Raspberry Smoothie

1/2 c. frozen unsweetened raspberries
8-10 ice cubes
7 oz. organic coconut milk (about half a can)
1/2 c. water
dash cinnamon
1 scoop egg white protein (optional)

Combine everything in the Vitamix or your blender. Blend on high until smooth. This makes a great dessert, breakfast, or snack.

Carrot and Pear Smoothie [Vegan]

2 large organic carrots
1-2 bananas (I used one)
4-5 chunks frozen unsweetened mango or pineapple
1/4 c. fresh red cabbage
1 whole fresh pear, ripe
4-5 ice cubes
2/3 c. water or unsweetened fruit juice


Wash veggies and throw everything into the Vitamix or your blender. Add water, ice cubes, and fruit juice if you chose to use it. Blend on high for 1-2 minutes or until smooth. I did not add any sweetener since the ripe pear and banana makes the shake fairly sweet (and you can always add honey or more fruit juice afterwards, but you can't un-add it!)

Chocolate Flax and Whey Protein Smoothie

2 scoops whey protein isolate *
2-3 T. unsweetened cocoa powder (not processed with alkali)
about 8 ice cubes
1/2 c. water (add slowly- you only need enough to get the ice grinding)
cinnamon, to taste
2 T. ground flax
2 T. almond butter

Add everything to the Vitamix (or your blender) and blend on high for 1-3 minutes until smooth. You can add more water or blend longer to get a more liquid consistency- I like it thicker where I can eat it with a spoon. This is great as a dessert or as a meal. I add extra almond butter and top the smoothie with extra flax and cinnamon since I am an almond and flax addict.

* I only use very high quality whey protein isolate from NOW Foods (or Greens and Whey from Biochem). They are both gluten free and the whey isolate is lactose free- if you are dairy sensitive, do not use whey concentrate or whey blends since they do have lactose.

Ginger Pear n' Hemp Smoothie

2 heaping T. Manitoba Harvest Hemp Powder
5 ice cubes
1/2 c. water
1 T. rice bran

1/2" chunk fresh ginger
2 slices frozen peach (optional)

Spices:
ginger powder
cinnamon
dash nutmeg

Combine hemp, pear, peach (optional), ice, water and fresh ginger in Vitamix and blend until smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Garnish with slices of fresh pear (with skin) sprinkled with rice bran, ginger powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg. This is a great quick, healthy breakfast with supplies the ideal balance of Omega 3:6 fats, it is very high fiber and low carb, and gives good quality protein.

Fresh Peach, Flax, and Whey Smoothie (Casein and Lactose Free)

I am not sure about casein, but NOW Foods offers high quality gluten and lactose free whey protein isolate which makes terrific smoothies and ice cream. I am sensitive to casein as well as lactose, and this protein powder does not bother me at all. It is sweetened (vanilla flavor) with Stevia so it does not have any artificial sugar or real sugar which can cause blood sugar fluctuations.

It is very versatile in that you can add any kind of fruit, juice or "milk," nuts or seeds, or nothing at all except ice and water and it always tastes fantastic. Here I used some fresh peach as a side.

Basic Smoothie:
1 large scoop Now's whey protein isolate (half a serving which has 25 g of protein, no fat, no gluten or lactose)
5 ice cubes
1 c. water

Blend until smooth and serve immediately;

Garnish:
slices of fresh peach
2 T. ground flax

Serves: 1-2

This recipe is gluten free.