In 2014, my husband and I participated in a 67-day Sugar-free eating challenge. We continued this way of eating for 7 months and each lost 30 pounds. We were shocked at how easily it fell off! The crazy part was there were no expensive shakes to buy, supplements or pills to take, or exercise videos to watch. And we weren't starving ourselves! It was all through education and learning about what we were eating, how it affects our bodies, and learning how sugar is disguised under various names in our food.
The biggest tool we learned was how to incorporate this empowering knowledge into our everyday lives and to create alternative sugar-free recipes for those we had been using for years. If we got a sweet tooth, instead of just throwing in artificial sweeteners, we learned how to sweeten foods by using naturally sweet foods such as dates and various fruits. One of the best recipes I created for myself was a smoothie that tastes like a chocolate milkshake, but it's actually energizing and nutritious! It has been such a helpful recipe for me when I get a craving for icecream but am trying to watch my wasteline. Not to mention, when you're a mom chasing after little ones, you need to take care of your health so you have the energy to get through the day!
Here is the recipe!
Healthy Chocolate Shake (sugar-free, dairy free)
- 1/2 c instant oatmeal
- 1 1/2 c unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
- 1 tbs peanut butter
- 1 banana
- 1/2 c frozen cubed mango
- 1/2 c frozen strawberries
- 1 c fresh spinach
- 1 scoop Garden of Life protein powder
- 1-2 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
Throw all ingredients into a blender and blend until liquified. Add more almond milk to thin texture if needed. If you need more, simply double the amounts. If you're breastfeeding and need a boost in your supply, throw in a scoop of Brewer's Yeast. If you have little ones, throw this mixture into popsicle molds for a tasty and nutritious treat!
*I do not receive compensation for recommending this protein supplement. I simply love it and wanted to share!
