthy drink that supplies a 10 year-old with energy all morning long. I usually serve it with a bowl of cheerios or piece of avocado toast.
For afternoon snacks, when Luke rolls into the door hungry enough to consume the entire cupboard, he immediately asks for another protein smoothie. A great alternative to a fruit concoction is a simple IsaLean shake. I used either chocolate or vanilla (or mix of two) with a cup of soy or almond milk, plus 4-5 scoops of ice. Again, the snack tastes great, like a milkshake in fact, with little effort and lots of energy to supply him until dinner. Other benefits? He still eats a well-balanced meal at night, seems to be more focused at school and, most importantly, professes to be “growing big muscles.” (Note photo above as proof!)
I also enjoy protein smoothies to augment my daily diet, especially the IsaLean Pro Vanilla Shake. Not only do they give me energy before workouts, I like them for recovery, too. Better yet, they are helping curb my desire for sweets. And that, my friends, is a miracle.
If you would like to know more about the protein mix I referenced above, it’s a wonderful whey protein mix made by Isagenix. In fact, I like the products so much I have decided to become a company consultant. The description of the IsaLean Shake is as follows:
Available in Creamy Dutch Chocolate, Creamy French Vanilla and Black Sesame, IsaLean shakes are also low in saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol with added enzymes that break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats to maximize the absorption of key nutrients. Also, IsaLean Shakes contain 24 grams of high-quality undenatured protein from New Zealand dairy cows that exceed USDA organic standards.
If you are interested in trying the products, feel free to email me at melindahinsonneely at gmail dot com or check out the products in more detail at my webpage.
A regular whey protein should work great for the morning fruit smoothie, but may not be quite as flavorful as a standalone drink/mix.
