My Most Favorite Smoothie (good for you too!)

I love my smoothies thick and creamy, so thick I need a spoon with my straw! This recipe I saw and slightly modified from one of Ann Louise Gittleman's forum members. It is so delicious and will actually promote weight loss - if you have weight to lose. If not, you'll just maintain your ideal weight. Ann Louise recommends drinking one of these each day and up to two smoothies daily, for protein and weight loss.

Also, you can add more nutritious items to it such as milled flaxseed, flaxoil, ginger, etc. I choose to use these items in dishes other than my smoothies.

Items needed:

Ice cubes (5-6)
1 cup of cranwater (diluted cranberry juice - very low carbs)
1 scoop of vanilla whey protein
Stevia to add sweetness, a package or two (Ann Louise recommends the Stevia Plus brand as the healthiest and best tasting stevia)
1 cup (8 oz) of frozen berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, a combo of berries - organic is always best)

1. Throw 5 - 6 ice cubes in a blender and crush or grind them (I have those options on my blender). The ice doesn't have to be crushed all the way.

2. Add the full scoop of whey protein

3. Add the stevia

4. Add the cup of cranwater

5. Blend until well-blended (about a minute)

6. Add some of the frozen berries and hit blend again until well-blended. Stop the blender and stir a little with a spoon (make sure the blades have stopped turning!)

7. Add a little more of the berries and press blend. Stop and stir again. It should be a lot thicker by now.

8. Add the rest of the berries and blend. Stop and stir if necessary to get all of the fruit blended well. It should be very thick and creamy and can make about 20 ounces or so.

9. Pour (if you can) into a glass and enjoy!