Whip up an iced coffee with our Chocolate Plant Protein for a healthy addition to your morning coffee ritual.

Rise and shine! Hit the alarm, shake off the covers and make your way to the kitchen. Reach for your favorite mug and get ready to sip on that “go juice” that’s beloved all over the world - yes, we’re talking about coffee.

We all love our coffee, but an overload of caffeine without substance can do more harm than good. That's why our protein-packed chocolate coffee recipe is the perfect alternative to sugary drinks and keeps you fueled for your day ahead. It's the ultimate pre-workout, or pre- “I have a ton to do today” drink. Plus, it’s much healthier than those syrup-heavy drinks from popular coffee chains do (we won’t name names, but you know who they are).

We understand every coffee lover has their preferred style - from black to milky and sweet. So we've got you covered with two versions, so everyone can enjoy our chocolate protein coffee recipe, any way they like it.

Pull out your shaker or blender, and cheers to a healthier, more delicious cup of joe!

Iced Chocolate Protein Coffee

This is the straight version - no milk, no frills. It’s simple, convenient caffeine with a healthy chocolate boost. Bonus: no added sugar.

Ingredients

• 8 oz cold brew coffee
• 3 tbsp Chocolate Protein Powder
• 1 cup ice

Instructions

1. Pour your coffee into a shaker bottle or blender.
2. Add protein powder.
3. Shake or blend until smooth.
4. Pour over ice and enjoy!

Adding protein to your coffee recipes is a smart way to get more nutrition in your diet and push you through your workouts, without a caffeine crash.

 

Iced Mocha Protein Latte

For the fancier coffee drinkers out there, this version adds milk and espresso for a smooth, frappé with added protein that will combat caffeine-related crashes.

Ingredients

• 2 shots espresso
• 6 oz milk of choice
• 3 tbsp Chocolate Protein Powder
• 1 cup ice

Instructions

1. Pour your milk into a shaker bottle or blender.
2. Add protein powder and espresso.
3. Shake or blend until smooth.
4. Pour over ice and sip away!

Prep note: If you’re looking for an Insta-worthy pic, mix your coffee with the protein first. Then add the ice and pour your milk to create dreamy, creamy clouds - just like we did!

With 15g of protein and 120 calories, our Chocolate Plant Protein is a no-brainer when it comes to getting more nutrition in your diet. Adding it to your coffee will up the ante of high-quality ingredients in your morning routine. That’s because our protein powders are plant-based, non-GMO and made with real coconut oil for a creamy, smooth texture.

So the next time you’re craving that morning buzz, add this protein coffee recipe to your nutrition arsenal and start your day off on the right path, all without stressing your adrenals!

 

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When was the last time you ate cake for breakfast? If you normally try to eat healthy, the answer is probably never. Well, thanks to our Red Velvet Smoothie Bowl, you can now have your cake and eat healthy too!

Ok, so it’s not exactly cake, but it tastes just like a creamy slice sans the red dye, sugar and calories. It’s also a thousand times easier to make than baking an actual cake and you can lick the bowl because it’s vegan.

This smoothie bowl is not only beautiful but it’s full of nutrient dense ingredients, a few of which you may not prefer to eat on their own, but you’d never even know they’re blended in here, like cauliflower and beets.

Just one serving of our Red Velvet Smoothie Bowl boosts your diet with:

• Cauliflower is very low in calories yet extremely high in vitamins, including 77% of the RDI of Vitamin C, 20% of the RDI of Vitamin K and  11% of the RDI of Vitamin B6. It’s also full of fiber and a great source of antioxidants.
• Beets also contain many important vitamins including folate, manganese, and potassium but they also contain pigments called betalains, which research shows may contain a number of anti-inflammatory properties. Beets are high in sugar, but luckily a small amount packs a nutritious punch.
• Raspberries are an antioxidant powerhouse containing 50% of the minimum daily target for vitamin C and a healthy dose of manganese, vitamin K, vitamin E, B vitamins, magnesium, copper, iron, and potassium. Plus they have less sugar than almost every other fruit and are full of fiber.
• Bananas are most touted to be full of potassium, and while they do have 9% of the daily RDI, they also contain 33% of the RDI of Vitamin B6, 14% of Manganese and 11% of Vitamin C. They are also rich in pectin, a type of fiber that can help moderate blood sugar.
• Cacao powder is full of naturally occurring antioxidants called Polyphenols that are packed with health benefits such as reduced inflammation, better circulation, improved cholesterol, and lower blood pressure.

If all those health benefits don’t get you excited, remember the aforementioned comparison to tasting like a slice of Red Velvet Cake. We’re sure you’re going to love it.

Share your smoothie pics on social and tag us at @lifesabundance #lifesabundance - we can’t wait to see your creations.

Serving size: 1

Ingredients

• 1 frozen banana
• ⅔  cup frozen cauliflower
• ⅓ cup frozen raspberries
• 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
• ⅓ cup frozen beets
• 2 tsp Life’s Abundance Plant Based Vanilla Protein Powder
• 1 tsp. Cacao powder
• ⅓ cup water
• Toppings of choice: We used chia seeds, bee pollen (leave off for vegan bowls), plain plant yogurt, cacao nibs, freeze dried raspberries, and sesame seeds.

Instructions

1. Blend ingredients from top to bottom and add your favorite toppings
2. Enjoy!

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Are you tired of the same old oatmeal? Does reaching for your go-to cereal box feel like a joyless act? Maybe it's time for a breakfast that will not only kickstart your morning with amazing nutrients but also make your taste buds sing!

If you're on Instagram or Pinterest, you know that smoothie bowls are the hip choice for breakfast ... and with good reason! Our culinary team focused all of their combined creative powers to come up with a seriously delicious smoothie bowl recipe. It's easy, it's fast and boy-oh-boy, is it satisfying! It may just be the perfect health snack. Make it for yourself or even, since Valentine's Day is only a week away, surprise your partner with this delectable bowl of velvety yumminess.

It's perfect for vegans and vegetarians who need extra protein in their diet. That's because our Chocolate Plant Protein is 100% plant-based, offering up a clean, nutrient-rich serving of proteins from our unique blend of pea, chia, pumpkin, hemp and quinoa. This premium supplement is gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free and grain-free, too! Just remember to use your favorite non-dairy milk!

Ingredients

• 3 bananas, frozen
• 2 scoops Life’s Abundance Chocolate Plant Protein
• 1/4-1/2 cup milk of choice
• 3/4 cup frozen berries of choice
• 1 Tbsp. nut butter of choice
• 1/8 tsp. vanilla extract
• Toppings: Shredded coconut, nuts or seeds, cacao nibs, granola, banana slices and fresh berries

Directions

Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until creamy and smooth. Transfer to a bowl and add your favorite toppings. Serve chilled.

Be sure to share this fun and simple recipe with friends and family! And if you create your own twist using different toppings, be sure to share your ideas and results in the comments section below!

You may hear the word protein and immediately think of a juicy bacon cheeseburger or a Sunday morning cheesy omelet. But, this macronutrient, famous for building muscle, comes in many shapes and sizes and has a whole lot of responsibility other than conquering cravings and “bulking” you up! 

Protein is made up of amino acids. There are more than 50 amino acids in the body, but 20 of them are responsible for protein building. There are 11 nonessential amino acids, meaning the body can create them on its own and 9 essential amino acids that the body cannot make by itself, meaning they must be ingested through foods. Most animal proteins, such as beef, eggs, chicken, fish and poultry contain all of the essential amino acids, and so they are referred to as complete proteins. Note: soybeans, hemp and quinoa are the only common plant-based foods that are complete proteins. Foods such as legumes, rice, beans and nuts do not contain all the essential amino acids and may be referred to as incomplete proteins. However, you can combine foods (think beans and rice) to get all of the essential amino acids and form complete proteins. And you don’t need to eat the incomplete proteins in the same meal! You need both essential and nonessential amino acids for your body’s cells to perform all of their functions.

Why is protein so important aside from helping us quash a burger craving? Protein is used in many bodily functions including cell maintenance and repair, blood clotting and the production of antibodies. It is the primary component of many body tissues such as skin, hair, and muscle.

Protein also provides satiety (feeling full). In other words, it is keeps us from diving into an ice cream sundae after... a bowl of pasta. One study(1) showed that people who ate 30% of their calories from protein versus 15% reduced total caloric consumption by 441 calories.

It is important to note that not all protein sources are created equal. We should aim to consume both plant and animal protein (if we’re meat eaters, of course). Animal protein should come from lean sources. It is recommended that approximately 15% of your daily calories come from this macronutrient to meet your basic needs. I believe a healthy diet may safely have as much as one-third of your daily calories from protein, and there is good reason to consume that much.

It’s easy to get into our own little adult food jags and eat the same omelet, burger or kale salad with grilled chicken again and again...and again. But, you should modify that breakfast for perhaps a protein-packed smoothie or tweak your lunch by nixing the grilled chicken for wild salmon or pork tenderloin. Switching up your protein will keep you from getting bored (and ditching your healthy ways altogether when you just can’t eat one more bite of chicken!). Also, when you eat different foods, you are consuming a wider variety of nutrients - especially if you swap out the rest of meal.

Here’s a delicious idea for a nutritious breakfast smoothie using Life’s Abundance Plant Protein powder. This 100% grain-free, plant-based protein powder is a nutrient-rich blend of clean, high quality proteins including pea, chia, pumpkin, hemp and quinoa. And at only 100 calories, it contains a whopping 14 grams of protein in every serving!

Avocado Banana Smoothie
Makes one serving with a prep time of 5 minutes.

Ingredients:
1 cup almond milk, unsweetened
1 small banana, frozen
1 tablespoon peanut butter or almond butter
1/2 small avocado
1 handful spinach, raw
1 scoop Life's Abundance Vanilla Plant Protein powder

Place ingredients into a blender and blend until you get the desired thickness.

Keri Glassman MS.RD.CDN

Reference:
1 Am J Clin Nutr July 2005, Vol. 82 No. 1 41-48.