A Simple Berry Smoothie & Simple Chocolate Shake

Berry Smoothie

When blackberries and raspberries are in season, I'll buy fresh at the box stores. I put the trays directly in the freezer and freeze them so they don't stick together and become mush and then transfer to Ziploc bags or vacuum bags.

This is a simple smoothie that is low in carbohydrates and tastes good.

Blackberries: 144 grams / 5.08 oz / 1 cup is 6 g net carbs

Raspberries: 123 g / 4.34 oz / 1 cup is 6.6 g net carbs

Ingredients:

Fresh or frozen blackberries
Fresh or frozen raspberries
Dairy or non-dairy milkof choice
Sweetener of choice
Thickener of choice
Protein powder (optional)

So all of this is subjective to taste but this is how I make it for myself and the boyfriend.

Frozen blackberries and raspberries, weigh it out what you want.

Dairy or non-dairy milk, I use almond milk, boyfriend mixes 1/2 heavy cream with 1/2 unsweetened almond milk.

Instructions:

1. Add berries and milk to blender.

2. Blend for about 1 minute or so, you might have to shake it if you're making it thick.

3. If you don't like the seeds, strain through a fine mesh strainer.

4. Pour back into blender add sweetener, protein powder and/or thickener.

The thickener will make it feel more filling.

1. Blend for about a minute and enjoy.

Notes:

Our serving size is roughly 2.54 oz blackberries and 2.17 oz raspberries (varies depending on the fruit size)

We use 1 cup dairy and non-dairy milk. I use 1 cup almond milk, boyfriend mixes 1/2 cup or 2/3 cup or 3/4 cup unsweetened plain or vanilla almond milk and the rest is heavy cream.

I use one tablespoon of sweetener in mine.

Boyfriend adds either strawberry or vanilla stevia sweetened protein powder plus 1/4 tsp xanthan gum, I'll use a heaping 1/2 tsp or so of flaxseed or chia seed.

Chocolate Shake

This is also subjective to taste and I'll include a couple of variations that I like.

2 to 3 tbsp unsweetened chocolate
2 cups dairy or non-dairy milk
Sweetener of choice
Thickener of choice
Protein powder (optional)

1. Add chocolate and milk to the blender and blend for about 1 minute.

Boyfriend uses 1 and 1/2 cups unsweetened plain or vanilla almond milk + 1/2 cup heavy cream. I use 2 cups almond milk.

1. Add sweetener, I use one tablespoon, boyfriend doesn't use any.

2. Boyfriend will add stevia sweetened protein powder, I'll use unsweetened to unflavored protein powder.

3. If I'm not using protein powder I will add 1/4 heaping tsp of Xanthan gum.

Using a thickener will give you a fuller feeling

Blend more and enjoy.

Notes:

Blending it more will keep the Cocoa powder from being gritty and grainy.

I've also used cold coffee to replace some of the almond milk.

Just a couple of drops of peppermint extract will give it a mint chocolate flavor, be warned use very very very very very little mint extract, a couple of droplets, It will go from yummy mint chocolate too overwhelmingly sickening mint and not in a good way very easily.