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 If you follow many of my personal posts, you would know that I am a bit of a blender smoothie fanatic, and have converted my husband into one as well. We both prefer my all-fruit and milk alternative concoctions to the overly sweetened blends at our local juice shop. Nonetheless, I have always wondered where to get those juice store “boosters” for my at-home versions. It would be nice to find that something extra, which could propel my Vitamin C loaded beverages into nutritional powerhouses.
Enter…the new Vega Whole Food Smoothie Infusion. No, it isn’t full of that trendy ginseng or Echinacea. But, it is packed with “greens,” organic plant-based proteins, and sprouted seeds. From a health perspective, my interest was peaked, but from a flavor viewpoint, my taste buds were concerned. Could such a densely packed boost of nutrition taste good, or would it drown out my fresh fruit flavors? Curious, I trialed a touch of what seemed to be a very dense and moist powder. Not bad. Considering I wouldn’t be eating the powder straight, it seemed as though this may be a good addition. It had a slight berry influence, with grainy, yet neutral notes, not unlike a dense type of flour. With my taste buds on board, it was time to get blending! As a rule, whenever I first try a product, I follow the directions as precisely as possible. My own modifications are permitted after I gain a baseline for the product. So, I followed the Basic Vega Smoothie recipe on the package, using frozen raspberries instead of blueberries (which I had just run out of). I hesitantly added the one-cup of water that it called for, and alas, it turned out more like a juice than a smoothie. My smoothies must have some body, and I also like them a bit on the frosty side. Sticking to my rule only briefly, I gave it a quick sip to ensure that it tasted good (it did). I then added another ½ cup ice and ¾ cup of additional frozen raspberries. I have included my Modified Basic Vega Smoothie recipe below, which easily serves two.  I must confess, it was one tasty smoothie. Even my husband concurred as he downed his serving. Only a faint powdery texture could be detected, yet neither of us verbally commented on this. Otherwise, in our preparation, I could find no major influence to the flavor. It was so slight and a bit sweeter if anything. Though it doesn’t have the incredibly wide array of vitamins and minerals found in the Vega Whole Food Meal Replacement, the Smoothie Infusion was by far our favorite taste wise, and it still hosted an impressive selection of nutrients. Each serving contains a good dose of fiber, protein, Omega-3’s, magnesium, and iron…with a smaller amount of potassium, calcium, and Vitamin E to boot. The ingredients boast plants that would make any mom proud (think organic wheat grass, spinach, and kale!). The only caveat for myself is the smoothie timing. I typically have a smoothie pre-workout, early in the morning. Protein bogs me down tremendously on cardio, so I would hesitate on using a full serving of Vega when high energy needs strike. However, for a post-workout smoothie, a regular breakfast, or an afternoon refresher, this is an awesome option. All in all, I was very pleased with this product, and would like to make room for it in my cupboard of regularly stocked items. Unfortunately, for my personal food budget, the price is a bit indulgent. For now, it may have to go into my to ‘purchase once in a while’ cupboard instead. Nonetheless, I think I have found my new at-home “booster!” My Extra Notes & Tips: - The bag contains a healthy 15 servings (we split one serving on the first trial) and seems quite versatile. With no added sweeteners and a complete plant based background, it can easily be added to recipes for a greens “boost.”
- All of the Vega products are free of dairy, soy (these two alone make it worth its weight in gold!), wheat, gluten, corn, and yeast. This product doesn’t appear to have any peanuts or tree nuts, but they do not make any nut-free claims, so I would contact Sequel Naturals (the manufacturer of Vega) directly to confirm.
- The nutrition: Each serving contains only 120 calories and 1g of sugar. However, it does have 6g of fiber, 14g of protein, and a good proportion among its 4.5g of fat. Of course, as a vegan food, it is cholesterol-free)
- Ingredients: Yellow pea protein, organic hemp protein, organic sprouted flax seeds, organic brown rice protein, organic green food blend (spirulina, organic wheat grass, organic alfalfa grass, organic barley grass, organic spinach, organic sprouted broccoli, organic kale, organic kelp, organic dulse), inulin (from chicory root), natural flavors, xanthan gum.
Modified Basic Vega Smoothie This is my version, which makes 2 servings. For one hearty serving, cut the water, raspberries, and ice in half, and use 1 serving of Vega. Blend all of the following, and enjoy! 1 banana
1 cup raspberries
1 cup water
½ cup orange juice
1 cup ice
1 or 2 servings of Vega See the My Vega website for a host of great recipes using the smoothie infusion, including baked goods, energy bars, pancakes, and of course, smoothies. Where to Purchase: Vega products are sold in natural food stores throughout the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. See the main website for a store locator in the U.S. and Canada. Vega has a separate website for the U.K. It is also available to purchase online.
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