Smoothies:

Banana Colada

An unexpected variation on a Caribbean classic!

  • Nutritional Information:
  • Calories: 215
  • Protein: 22g
  • Carbohydrates: 22.7g
  • Fat: 3.6g
  • Sodium: 730mg
  • Ingredients: 
  • 8 oz container OPTIFAST® 800 Ready to Drink (RTD) French Vanilla
  • 1 medium banana, sliced*
  • ¼ tsp coconut extract
  • ¼ tsp banana extract
  • 1 cup ice

Directions:
Pour OPTIFAST 800 RTD, sliced banana, extracts and ice in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Makes 1 Serving

*Use frozen fruit for a thicker beverage.



Butter Rum Shake

This recipe puts the brakes on calories but goes full-throttle on flavor.

  • Nutritional Information:
  • Calories: 190
  • Protein: 14g
  • Carbohydrates: 28g
  • Fat: 3g
  • Sodium: 520mg
  • Ingredients 
  • 8 oz container OPTIFAST® 800 Ready to Drink Vanilla
  • 4 tsp butterscotch sugar-free pudding mix
  • ¼ tsp rum extract

Directions:
Pour OPTIFAST Vanilla into a container with a tight-fitting lid. Stir in pudding mix with a fork or wire whip until dissolved. Add rum extract. Cover container with lid and shake vigorously for 20 - 30 seconds. Pour into a glass. Garnish with a dash of cinnamon, if desired. Enjoy!

Makes 1 Serving

Note: Shake will slowly thicken over time so try to consume beverage within 5-10 minutes after preparing.


  
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Yes, chew your food!

An abstract presented at the 2011 European Association for the Study of Diabetes suggests that thorough chewing stimulates the release of two intestinal peptides that reduce appetite and food intake in obese individuals.  In a study of obese non-diabetic individuals, thorough chewing stimulated postprandial increases of plasma glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and peptide YY (PYY), both of which are secreted by intestinal L cells.

It was reported that the postprandial plasma levels of both hormones were statistically significantly higher after chewing 30 times than after chewing 5. This suggests that thorough chewing of food might have a clinically meaningful effect in controlling body weight in obese individuals. 

Once again, mom was right.  Slow down, don’t talk with your mouth full and chew your food before you swallow….


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