12 Aug Five Reasons to Start Your Day With A Protein Shake or Smoothie
Strolling through the business section of Barnes & Noble one afternoon I noticed four shelves worth of books on ‘How to Be More Productive.’ From one business coach to the next, they all seemed to offer on the same thing: organizational tools, apps and strategies for maximizing time.
But in Lifestyle Medicine we think differently. It’s not about apps and charts and organizing your To-Do list. It’s about starting your day off right by giving your brain the energy it needs. Prioritizing a healthy brain is one of the most important ‘productivity hacks’ you can give yourself.
5 Reasons to Start Your Day With A Protein Shake
1. Convenience.
Shakes and smoothies are easy to prep at night and make in the morning especially in the morning when there’s traffic, weather and drop off schedules to consider. Protein powders give you the same satisfaction as a full meal minus the empty calories and the hefty sodium load of breakfast sandwiches and sugary cereals.
2. Budget Friendly.
Count the cost of those expensive lattes and coffees every morning and you’ll be quite surprised at how much you’re spending for carb-loaded unhealthiness. The question is not whether you can afford to add shakes into your grocery budget; the question is can you afford to make yourself ill? For the same cost (or less!) you can purchase high quality, fat-burning protein shakes that help you feel full, energized and focused for longer.
3. Energy Boost.
High carb morning meals cause spikes in your insulin levels that result in mid-morning energy crashes. By comparison, protein is your body’s fuel source which means better control of cravings, mood swings and mindless snacking.
4. Creativity.
Protein shakes and smoothies are a wonderful way to get creative. Rather than the same old cereal, bagel and coffee, toss in one or two healthier ingredients like chia seeds or flaxseed or fruit and you’ve got another recipe for healthy in your hands. Switch those out the next day for coconut oil and nut butters and you’ve got a completely different taste with the same basic ingredients.
5. All-in-One Meal Solution.
With the right ingredients, protein shakes and smoothies are an all-in-one meal replacement solution good not only for breakfast but any time of the day. Meal replacement is one of many strategies we use in Mindful Nutrition Coaching to help clients who want to lose weight and tone-up.
Here’s one of my favorite protein shake recipes to try:
Blueberry Peach Cobbler
2 scoops TLS Nutrition Shake – Creamy Vanilla OR
1 serving TLS Whey Protein Shake – Vanilla
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
½ cup blueberries
1 cup peaches (sliced)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 graham crackers
**Optional add-ins: chia, hemp, freshly ground flaxseed
Want more recipes like these? Check out TLS Coaching With Angel
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