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Pumpkin Pie Power Smoothie & Vega One French Vanilla Nutritional Shake Giveaway
********* The giveaway is now closed! Thank you so much to everyone that entered and congrats to, Chef Amber Shea, our randomly selected winner! *********
(winner was randomly selected using Random.org)I will be emailing you to let you know you have won and to get your mailing address.
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A while back Vega One contacted me and asked if I would like to try their new French Vanilla Vega One Nutritional Shake, I of course obliged, I mean who doesn’t love sampling new (and hopefully yummy) food products? I received two packets and with the first I made it straight-up, as is with just some almond milk and ice in the blender. It was quite good, super thick and creamy and it had a really nice flavor. It definitely had just a little of the chalkiness that we’ve all come to know with these types of products, but it was still very appetizing and satisfying and had a really good flavor.
After making the first one straight-forward, I decided to have fun with the second shake and I made a pumpkin pie smoothie. I enjoyed this even more than the first one I made, that is besides the fact that I spilled a good 3/4 of it when the wind blew over my photo back drop (thankfully that was the only tragedy we experienced in over here Western New York due to Sandy). Check out my Photo Fun Day Friday post where I show a little behind the scenes blooper shot of this smoothie’s ultimate demise.The smoothie was even creamier and it had a fun color to it, the spices and the pumpkin were nicely complimented by creaminess and the smooth french vanilla taste, it kept me full longer than most smoothies I make.
[print_this]Pumpkin Pie Power Smoothie
serves 1 or makes 2 smaller servings
1/2 cup organic coconut milk, the canned kind (full fat or lite)
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup organic pumpkin puree
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1 level scoop (or one snack pack) of Vega One French Vanilla Nutritional Shake
sweetener of your choice, if needed – I add a couple of drops of vanilla liquid stevia
small handful of iceAdd all of the ingredients to the blender and process until smooth and creamy.
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Besides being quite tasty, Vega One‘s Nutritional Shakes pack a serious nutritional punch! Here is some more info:
Vega One- All-In-One Nutrition Shake – Use on a daily basis to cover your key nutritional requirements for optimum health.
“Cover your bases”
· Great tasting foundational nutrition to build your day on. All the essentials. All-in-one.
· Contains 10 different supplements including: Protein, Multi-vitamin, Multi-mineral, Essential fatty acids, Digestive enzyme, Probiotics, Antioxidant, Chlorella/greens, Maca.
· 50% of RDI for vitamins/minerals-replaces your multivitamin!
· 15 g protein, 6 g fiber, 1.5 g omega 3
· Dairy, gluten and soy free
· Low Glycemic (19.2)
· No added sugar-sweetened with steviaGood for your body and the planet, Vega One Nutritional Shake is the clean, plant-based choice to fuel your healthy, active lifestyle—without compromise. Made from natural, whole food ingredients, Vega One is a convenient, all-in-one supplement.
Vega One is free from dairy, gluten and soy, and contains no added sugar, artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners.
Some bonus info, I read that Vega One can also be used in recipes to replace a portion of flour for a gluten-free and protein-rich addition to brownies, pancakes and more.
Since, I enjoyed the French Vanilla Vega One Nutritional Shake so much, we are giving away a large 30 oz tub of it to one special winner, so you can enjoy it, too.
The giveaway is just open to US and Canada residents only.
Enter the contest
Please leave a *separate comment* below for each entry!
You can enter up to 4 times1) In order to be entered into the giveaway, please comment below and share your favorite smoothie or shake that you would love to recreate using Vega One French Vanilla Nutritional Shake?
Additional entries will be accepted for the following:
2) Like both the Tasty Yummies and VegaOne pages on Facebook.
Share the post I put up on the Tasty Yummies page to be included in the giveaway then come back and comment here telling me you liked both pages, that you’ve shared my post.3) Tweet about the contest and while you are there follow me on Twitter @herobeth and follow @VegaTeam
You could say something like: “Enter to win a large tub of French Vanilla #VegaOne from @VegaTeam & @herobeth on Tasty Yummies http://wp.me/p23r4t-Jq #plantstrong #vegan”
Make sure you comment here to let me know that you posted about the giveaway.4) Subscribe to the Tasty Yummies RSS feed in your RSS reader or by email
or follow me on Pinterest. Again, make sure to comment here to let me know that you subscribed or follow me.Please note – this giveaway is only open to the US and Canada.
Again, please make sure you leave a *separate comment* below for each entry,
if you don’t comment you will not be entered!The giveaway will be open until the end of the day Monday, November 12.
Winner will be selected at random and announced on Tuesday, November 13. 1 winner will be selected and notified through email and this post. -
Banana Piña Colada – Gluten-free, Vegan + Refined Sugar-free
Coconut and pineapple has to be one of the quintessential flavor combinations of the summer! So what better fruit to add to that delicious mix than bananas? This is an updated lighter version of the classic beach cocktail, a piña colada. Instead of coconut cream, sugary juice or those nasty mixes, this summertime mocktail combines fresh and healthy ingredients for that same creamy and delicious satisfaction without all the garbage.
The bananas provide plenty of sweetness, so there is no need for any sugar or sweeteners and by freezing both the bananas and the coconut milk, you won’t end up with a watered down drink as the ice slush melts. Obviously, if you wish to make this an alcoholic cocktail, add in a shot or two of your favorite rum at the end and give it another whirl in the blender.
There is no refined sugar added to this and it is delicious even without the rum. The creamy sweetness from the bananas and the coconut milk provides more than enough sweet, so you don’t have to add any sugar or sweetener at all. And even if you go with the full-fat coconut milk, it is still lighter than the standard coconut cream that is used. If you want it to be even lighter and lower in fat and calories, feel free to use light coconut milk. I personally like the creaminess of full fat coconut milk and since it is a healthy fat, I can totally justify indulging! Plus, the other bonus of this creamy summertime mocktail is that it could also be enjoyed as a delicious and sinful breakfast smoothie. That would be the perfect way to start any day, if you ask me.
Banana Piña Colada
Serves 4
- 2 frozen organic ripe bananas
- 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks (frozen will work if you cannot find fresh)
- 1 cup no sugar added organic pineapple juice
- 1/2 can organic coconut milk (full fat or light) – frozen into cubes
- Coconut flakes for garnish
- Fresh pineapple wedges for garnish
*Optional – add 4 ounces of your favorite rum to make this an alcoholic cocktail
Add all of the ingredients except the coconut flakes and pineapple wedges to your blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. If you are adding rum, add it after it is creamy and blended, and blend again quickly to mix it in. Pour into 4 glasses, serve each topped with coconut flakes and garnish with a fresh pineapple wedge.
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Mango Banana Green Smoothie – Gluten-free + Vegan
I figured as long as I am on a smoothie kick, I will continue to share my recipes with you guys. It’s been a bit of a busy work week and I just haven’t been motivated to make many large involved recipes, plus I am waiting on a shipment of almond flour to make a few recipes that have been in the queue for this week. I’ve been cooking pretty simple recipes for dinner and quick easy salads and other veggies for lunch. As much as I love cooking, when the rest of my life feels hectic and busy, it is hard sometimes to muster up the energy to want to be patient and take photos after I do all the cooking. I love creating the recipes, I love cooking and I really love eating, but sometimes setting up for the photos, worrying about lighting and stressing about props is just more than I can handle. I want my photos to be as good as they can be, so I think I tend to put way too much pressure on myself, in that way.
This morning, after a somewhat restless night of sleep, I actually slept in a little bit (until 8:30am) and didn’t make it to yoga, so I decided to make a smoothie first thing and enjoy it outside on the patio. I had no real plans of sharing the recipe or taking photos, but after I took the first sip I decided it was way too good not to share (plus I wanted to tell you guys about the yummy green superfood powder). So, I ended up grabbing my camera quick and setting up a really fast shoot for the smoothie, trying not to stress over details. No harm, no foul. Until…. the wood backdrop that you see behind all of the ingredients in the photo below, decided to fall forward and spill almond milk everywhere, it was the last of the almond milk in the house and was supposed to be enough to make a smoothie tomorrow. Not exactly the way to start a day. I took a really deep breath (OK maybe I threw the wood in anger first, then took the deep breath) and cleaned it up. At any rate, thankfully I got a few decent photos before that whole fiasco, but I have to say, I am not gonna lie, editing these photos definitely gave me a little anxiety thinking about that crash, and the almond milk spilling everywhere.
OK, enough of all that, let’s talk smoothie…many times I just make up my smoothie recipes as I go and this morning I was pleasantly surprised with the results. I really wanted to include some veggies but since I was out of kale and didn’t have any spinach, I decided to add a scoop of Orange Dreamsicle Green SuperFood from Amazing Grass. They aren’t paying me to say any of this, it is a product I grabbed at the Lexington CoOp a while back after they had someone there offering samples. I was impressed with the taste, but I also love that one single scoop helps provide you with your 5 to 9 daily servings of veggies. Not too bad for a small unassuming scoop of gluten-free and vegan green powder.
The powder has a very subtle orange creamsicle flavor and it isn’t chalky or strange, it pairs nicely in fruit smoothies as well as a smoothie with cocoa powder and almond butter. I bought this container back in March and I still have a decent amount left. Each container has about 30 servings and once opened you store it in the refrigerator for optimal freshness. The Orange Dreamsicle flavor is so good I have on occasion mixed it with just water or almond milk for a quick green pick me up. You should definitely give it a try if you are looking for ways to add more greens into your diet.
[print_this]Mango Banana Green Smoothie – Gluten-free, Vegan + Refined Sugar-free
serves 1- 1 cup unsweetened organic vanilla almond milk (or any non-dairy milk of your choice)
- 1 organic banana, preferably frozen
- 3/4 cup frozen organic diced mango
- 5-7 drops of NuNaturals Liquid Vanilla Alcohol-Free Stevia (or any other sweetener of your choice)
- 1 scoop of Green SuperFood Powder (if you don’t have this or something like this but you still want greens, add 1 cup of
- spinach or kale or just leave it out)
- 1 handful of ice if your banana isn’t frozen
Add all of the ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth and creamy. If it is too thick, add more almond milk or some water to thin it.
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Banana Blueberry Coconut Smoothie – Vegan + Gluten-free
I am still on a huge smoothie kick right now and I see no end in sight. For me, smoothies are the perfect after-yoga snack/breakfast that keeps me pleasantly full and satisfied until lunch. Plus I love having fun playing with different ingredients and flavors.
This satisfying and tasty drink was so smooth and creamy from the banana and coconut oil. The blueberries gave the smoothie a really nice bright and tart flavor and a really beautiful color. I really love the great texture from the shredded coconut flakes and ground flaxseeds, I have found that I like a little bit of texture in my smoothies, feel free to leave either or both of these out, if you wish. Besides the texture, ground flaxseeds are great in smoothies because they work as a thickener and the bonus is all of the added benefits of flaxseeds, like the Omega-3 essential fatty acids. These “good” fats that have been shown to have heart-healthy effects. Each tablespoon of ground flaxseed contains about 1.8 grams of plant omega-3s. Plus of course, the wonderful fiber. The list of benefits goes on and on too, what more can you ask for in a little seed? I tend to find smoothies that I add flaxseeds to, also tend to keep me fuller and satisfied a bit longer.
I personally found this smoothie to be plenty sweet on it’s own with no sweetener, I just added 3 drops of liquid stevia to offset some of the tartness from the berries. If it isn’t sweet enough for you, feel free to add any sweetener of your choice like maple syrup, medjool dates, raw honey, etc. If you wish, you can top your smoothie with a small sprinkle of shredded coconut, I actually had meant to, but totally forgot. Definitely would have been nice in the photos, but by the time I remembered, I was halfway through the smoothie, oh well.
What are your favorite things to add to smoothies?
[print_this]Banana Blueberry Coconut Smoothie – Vegan + Gluten-free
serves 1- 1 cup organic unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or any other non-dairy milk)
- 1 cup organic blueberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1 organic banana
- 1 tablespoon flaxseed
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil, in liquid form
- 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes, plus more for topping if you wish
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3-5 drops of vanilla stevia or any sweetener of your choice (optional)
- handful of ice if the blueberries aren’t frozen
Add all of the ingredients to the blender and puree until smooth and creamy, adding ice if desired.
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Blueberry, Banana and Kale Smoothie – Vegan + Gluten-free
I am back from a short, but very lovely trip to California for the wedding of our very good friends, Patrick and Summer. We got back home on Tuesday morning after flying a red-eye out of LAX Monday night and I am still trying to readjust to being back home. It was a great trip, but we crammed a lot of celebrating into just a couple of days. My body was definitely hurting when I woke up yesterday morning. Between eating a little bit different than I normally would, getting way less sleep and doing less yoga than normal and OK maybe there was lots of wine, a few chocolates and even a cigar or two. I feel pretty beat up, but it was definitely worth it.
First thing I decided I would do to get back on track, was a 3 day cleanse. Lots of fruit and vegetables, juices and smoothies, tons of water, etc. And of course, lots of yoga. My everyday diet has evolved so much that this really isn’t a massive difference from my usual daily eating, but for the next couple of days I am actively avoiding any and all sugar or sweeteners of any kind (including my usual maple syrup or honey), no caffeine, no alcohol, no meat, no eggs, no grains and of course, the usual no gluten and no dairy. My body just needs a break. Summertime can be a bit rough, even when I think I am being careful and mindful, only indulging a little here and there, the little celebrations that I allow myself, happen a bit too often in the summer. Next thing you know, I am feeling worn out, sluggish and all of those other yucky things. I actually got a migraine yesterday for the first time in many, many months, and it was a bad one. I am sure my body was angry at the excessive amount of travel, lack of fruits and veggies, lack of water and all of that wine.
Our bodies definitely can only take so much. When you are always treating your body with love and care being very mindful of every little thing going into it, even just a few days of “letting go”, can affect you.
I normally have a smoothie or juice in the morning after yoga anyways, but this week I am really trying to load the smoothies up with tons of fruit and veggies. Today I put a big, tightly packed cup of organic kale into my smoothie and it was perfect. I know I have shared kale’s many benefits with you before, but here it is again in case you had forgotten: One cup of kale contains 36 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and 15% of the daily requirement of calcium and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), 40% of magnesium, 180% of vitamin A, 200% of vitamin C, and 1,020% of vitamin K. It is also a good source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus. Kale, as with broccoli and other brassicas, contains sulforaphane (particularly when chopped or minced), a chemical with potent anti-cancer properties. Read more about kale here.
Blueberries rank as having one of the highest antioxidant capacities among all fruits, vegetables, spices and seasonings. Additionally blueberries are an amazing source for vitamins and minerals and they are high in fiber. Blueberries are also beneficial for your brain. On a test tube level, blueberry antioxidants activate two brain-protective enzymes, catalase and superoxide dismutase. These are the enzymes that keep neurons from being “deactivated” after they are attacked by free radicals. You can read more about the many benefits of blueberries here.
Bananas are one of our best sources of potassium, an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. Since the average banana contains a whopping 467 mg of potassium and only 1 mg of sodium, a banana a day may help to prevent high blood pressure and protect against atherosclerosis. Bananas are also great for digestive issues, replenishing your body of much needed electrolytes after a bout of diarrhea. Additionally, bananas contain pectin, a soluble fiber (called a hydrocolloid) that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract and ease constipation. You can read more about bananas many great benefits here.
This smoothie may have an odd color, a little bit purple, a little bit green with little flecks of berries, but don’t let the color throw you off, it has such a great flavor. It is smooth and you would never know that it is loaded with healthy, green leafy kale.
[print_this]Blueberry, Banana and Kale Smoothie – Vegan + Gluten-free
serves 1- 1 cup unsweetened organic vanilla almond milk (homemade works great)
- 1 tightly packed cup organic kale leaves, stems removed and roughly torn
- 1 cup organic blueberries (frozen or fresh)
- 1 organic banana
- 1-2 soft medjool dates (optional, or other sweetener of your choice, like maple syrup, honey, etc)
- 1 small handful of ice cubes
Add all of the ingredients to a high speed blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.
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Coconut Mango Banana Smoothie – Gluten-free, Vegan + Refined Sugar-free
Not only did I live through my first run on Thursday evening, but I even went again today! So far, so good, I’m actually really enjoying it and I wasn’t even sore after. I definitely need to take it slowly and not try to do too much, but I could already see a slight improvement from my first run to the second.
In addition to adding running to my weekly fitness routine, I also decided I am going to try to wake up every morning at 6am (or thereabouts). I have found I am quite productive in the morning hours, so I really should be getting up as early as I can. With the sun already being up that early this time of year, it’s actually quite easy. I’ve done it every day this week since we returned home and I’m loving it. Even if I don’t jump right out of bed, at least I’m awake and getting my day started.
This morning I was up at 6 am and out of the house by 8:00 for a 90-minute vinyasa yoga class at East Meets West. Then I got home, grabbed my hubby and my iPod and we went for a 2-mile run together. It felt great to run after being nice and stretched out from yoga. I was hungry but I really didn’t have a huge appetite for a big meal after doing all of that. Since I had an afternoon’s worth of house cleaning to do, I decided to make this deliciously satisfying smoothie and it kept me full for many hours after while I washed flours, did dishes and cleaned the bathtub.
This filling and creamy little drink is so smooth and thick, almost milk-shake like. The flavor from the mango and banana are so bright and fresh which pairs so nice with the smooth creamy taste of the coconut and vanilla. I had grabbed a carton of unsweetened almond milk/coconut milk blend at the store the other day so I used that, but you could use straight coconut milk , almond milk or whatever your favorite non-dairy milk is.
[print_this]Coconut Mango Banana Smoothie – Gluten-free, Vegan + Refined Sugar-free
serves 1- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk / coconut milk blend (or any other non-dairy milk)
- 1 organic mango, sliced
- 1 organic banana, peeled
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or any other sweetener of your choice, dates, stevia, hone, raw sugar, etc)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin coconut oil
- 1 handful of ice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 tablespoon unsweetened coconut flakes for topping, optional
Add all of the ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth and creamy. Serve immediately. Sprinkle some coconut flakes on top, if you wish.
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Vanilla Banana Chai Smoothie – Gluten-free + Vegan
So, this is a short but sweet post. I actually didn’t plan on creating this recipe, it just kinda happened. Hence the single haphazard looking photos! But this was too good not to share. Sunday night I made some homemade raw vanilla almond milk. It had actually been a while since I have made it. I forgot how easy it is and how amazing it tastes. I also made my chai concentrate late last week. When I got home from yoga Monday morning, I was in a bit of a rush to get something into my tummy and to get upstairs to get to work so I thought up the idea of a banana chai smoothie. Once again, like the socca I made last week, I am not sure why I haven’t done this sooner. What a lovely combination of flavors, the rich vanilla flavor, the creaminess from the almond milk and the banana, the subtle nutty flavor and all those delicious spices! YUM!
It has actually been a while since I made almond milk at home. Even though it is super simple, I somehow always talk myself out of it when I am at the store looking at the bulk raw almonds, contemplating it. Somehow it seems easier and quicker to just grab a carton of my favorite organic unsweetened almond milk. Then when I do find the time to make it and take one sip, I remember that it is totally worth it. This time, I also finally made an effort to do something with the leftover almond pulp from making the almond milk. I made some delicious vanilla “sugar” cookies drizzled with chocolate, with just a few additional ingredients besides the almond pulp. Look for that recipe later in the week.
If you don’t have chai concentrate at home, see the note at the bottom of the recipe for a suggested alternative. I think it would work just great.
[print_this]Vanilla Banana Chai Smoothie – Gluten-free + Vegan
serves 1- 1/2 cup chai concentrate*
- 1/2 cup vanilla almond milk
- 1 organic banana
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 handful of ice
- Sweetener of your choice, to taste, if your chai and almond milk aren’t sweetened – a bit of maple syrup or a few drops of liquid stevia would be perfect, you could also add 1 or 2 pitted dates
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Add everything but the cinnamon and nutmeg to the blender and process until smooth and creamy. Pour into your glass and shake a little cinnamon and nutmeg over top. Serve immediately.
*Note – if you don’t have chai concentrate on hand, you could probably just brew a strong cup of chai using a tea bag. I would suggest just adding about 1/2 cup of boiling water to a mug with your favorite chai tea bag, removing the tea bag after it steeps long enough to be a strong dark cup of tea, then chill it and then add it to the smoothie. Or maybe you are inspired to just go with straight almond milk and add some classic ground chai spices themselves to the smoothie like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, etc. Play around and let me know if you try any of those either variations.
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Blueberry Ginger Almond Milk Smoothie
After a week at the beach, filled with friends, food, beach fires, sun and of course, cocktails, I wanted to treat my body to a 10-day cleanse when I got home. Mostly it was because I felt like I had eaten more meat, cheese and alcohol than normal. Though I stayed away from the junk food, the processed crap and yucky meats, I definitely got ice cream one night and may have had a smore or two around the fire over the week. I could feel that sluggish feeling and I knew that meant my body needed some cleaning up. I decided on top of my usual gluten-free, no processed foods lifestyle, I was going to avoid meat, dairy, sugar, caffeine and alcohol for 10 days. I am on day 5 and I am glad I made the decision to do this quick cleanse. Since I did the 30-day cleanse a few months ago and there is little detox I had to go through this time around, in a way, this feels like a breeze. Though, I am not going quite as strict as the last time, I know that just avoiding the major things will make a huge difference in the way I feel. For me, when I cleanse, I try to focus on eating a lot of vegetables, healthy grains and legumes. I go light on the fruits and healthy oils, but I don’t cut them out completely. I hope to cleanse again at the change of the seasons, but it will depend on how my body is feeling. I also really try to include a lot of spices and herbs in my meals, since they are great natural detox and healing aids and are really helpful for purifying your digestive system. I had some ginger in the fridge and thought it would be a great addition to this smoothie. Ginger is warming and promotes digestion and has been used for centuries to aid in gastrointestinal distress. It is also known to boost the immune system and is an effective remedy for coughs, congestion and sore throat.
Most almond milks have a sweetener of some sort added, I try to find one with the least amount of sweetener, I have yet to find one without any. The organic almond milk I used was very lightly sweetened with evaporated cane juice, so this smoothie didn’t need any sweetener added, but if you wish, you could add 1/2 – 1 teaspoon of organic raw honey or whatever your sweetener of choice is. Homemade almond milk is also an option. I came across this recipe on So Good and Tasty for Homemade Almond Milk and I plan to try making it very soon. The nice thing about making your own almond milk is you can control the amount of sweetness and you can even use the pulp from the nuts for a spread.
I have made this smoothie a couple of times this week and not only is it a filling and tasty breakfast, it has definitely helped with the sweet cravings I had early on.
Blueberry Ginger Almond Milk Smoothie
serves 11 – 1 1/2 cups organic almond milk (I used vanilla flavored)
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 – 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely minced
a few ice cubesPut all the ingredients in the blender, blend until smooth. Add more almond milk or ice as necessary.
