Why You Experiment with smoothies!

So the other day when I got home from the gym, I started making my protein shake, and decided to mix it up a little. I love trying new things, and sometimes when you mix weird ingredients together, you get something amazing. Other times, your drink is nasty and you swear to never tell a soul you tried such a horrid combination. That's what I thought I would have the other night. Here's how my smoothie started:

• A lot of the time, I will put greek yogurt and almond milk as my smoothie staples. 
• I've been seeing people add oatmeal and decided to give it a go.
• I've never put pears in my smoothie, but had one in the fridge so I cut it up and added it.
• Sometimes when I make smoothies with oranges, I'll add in ginger and I love it, so in it went. I use a ginger paste, by the way. So much easier.
• Then I got to my last ingredient- another must-have staple. My chocolate vegan protein from Arbonne. Pears, chocolate, and ginger? I would have bet my first-born child (if I actually had kids) that it was be disgusting and going down the drain.

End result- it was AHHHH-MAZING. It definitely tasted different, but I will for sure make it again. Don't be afraid to try new things- you never know what you're missing out on!

Vegan Protein

Recently, I have switched off of my whey protein to vegan. Am I totally vegan? Heck no! I love meat. This protein source is the bomb though! (are people still saying the bomb? ...hmm)

I switched to Arbonne Essentials Chocolate Protein Mix. 

At first I was a little skeptical how it was going to taste, and I'm not going to lie...it has a different taste to it. Its pretty dang good though! And way better than whatever beefhead crap my brother drinks after his workouts. 

So here's why I like it-

When it says vegan, it is actually a pea protein- made of pea, rice, and cranberry proteins. Sounds strange, I know, but it is highly absorbable and easily digestible. When the pea protein is combined with the cranberry and rice proteins, it provides a full amino acid score- very important! Pea protein provides essential amino acids and is a good source of the amino acids arginine and glutamine (those words sound familiar, my fitness enthusiasts?). It is also a good source of glutamic acid and branched chain amino acids (leucine + valine + isoleucine). Arginine participates in the supply of nitric acid and branched chain amino acids, which are essential amino acids that need to be supplied by the diet. 

In this protein, there are 20 grams of protein (which has been proven is the amount your body needs after a good workout!) and 21 essential vitamins and minerals and plenty of other beneficial nutrients. Also included in the ingredients are coenzyme 20 and ginseng. 

It contains no artificial sweeteners, colors or flavors; as well as no cholesterol. It is also forumulated with no gluten or fructose. That is awesome! I hate when all these big name whey proteins boast about all the good stuff in their product, but fail to mention all the chemicals they add. NO THANKS!

Here are some other sources you can find vegan protein-

• legumes
• nuts and seeds (almonds, cashews, filberts, hemp seeds, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts-black)
• spirulina (nutrient-rich, blue-green algae)