I use 100% Natural European Whey by Webber Naturals. It is sweetened with Stevia instead of the other sweeteners, and is a blend of whey protein concentrate, and whey protein isolate. It comes from Costco, and is about $45CAD for 90 servings. It was the best deal I could find a few weeks ago when I was comparing prices and qualities. It is a little lower quality than a full blown whey protein isolate, but I like that it doesn't have a pile of chemicals added to it. No colours added to it either. Other comparable products I looked at were at least double the price, if not more, and were not as "clean" for additives.
Being that I lift weights, I use a shot of protein almost daily, and like my smoothies thick too, often thick to the point of eating them with a spoon. The basic foundation to the smoothies is a shot of vanilla protein powder, a cup of 1% milk or soy milk (unsweetened), and 3 or 4 ice cubes. The best thing I have found is to freeze banana chunks and add those in. A dash of cinnamon goes well with the banana, or a spoonful of cocoa powder...cinnamon goes good with the cocoa banana mix too. These are actually what allowed me to break a nasty ice cream addiction I had going on in the spring. Frozen strawberries, with bananas or by themselves are good. As too are frozen blueberries. Lately, I have been on a bit of a frappe kick so have been tossing in a spoonful of instant decaf coffee powder, and sometimes a spoonful of cocoa powder without any fruit.
Thinking of it, and reading back to your last post, what you are making is not much different to a virgin strawberry daiquiri (I work as a bartender in a restaurant and make cocktails from scratch). All you would need to add to that is some lime juice. In the restaurant, we use bar lime, a special powdered mix which would prob have too many calories to make it efficient for healthy eating...but I bet you could add in a couple of squeezes of fresh lime and that would give it that extra zing! I don't know why I didn't think of doing that myself! hahaha
I don't know how the lime would go with protein powder though...it may curdle a bit if the protein powder is whey based. Thinking of it...I bet a few frozen pineapple chunks would go super well with banana chunks, vanilla protein, and milk. A dash of coconut extract would make it taste just like a pina colada minus the coconut rum. I am going to have to pick some up and try this! Strawberries would go well with that too...Hmm... I am getting hungry!
Hope you enjoy your smoothies!
Protein powder Q and request for smoother recipes!
