Getting Creative with Supplement Recipes
Albert Einstein once said, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination.” What if we could take our imagination and use it as a tool to be creative with our supplements? We all love food. There’s something about the way it makes us feel and the memories we take away from it. So, it’s no surprise to see some of our favorite foods jam packed with protein and tasting just as good.
Having trouble finding that creative spark? Try scrolling through one of your social media accounts for creative recipes and you’re going find something that catches your eye. Or check out the ones I’ve included here!
Protein Blizzard
One day, I found a recipe for a Protein Blizzard. Not only did it look amazing, but it tasted like heaven! It was the perfect post-workout dessert, and it was filling.
After making it a few times, I wanted to spice it up a little, or shall I say, sweeten it up. I added a scoop of Halo Top ice cream, a drizzle of Walden Farms chocolate syrup, and some whip cream on top – for fun, of course. You can take this same recipe and add your own twist to it. That’s the beauty of letting your imagination run free.
- Ice
- 1/3 cup egg whites
- 1 scoop Max Gourmet Cookies ‘N’ Cream
- 1 scoop Halo Top ice cream
- Walden Farms chocolate syrup
- Whip cream
Directions: Add ice (more ice will give you a thicker blizzard), egg whites, protein, and ice cream to blender. Blend until thick and smooth. Drizzle glass with chocolate syrup, pour blizzard into the glass, and top with whip cream. (Original Recipe: Jill Christine)
Pineapple Pizzazz Emerge Dole Whip
Now, think back to one of your favorite trips. Mine was a trip to Disneyland, and a Dole Whip to top it off. How in the world could you possibly make a Dole Whip healthy and make it taste any better? The answer is simply, Pineapple Pizzazz Emerge. Add one scoop of this to ice and some fresh cut pineapple, and it’s the perfect mid-day pick-me-up. With all the health benefits of the pineapple plus the fat burning, energy boosting, mood enhancing additives of Emerge, there’s no need for a cup of coffee.
- 1 cup of ice
- 1 serving of Pineapple Pizzazz
- Emerge
- 1 scooped out pineapple (save the pineapple!)
Directions: Add the scooped out pineapple, ice, and a scoop of Emerge to a blender. Blend until smooth and thick, pour back into the pineapple, and dress with one umbrella and straw.
Freckled Pro BCAA Strawberry Lemonade
Another recipe idea came from one of my favorite summer memories involving my mother-in-law’s sweet and tangy freckled Strawberry Lemonade. She always used fresh strawberries and lemons, and made sure it was ice cold. So, the moment I saw that Max Muscle’s Pro BCAA came in Strawberry Lemonade flavor, I knew I had to try it! Not only is it refreshing, but it’s a great recovery drink, and it tasted just as amazing as my mother-in-law’s did that summer.
- 2 scoops of Strawberry
- Lemonade Pro BCAAs
- 1 small lemon
- water
- ice
- sugar
- 2-3 strawberries
Directions: Take a glass and carefully wet the rim with a strawberry, then dip the glass into sugar, coating the rim. In a separate shaker, mix 2 scoops of Pro BCAAs and water together. Fill your glass with ice and the freshly squeezed lemon, pour the BCAAs on top of the ice. Top it off with crushed strawberries, and stir.
Peanut Butter Cups
How many times do you walk through the grocery line and admire the beautiful, well-lit rack of candy? How many times have you thought about taking your favorite candy and creating a protein packed version of it? My favorite candy, hands down, is Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. I got to thinking, they’re must be a way to make my own version that’s not going to make me feel guilty every time I eat one.
Sure enough, Pinterest was overflowing with ideas. My job was to find one that was easy to make and that tasted good, obviously. After trying out a recipe that was easy enough, I decided it didn’t have enough protein, so I added a full scoop of protein and it worked beautifully. I wound up eating them as a pre-workout snack before leg day, or I’d eat one as a post-workout snack to help restore my glycogen levels.
- 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 3 Tablespoons peanut butter
- 1/4 cup PBFit
- 1/4 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
- 1 scoop MaxPro Birthday Cake
Directions: Melt down 1 cup of chocolate chips in a double boiler. Then add just enough chocolate to the bottom of 8 cupcake liners to make a base. Freeze for 10 minutes. While you’re waiting, mix peanut butter, PBFit, almond milk, and protein in a bowl until thick and smooth. Once the chocolate is frozen, add your peanut butter mix on top, leaving just enough space on the sides for you to flood the cups with your remaining chocolate. Freeze again for a half hour, gently remove the liners, and voila!
Just Remember …
It’s always OK to question a recipe. Sure, coloring in the lines may look aesthetically pleasing, but our taste buds do not lie. Don’t be afraid to mix it up and make it something that’s going to fit your lifestyle. If you’re vegan, try substituting ingredients with vegan friendly items. If you’re allergic to nuts, try an alternative, like Sneaky Chef No-Nut Butter. Max Muscle carries a large line of all-natural supplements that are baking and mixing friendly.
The possibilities and inspiration in every memory and experience we have with food are endless, so the question is, what are you going to create?
By Lizzie Dollinger
Q&A With Lizzie Dollinger
MS&F: How do you get so creative with Max Muscle Nutrition supplements?
LD: A lot of my creativity comes from cravings I have and then the idea to make it with my supplements adds a bit of difficulty to it. Sometimes, it can be seeing a post that’s on my newsfeed, and then over time I’ll keep adding to the recipe or changing it, depending on what my sweet tooth is calling for.
MS&F: What has been your favorite recipe so far? The worst?
LD: My favorite recipe so far has been the Pumpkin Protein Cheesecake. I’ve already added a pumpkin sour cream topper to it. I think it’s just missing a good graham cracker crust. The worst recipe would be my recent attempt at making protein cupcakes. The consistency was horrible and I may have gagged a little when I tasted the batter.
MS&F: How has your husband helped you in your fitness journey?
LD: Albert has been my saving grace. If it weren’t for him, I’d probably still be the same skinny girl he met over 12 years ago. He’s been the constant motivator for me. There are days when I’m at the gym and I can only push 8 reps out, but he’s right behind me telling me to do 2 more. I remember when I had my wrist injury and I wanted to give up and walk out, he talked me through it. I could never thank him enough for all his support, but I try and give him all the support in return.
MS&F: What is his favorite supplement/treat you have concocted?
LD: Albert, hands down, loves his protein peanut butter cups. Between him and the kids, I’m ready to open up my own chocolate factory.
MS&F: What is your advice to moms who want to get in shape and eat right but don’t know how or where to start?
LD: The best advice anyone has ever given me was to just start. You’re not going to know every piece of equipment. You’re not going to know all the fancy terms. And more than likely, you’re going to make some rookie mistakes. The good news is we’ve all been there, so don’t let that scare you away. When it comes down to eating, do your research. My favorite tool was a list of clean foods I found on Pinterest. Also, get creative! Turn your favorite meals into clean meals. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
MS&F: What is your favorite healthy meal?
LD: My favorite healthy meal is actually a comfort food for me. Albert makes Spaghetti Zoodles with ground turkey meat sauce, sautéed bell peppers, and mushrooms. It’s one of those meals where you go back for seconds.
