My White Smoothie

I didn’t run very much during the month of March.  But I have a very good reason excuse. I had a one-month membership to GoodLife Fitness that I won in a giveaway and wanted to make the most of it so I attended some group exercise classes 3 times a week… Body Pump on Tuesdays, Flow Yoga on Wednesdays, and Body Flow on Fridays.  I did strength training on Sundays and Thursdays with The Captain at home, and we also did a lot of walking.  Before every group class I ran on a treadmill at the gym for anywhere from 10 to 25 minutes, including some sessions of sprint intervals… so there was that!  But overall, running took a back seat… and so when we did finally get out for a 5 km run earlier this week, and again today before our 3.5 km run (after our strength workout) I wanted to make sure we were well prepared with some nutritious fuel.

I like to drink a high protein smoothie before I head out for a run.  I find I don’t need to wait as long after drinking a smoothie before heading out, as I do if I eat something solid.  If I drink a smoothie I only need to wait about 20 mintues to half an hour before I start running. If I eat something solid I need to wait a full hour.  If I don’t I tend to get sick.

This simple combination that I call My White Smoothie is nutritious and delicious. Those are my two main criteria for a pre-run drink. 

My White Smoothie
Makes 1 serving

• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 1/2 ripe banana
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 scoop Fermented L-Glutamine

1. Mix everything together with your blender and enjoy.

Per serving.
Weight Watchers P+ = 5.
Calories 204; Protein 26g; Carbohydrate 18g; Fat 4g; Fibre 2g.

Printable Recipe

This drink is a good way for me to get my Fermented L-Glutamine in.  This supplement is flavor-neutral so there is neither added taste nor added color.  I also use a 100% ISO Whey Protein Powder – both of these products are from North Coast Naturals.  You can certainly make it with any vanilla protein powder you like… and  just leave out the L-Glutamine if you don’t use it.



What is your favorite pre-workout fuel?


Are you a high protein smoothie fan?

North Coast Naturals Fermented L-Glutamine and Raw Hemp Smoothie

I want to tell you about a couple more of the great products from North Coast Naturals that I have been trying out… Fermented L-Glutamine and Raw Hemp Smoothie.

Glutamine is the most common amino acid found in our muscles.  I decided a while back to supplement with L-Glutamine to aid in my recovery, particularly when doing longer runs and when strength training.  I did a lot of research and decided this was something that would benefit me, and my immunologist agreed.

The Fermented L-Glutamine from North Coast Naturals comes from a fermentation process of beets. Beets are fermented with probiotic cultures, which means a 100% vegan fermented L-Glutamine. North Coast Naturals Fermented L-Glutamine is absolutely pure glutamine from Ajinomoto® — the only glutamine manufacturer in the world with a master drug file number for L-Glutamine.  You can read more about it on their web site.

North Coast Naturals Fermented L-Glutamine is a fine white powder.  And when mixed with water it produces a tasteless, but cloudy drink. If you drank it with your eyes closed, you would think you were drinking plain water.  Sometimes I have it after a workout, or sometimes before bedtime.  And I have also mixed it into an after-workout smoothie.   Again, it is flavor neutral, so never adds any taste to my drink.  If you like fruit or veggie juices, you could certainly add it to them, too.

Fermented L-Glutamine in plain water produces a cloudy, flavorless drink.

I really liked the Raw Hemp Smoothie the first time I tasted it. The flavor I have is a very nice chocolate. And it is so easy to use.. just mix a couple of tablespoons of the powder with up to a cup of water, and stir or shake. Instant smoothie.  And delicious.

It is a very fine powder, quite similar to cocoa.

And mixed with plain water… silky and smooth...  no lumps or chalky taste.

The first time  I tried the Raw Hemp Smoothie, I made drinks for The Captain and I to sip after a workout.  I love chocolate and berries together so I blended some frozen mixed berries into the Raw Hemp Smoothie powder along with some almond milk and a banana. Lovely.  Quite substantial, too.

Hemp, Berry, and Banana Smoothies

Makes 2 servings

• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 1 cup frozen mixed berry blend
• 1 ripe medium banana, peeled
• 4 Tbs North Coast Naturals Raw Hemp Smoothie, Chocolate flavor

1. Put all ingredients in blender and puree till smooth.
2. Pour half into each of 2 serving glasses.

Per serving.

Weight Watchers P+ = 5.

Calories 206; Protein 9g; Carbohydrate 39g; Fat 4g; Fibre 14g.

And one morning, while getting ready to do a strength workout with The Captain, I mixed a couple of tablespoons of the Raw Hemp Smoothie powder into a cup of hot coffee, and thoroughly enjoyed the Hot Hemp Mocha Smoothie that resulted.  A couple of drops of peppermint extract would be a lovely addition!

Hot Hemp Mocha Smoothie
Makes 1 serving

• 1 cup hot coffee
• 2 Tbs North Coast Naturals Raw Hemp Smoothie, Chocolate flavor

1. Stir together and enjoy!

Per serving.

Weight Watchers P+ = 2.

Calories 90; Protein 7g; Carbohydrate 18g; Fat 1g; Fibre 10g.

The Raw Hemp Smoothie also comes in a flavor called Berry Burst.  Sounds quite exotic, no?  I really like that this mix is so high in fibre and low in fat. Check out all the features and benefits on the North Coast web site.  I am sure you will be just as impressed as I was.

North Coast Naturals provided these product to me at no cost… the enthusiasm and opinions are my own.

What is your favorite smoothie these days?

Have you tried hemp protein powders or smoothie mixes?