Dairy Free Sugar Free Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip Shake

Cacao nibs and mint blend together with nondairy vanilla ice cream to create a healthier version of the mint chocolate chip shake. By choosing sugar-free ice cream like So Delicious' Coconut-Milk Vanilla you cut out the dairy and sugar. This shake is creamy, sweet, and crunchy from the cacao nibs. This shake makes for a great dessert option or an after workout recovery shake by blending in your favorite plant-based protein powder.

Dairy Free Sugar Free Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip Shake

PopSugar Fitness

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1 tbsp raw cacao nibs - Could not locate cacao nibs at the store and used a 100% cacao bar instead.
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract - Used vanilla bean paste. 
• 1/2 cup dairy free vanilla ice cream
• 1 handful mint leaves
• 2 tsp Green Vibrance food supplement (can be found at Whole Foods), optional
• 3 ice cubes
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
• pinch of Himalayan sea salt

And Action:

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Thin out with more almond milk if needed. 

"Summer In A Glass" Cantaloupe Juice

I realize this recipe is seasonally challenged but so is this Texas weather. Cantaloupe went on sale for less than $1/lb. As mentioned before, I plan my juices based on what's on sale and the recipes I find... seasonally appropriate... or not.

An update on my progress for the Biggest Loser Weight Loss Contest at work:

I've had a workout setback since coming down with a sinus infection and now fighting off this chest congestion. My feet haven't hit the pavement in a couple of weeks. Even with the lack of sweat sessions I have managed to drop a few lbs and threw up a 2.8 lb loss this week. Aiming to lose a total of 10 lbs by the December 14th weigh in.

"Summer In A Glass" Cantaloupe Juice

Adapted from: Hawk Family Juice & Food Blog

Makes About 35oz

Stars of the Show:

• 1 bag romaine lettuce
• 3 pinches of grated ginger
• 1 cantaloupe
• 1 cucumber
• 2 1/2 cups pineapple chunks
• 1 lemon - Unfortunately my lemon was no bueno and I didn't pick any up at the store today. Boo!

And Action:

Run all the ingredients through the juicer and enjoy!

Grapefruit Celery Juice

Grapefruit juice is too tart for my liking which doesn't make sense because I love grapefruit segments. The only way I've ever enjoyed grapefruit juice is cutting the fruit in half, sprinkling with a packet of zero calorie sweetener, eating the segments, and then squeezing the juice out of the fruit until it's dry.

I haven't come across a store-bought grapefruit juice I can stomach yet. When grapefruits went on sale I added them to my shopping list. As I've mentioned, I'm really into juicing right now and search the Internet for new juice combinations depending on what produce is on my weekly grocery list. After searching for grapefruit juices I came across a recipe for this Grapefruit Celery Juice.

Two ingredients... that's it. This juice is tart but not in that face puckering kinda way.

Grapefruits provide folic acid and Vitamin C... which we can use more of with all of the illnesses going around right now. In fact, Little Man is home sick today with Croup. Boo! The celery provides potassium and sodium making this juice great for preventing dehydration. The phytonutrients in this juice also help reduce cholesterol. This juice is also very refreshing.

Disclaimer: ***Please be aware that grapefruit juice does not agree with some prescription medications. Check your prescription labels and if you have any questions or concerns please consult your primary care physician or pharmacist.***

Grapefruit Celery Juice

Space Girl Organics

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 2 grapefruits, peeled and cut into quarters
• 1/2 head of celery

And Action:

Run ingredients through the juicer and enjoy!

Pear Carrot Ginger Juice

We've began the "Biggest Loser" weight loss contest at work and we're 3 days in. I am 2 days behind due to a diet setback thanks to Wurstfest 2013. Saturday morning I was invited to road trip it to New Braunfels, TX to gorge on sausages and fried foods. That I did... 5 sausages on a stick, fried turkey leg, fried pickles with ranch, frito pie, corn on the cob slathered in butter and salted, fried oreos, funnel cake with strawberry topping, and countless cups of iced tea.

My food binge carried into Sunday with a stop at Einstein Bros. Bagels. I couldn't decide between a spinach florentine bagel with garlic schmear or the under 350 calorie bagel thin with turkey sausage and green chiles so I got both and a pumpkin spice latte. Sigh. No shame... kinda.

Feeling guilty about not being able to commit longer than 1 day to this healthy lifestyle change I made a trip to Whole Foods and loaded the cart up with healthy choices for the upcoming week. Juicing is something I've been enjoying lately because I feel so good after downing a glass of it and not to mention all of the health benefits.

Getting back on the wagon I pulled out the juicer. Here's to hoping I can stick to this for another month.  The Pear Carrot Ginger Juice is a little bit thicker than the juices I've made so far but this is so tasty.

Pear Carrot Ginger Juice

Brewers Organics

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 4 pears, cut into pieces
• 8 carrots, peeled
• 2-inch piece of ginger, peeled

And Action:

Run ingredients through the juicer and enjoy!