Tag: Low Calorie

Rhubarb ……… In A Smoothie?

Do You Love Strawberry & Rhubarb?
The smoothie being mixed in the Ninja blender.
Pretty in pink!

Mistakes can sometimes yield a fantastic find.

That’s what happened here ………………..

If you love the combination of sweet and tart, you might just enjoy this smoothie recipe.

I use it as a weightlifting recovery drink.

All the ingredients in the blender.
Throw all the ingredients into the blender.

The mistake?

When GNC has a sale, or special offer, on the specific products that I use, I will buy in larger quantities.  I mistakenly purchased a container of the AMP Wheybolic 60 protein powder in strawberry flavor.

Normally, I buy the vanilla.  Vanilla can be combined with any fruit and it will taste great.  It’s great for recovery and it is one of the few products on the market that has the least amount of “fillers.”

A high quality protein powder scoop size will be relatively close to the amount of protein per scoop.  1 scoop of the Amp Wheybolic 60 Strawberry is 26 grams and 20 grams of protein per scoop. A difference of 6 grams is the lowest I have seen in any protein powder.
The nutritional label for the powder.
90 calories/scoop, 20g of protein, and the scoop size is 26.33g.

Last time it was BUY ONE – GET ONE 50% OFF, I bought one in vanilla and, mistakenly, bought one in the strawberry flavor.

I was tempted to take it back, as GNC does have an exceptional return/exchange policy, but after looking at the “filler” content, decided to try to make it work.  I mean really, how bad could the strawberry be?

Not all protein powders taste great so I took the “water” test.  

I mixed one scoop with 8 oz of water and downed it.  If I can stand the taste with water, then it will taste even better with fruit.  I would just have to find the right fruit to combine it with for optimal flavor!

It passed the test.

What better combination than strawberry and rhubarb?  And ……. I just happen to have two – 1 gallon size bags of rhubarb taking up space in my freezer from last summers harvest.

Yummm …………..

Strawberry Rhubarb Protein Smoothie
  • 1 C unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 2 T dry uncooked old-fashioned oatmeal
  • 1 T organic ground flax
  • 1 scoop Amp Wheybolic Extreme 60
  • 1/2 C raw rhubarb
  • 1/4 banana
  • 1 handful of fresh spinach (optional)
  • 2-3 medium fresh/frozen strawberries (optional)
  • Crushed ice

Combine all ingredients in a Ninja blender and blend until smooth.

If you ever see fresh spinach on sale, snap up as many containers as you can fit in your freezer. Usually, I add fresh spinach, but a handful of the frozen works equally well. I always buy one for the fridge, to use in salads & tacos as well, but if you have the space, buy extra for the freezer!
If you ever see fresh spinach on sale, snap up as many containers as you can fit in your freezer. Usually, I add fresh spinach, but a handful of the frozen works equally well when you’re out of fresh. I always buy one for the fridge, to use in salads & tacos as well, but if you have the space, buy extra for the freezer!

 

 

The “Ugly Smoothie.”

Smoothie's are soooo pretty, until you add spinach! If you don't care what it looks like, add it for that extra nutritional boost.
Smoothie’s are soooo pretty, until you add spinach! If you don’t care what it looks like, add it for that extra nutritional boost.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I entered the ingredients into the My Fitness Pal app and this is what it showed me:

This chart shows the nutritional value without the spinach.
This chart shows the nutritional value without the spinach.
249 calories in the strawberry rhubarb smoothie.As you can see, I used the listing for the chocolate flavored Wheybolic as I couldn't find the strawberry. I finally found it under, "Strawberry."
249 calories in the strawberry rhubarb smoothie. As you can see, I used the listing for the chocolate flavored Wheybolic as I couldn’t find the strawberry. I finally found it under, “Strawberry,” but values were the same.
Perfect!
  •  Low calorie
  •  Low fat
  •  High in fiber
  •  High in protein.
Strawberry Rhubarb Protein Smoothie.
Strawberry Rhubarb Protein Smoothie, without the spinach.

If you want to “AMP” up the flavor, without adding a lot of extra calories, add a couple of fresh strawberries. It will cost you another 4 or 5 calories per strawberry.  No big deal.

A handful of fresh spinach will set you back, uhmmm ……….. a few more calories (7 calories per cup) but add a ton of potassium and vitamin A.

I choose ugly every time!

“When I lay me down to sleep, I pray to God my muscles peak.  And if I die before I wake, I hope heaven has lots of protein shakes.”                                          –  look human.com

xoxo, Katy