This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Post Pebbles, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #PostWalgreens http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV.”
One of my favorite smoothies comes from a local place called NuVibe Juice and Java. They have an awesome smoothie called The Velvet Elvis smoothie. It is unique, filling, creamy & tastes like a decadent peanut butter banana smoothie treat. Nu Vibe uses milk, oats, Grape Nuts, peanut butter, banana, yogurt, whey protein powder and ice.
Since I don’t do dairy, I have them leave out the yogurt and use almond milk. They also use whey protein powder, which I have them leave out, too. I prefer a plant protein powder, if I use any. They end up adding more milk to make up for the creamy yogurt and also add more ice to mine. I can’t tell anything is left out. It is SUPER yummy, and so delicious that I had to recreate it at home. I’ve done just that, and love how it tastes and how healthy it is!
Did you know February it is American Heart Month? I am passionate about finding heart healthy foods. Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in women, and breast cancer is the second. Both concern me. I had chemotherapy that is quite toxic to the heart when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, and also had radiation on the left side of my chest, which includes the heart area. Keeping my heart healthy is key for my long term health and survival.
This smoothie is a great example of something that is super heart healthy.
~The peanut butter has great protein & heart healthy fats. Peanuts are rich in monounsaturated fats, the type of fat that is emphasized in the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet.
~The banana has potassium which is amazing for the heart. It is “an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function.”
~Oats are known to keep cholesterol low which is good for the heart.
~Post Grape Nuts is key to make this smoothie a filling meal replacer. Did you know Grape Nuts are now free of GMO’s? A 1/2 cup serving has 7g of fiber, 8g of protein, & 90% of your daily iron needs. It also has a high percentage of magnesium, which is the calming mineral. This is a big deal as we all know what stress can do to our heart health!
This is not a low calorie smoothie, but it is very nutrient dense. It really is breakfast in a cup, and will keep you full for hours.
Make this recipe. You will love it! When you do, make sure to shop for your Post Grape Nuts Cereal at Walgreens. They have an exclusive, in-store discount of Post cereals.
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 banana
1/2 cup Post Grape Nuts Cereal
1 cup oats
1 1/2 cups almond milk (or milk of your choice)
2 Tbsp honey
1 cup ice
Add all ingredients to the blender. Use a high speed blender for best results. If you don’t have a high speed blender, let the oats and Grape Nuts Cereal sit in the milk for a few minutes to soften. Blend until smooth. Add more milk if needed. Consistency is right when a vortex forms in the blender and contents move freely.
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Some nutritional information:
This recipe makes 30oz of smoothie, which can replace a meal and snack or share it with someone to cut calories in half.
1,210 calories (605 for 1/2 recipe)
20 g fiber
21 g protein
50% daily calcium
50% daily vitamin e
100% daily iron
50% folic acid
And lots more! High in potassium, niacin, and magnesium.
Enjoy the taste of this great smoothie and the amazing energy it brings.
(to cut calories even further, use 1/2 the amount of peanut butter, which would save you 190 calories, taking the 1/2 recipe down to 515 calories.)
