Mocha Protein Shake!

I know a lot of you out there drink protein shakes/smoothies for breakfast. I do too, when it's warm outside. Lately, I've been doing an actual strength-training rountine in addition to my regular cardio and I've been making a conscious effort to get plenty of clean-burning, efficient, plant protein in my diet. I'm not gonna lie, I've been reading this one magazine that has awesome articles and sample routines, but it really pushes the whey protein (which totally grosses me out). Blech. But anyway, I was browsing protein shake recipes on their website and I saw one for a "java shake". Java... hmmm... The shake itself was inedible (made with cottage cheese!), but the instuctions called on your to make up a batch of coffee and then freeze it in an ice cube tray to add to your shake.

Could this possibly be the most awesome breakfast shake idea EVER?

I immediately brewed a batch of strong coffee, let it cool, then poured it in an ice cube tray to freeze. Meanwhile, I thought about the rest of the ingredients for my shake, and I decided I wanted to make this one a mocha (coffee + chocolate) protein shake. The next morning, I popped all the ingredients in the blender and then danced around the kitchen in success. It was awesome. Awesome and almost 30 grams of protein. It was also just like an iced mocha (haven't had one in years!). Feel free to play with this a little to suit your specific tastes.

Mocha Protein Shake:
1 c. strong brewed coffee
1 (6 oz.) container unsweetened, plain soyogurt
1 scoop chocolate protein powder (I use Lifetime Life's Basics Plant Protein)
1 tsp. cacao nibs (optional, but makes it chocolate chip-y!)
1 tsp. cacao powder
1 capful vanilla extract (about 1/4 tsp.)
1/2 c. unsweetened vanilla almond milk
Sweetener, optional (kind of depends on if your powder powder is sweetened)

1. After brewing the coffee, let it cool, then pour it into an ice cube tray to freeze solid.
2. When ready to make the shake, combine the soyogurt, protein powder, nibs, cacao powder, vanilla extract, almond milk, and sweetener (if using) in the blender and blend.
3. Add previously frozen coffee ice cubes (I used six) and blend until slushy. Enjoy!

Protein breakdown:
Soyogurt - 8 grams
Protein powder - about 19 grams
Cacao nibs and cacao power - about 1 gram total
Almond milk - about .5 grams
For a total of about 28.5 grams of protein, about 285 calories, and around 8.5 grams of fat. That's pretty much better than any vegan protein bar out there! It also costs less than a protein bar and can still be made soy-free if you use something such as rice or coconut yogurt. (Lifetime Life's Basics Plant Protein is soy-free. It's a blend of pea, hemp, rice, and chia... and yet, super tasty!!). I haven't found a single vegan protein bar on the market that is soy-free. Of course, if you use rice or coconut yogurt the protein count will be less, but you can always boost that back up with some tasty hemp seeds (about 5.5 grams per tablespoon).

Ahh. Frosty goodness.

And since it's a "breakfast" shake, you could easy add in such things as a couple tablespoons of oats, or flax, or wheat germ, or a banana to give it a boost. Not to mention... it's already got your coffee blended right in!

Have a great day and don't foget to enter my Second Friday Giveaway! It ends tomorrow at midnight.