THE LOWDOWN ON PROTEIN POWDERS

I constantly get asked my opinion and advice on protein powders. . . Should I be taking a protein powder? What's the difference between an isolate and a concentrate? What does sprouted mean? When should I be taking it? Will it make me bulk up? I'm a vegetarian, do I need to be taking protein powder? How often do I take it? 

Protein powders are very popular, and for good reasons...

NEW PROTEIN BALLS ON THE MARKET ---> WITH MORE CRAP THAN A SEWER. HERE ARE 2 FAR BETTER RECIPES

Recently, I was rather excited to check out a new range of products on the market from one of Australia's leading supplement companies, as they had teamed up with one of Australia's leading health and fitness personalities. When I found out where I could get my hands on these products, I excitedly popped on over on my lunch break with my sister to have a look, and was eager to try the protein balls I had seen on social media (post lunch sweet treat right?)

Such. A. Dis. A. Pointment.

NOURISH: Nutty Maca Butter Brittle

This recipe is loosely based around Sarah Wilsons Almond Bark recipe, with additions from another recipe given to me last year. Add the two together and you've got this -- the most delicious snack ever!

This snack is high in protein and healthy fats, great for hormone health, balancing blood sugar, alleviating sweet cravings (without the sugar) and boosts mineral and nutrient content for optimum health.

Berry Vanilla Yoghurt Pops

A super easy recipe to make as the weather up in Cairns continues to rise.

I asked my mum for icy-pole moulds for Christmas wanting to make my own delicious fruity, yoghurty, juicy, milky, whatever I fancied flavours of wholesome goodness, knowing what I was eating with no junky sugars, sweeteners, colours, and the like. I had visions of boysenberry ice cream in my head so this is what I came up with.

Berry Vanilla Yoghurt Pops

1 x 400g tub Coyo (coconut yoghurt - found at the health food store)
150ml almond milk
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
Handful of blackberries

Blend all ingredients except the black berries, then pulse these in so you still have little bits through the mixture. A blender or food processor will both work as this mixture is very thick.
This quantity will make 4-6 icy-pole moulds, so depending on the size of moulds, you may have more or less than you need. Eat what's left over if you've got more! Then freeze overnight and enjoy the following day. 

Keep cool when it's hot with sufficient good quality water intake, coconut water if you're like me and love it, and then when it's just too hot, put your feet up and enjoy your home made Berry Vanilla Yoghurt pops :)


Love and Berries
Christie

POW POW Protein POWder

Happy Day 4 of Vegan MoFo guys! If you havn't had a chance to check out the official website I STRONGLY suggest you do. If you LOVE delicious food it's the palce to go. Made really easy to navigate and loads of food pics from all over the globe (mainly cooked vegan but still FAB) it's raw chocolate for the eyes.
So it's Market Day today but the weather is cold and rainy so with my day off I've opted to stay in doors and get some study done (so far I've made myself a green smoothie, just poured a mug of tea, written out my food diary, emptied the bins, uploaded photos and cleared one of our fridges, salivated over pictures on Vegan MoFo, and now I'm blogging... yet to get to that study).

So anyways, EXCITING SHOPPING NEWS! Last week I finally bought a big tub of SunWarrior Raw Vegan Protein. And I say FINALLY coz I've been wanting to try since I first read about it, but for me to order things online I'm either in the mood or I'm not (watch out if I am!), and so when Taste Organic up the road from me decided to get it in and stock it on their shelf, well, they made things very easy for me. I got myself the natural flavour for several reasons; (1) it's got less to it obviously (2) it would be the easiest to incorporate into whatever I fancied without having everything taste like chocolate for instance, and (3) i think it's best for my skin (acne) to keep things minimalistic. Lucky I wanted the natural flavour as it was the only flavour left on the shelf!

If you've never heard of Sun Warrior protein before you can read more about it here, otherwise I briefly say that it's 80% pure protein, and therefore the highest raw complete vegan, hypo-allergenic superfood protein currently available anywhere. Not bad hey.

So having finished my little detox/cleanse last Sunday (which went very well infact) I was very much looking forward to trying out my new protein; especially as I have increased my training of late also.
I've now been having protein most days and really enjoying it. It doesn't taste horrible like alot of protein powders can (If you've tried different powders before I'm sure you'd be familiar with that "protein powder" taste. Urgh.

So for brekkie at work the other morning I experimented and made myself a big tasty thickshake - Frozen bananas, acai, carob, and protein powder. Mmm-mmm! So good. Sucking it through a straw, it tasted better than a Maccas thickshake at 3am on a Sunday morning when you're craving shit from drinking all night long! Oh the memories...
It filled me and I was on my way to a great day!

How are your morning lately? What do you guys eat for brekkie? Anything NEW and EXCITING you've been trying in spirit of Vegan MoFO?