I never know how I’m going to feel or what mood I’ll be in when I wake up, so I was glad to get up this morning with the energy and enthusiasm for a run. It always makes running more fun
I ran about 5.4 miles at a steady 9:30 pace. My pace has slowed! I think because I am running less than I was this spring (2-3x per week) compared to now (1-2x). Better pick up the pace!
I came home in my green tank to a green yard and felt a green smoothie was in store –
The Mix:
- 1/2 block silken tofu
- 1 banana
- 1 packet Amazing Grass Wheat Grass
- 2 handfuls spinach
- 1 handful ice
- 1 cup vanilla soy milk
- 1 tbsp flax
Bubblicious!
I actually checked out the Almond Breeze that so many of you use in your smoothies i the grocery store the other day. I used to buy it way back in my early days of weight loss because it was so low in calories. But when I examined the label this time around, I was shocked to find how low in protein it was. Now y’all know I’m not a protein pusher, but I’d rather spend my money on a milk with 7-8x the protein. Especially when you’re adding back in protein from a powder – who knows how expensive that makes the drink and less natural too. I know many of you are vegans and/or have a problem with soy, so perhaps that explains the abundance.
The differences in calories are simply a matter of different percentages of fat and protein –
AB (low everything) Soy (+pro, +fat, +cho) Skim (+pro, +cho)
I flip flop weekly between Costco’s soy milk and organic cow’s milk. Costco’s soy is about $12 for a carton of 12 and lasts us 3-4 months without having to “run out of milk.” I get the vanilla because it’s hella better tasting than the plain and 7 grams of sugar for dairy is not that bad. Looks like skim milk – or even 1% milk – might be the winner here for the most nutrition packed into a cup.
I had my smoothie with a small piece of toast with walnut butter and blackberry preserves
And would you believe there was a SLUG in my kitchen last night!?!?!?! Our roach problem seems to have subsided thanks to some roach spray I put on the doorsteps, but I guess the slugs are not deterred.
SUMMIT Registration Tonight. 8:00 EST!!!
Not sure if I’ll be blogging lunch from work or not, but I’m off to make a sandwich 🙂
Holly (The Healthy Everythingtarian) says
I still have to try tofu in my smoo-thays….thanks for the milk comparison side-by-side. That was such a good idea!
I have troubles digesting soy, so I try to stick to cow’s milk, almond milk or oat milk. To each his own!
Lisa says
Holy hopscotch that is a BIG SLUG!
I’m a soymilk convert – I’ve hated drinking straight cow’s milk since I was a kid, but I can drink a glass of vanilla soymilk easy. I usually get 8th Continent light vanilla.
Barbara says
Kath~
Does adding tofu make it thicker? I want to try it this weekend.
I miss slugs..they just burn into crispies here:(
katherine says
Your smoothie looks so beautiful! I think I might try adding tofu to my smoothie next time I’m at the store. I’m a little hesitant to have tofu AND soy milk though – doesn’t that seem like a lot of soy?
Can you tell me how strong the tofu flavor is in the smoothie? I wonder if it would still be good with no milk at all!
haya says
eeeewwwww
slugs are disgusting. possibly even more disgusting than exoskeletal bugs. i only like squishy things in candy form.
thanks for the comparison. i’ve never dried almond milk. it’s always seemed too expensive, and i’m quite happy with my 2%.
Recipes for Creativity says
I had a slug in my kitchen last week!!! I am so happy you had one too, because it makes me feel like it’s normal to have weird creatures show up in weird places!
Rachel says
I love So Good Fat-Free, which is 70 cal for 250ml (just over a cup), no fat, and 7 grams protein. Plus it has a consistency more like skim milk, which is a plus for me, since I hate the thickness of milk. And it tastes fantastic in smoothies.
Yum!
Abby says
Ewww on the slug action…I had a huge insect of some sort (it looked like a bee without wings) crawling on my bedroom wall last night and I was convinced I was covered in bugs from that point on…lovely.
Anyway, I do the soymilk/organic skim flip-flop as well. I can’t sit down and just drink a glass of any milk–I just use it in my cereal, oats, smoothies, etc.
Nutritionally, I figure it’s best to do a little of both and like you, I find the protein content of almond milk lacking a bit. I would like to try hemp milk (mostly just to say I tried it) but it’s WAY too expensive to experiment with.
Sarah says
I was just reading a book last night, and it mentioned the dangers of soy. Do you think it’s something to worry about?
Take care!
Sarah
Meg says
I would definitely prefer milk if I wasn’t allergic for more protein, but I am glad soy milk has a decent amount.
Yuck….to the slug action!
Krissy (Single Serving) says
My sister just started adding spinach to her smoothies and it’s so suprising how much it DOESN’T effect the taste.
And ewwww on the slug. It’s like your own little animal kingdom down there!!
thepinkpeppercorn says
Smoothie looks SO good!!! I can’t believe how big the slug is though!
Amanda (My Summerizations) says
I mostly use milk in my cereal, and I don’t like the taste of soy or almond milk with things like my PB Puffins. Plus, they don’t seem to get soggy from the soy milk which bums me out. I’m a skim drinker for sure!
Liz says
Hey Kath!
What’s the walnut butter like? I adore walnuts but have never tried WB–is it tasty?
Happy Thursday 🙂
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
Tofu sounds so good in those smoothies! And I totally agree with you about the not-so-great nutrition of the almond milk. I’ve also noticed that quite a few brands of almond milk don’t add in any calcium (such as Pacific Foods almond milk), so you don’t even get the extra benefit of that! Although it is nice for a change, I don’t buy almond milk on a regular basis.
ICK! That’s pretty gross about that slug! You definitely get your share of creatures in that house!
Danielle says
I was toying with the Almond Breeze because I think I might be just slightly lactose intolerant…but it seems to only hit me the most on my runs (if I had dairy within like 3-4 hours of a run). However yesterday my theory was blown entirely out of the water so I might just switch back to cow’s milk.
Nastiness on the slug.
Megan (The Runner's Kitchen) says
I prefer regular cow’s milk in my coffee, but for some reason I prefer milk alternatives in my green monsters and smoothies. Also, soy milk keeps longer in the fridge – I like that since I’m paranoid about sour milk 🙂
Leah @ Leftovers For Lunch says
I appreciate your comparison to the “milks”. I personally go with an unsweetened almond milk b/c milk tends to upset my tummy and with soy, there is a ton of conflicting research on whether it is good or bad for us so I try to just have it in moderation and prefer to get it in the form of tofu, tempeh, or edamame. I will have soy lattes from time to time because they are so creamy and delicious.
ellie says
I used to drink almond milk because of how low calorie it was, but not any more- I go for the protein and calcium!
Becci says
That’s a massively huge Green Monster!!!
brandi says
i loved the taste of almond milk, but I can buy an entire gallon of skim (16 cups) for the same price as the container of almond milk (4 cups), so I can’t buy it very often.
Plus I just love milk 🙂
Jo says
I used to get slugs in my house at uni all the time – We used to wake up in the morning and the carpet would be criss-crossed with slug trails – gross!
There are two tricks for getting rid of them – sprinkle salt on the ground (best over doorways or places where they might get in – their trails are useful for finding out their entrance!) or put a small bowl of beer in the corner – but these are both methods of killing them which you may not want to do.
Jo says
Just to say – I am generally anti-killing but we had a REAL slug problem!
Kristin @ Iowa Girl Eats says
Oh my gosh – the wild wonders of your kitchen…a slug? Too funny! Thanks for the comparison on the different kinds of milks – that is very interesting. GM looks super frosty and tasty too. Have a great day!
Kailey (SnackFace) says
Glorious smoothie! Still wish I had a blender! Thanks for the side-by-side comparisons. I, however, am vegan and can’t do the soy thang! I save my soy for other times in the day, such as in meatless meatballs or tofu.
Marcia says
Okay, I’ve been REALLY getting into the green smoothies this week. I got a new Blentec Total Blender for my birthday, which is today (tippin’ 40), but I broke it out over the weekend.
I might just have to try the Amazing Grass. I’ve been using spinach (and I’m with you – I use juice or milk in my smoothies, I’m not vegan). However, ouch! That stuff is pricey! Still might give it a try…
Great job on the run…I consider that pace to be very good for >5 miles.
Suzanne says
Thanks for the side-by-side comparisons, Kath!
I’ve tried them all: rice milk, hemp milk, almond milk, soy milk, cow’s milk, and now coconut milk.
I have to say my fave is soy milk. I was allergic to milk as a baby (imagine that!) and grew up on soy. Then I was able to drink milk in moderation, but never liked it. Now, I’m lactose intolerant. These days, it’s so great that there are so many options for people with allergies. 🙂
I would recommend the new So Delicious coconut milk in Vanilla. I’ve been hearing good things about coconut milk and it tastes pretty good. I like it better than hemp milk – which was the only one I couldn’t get used to.
Also, have you tried frozen spinach in shakes? I find that it saves you a step of adding ice.
Krissy, I agree – you can hardly taste the spinach – and you’re adding in so many good nutrients. 🙂
Courtney (The Hungry Yogini) says
mmmmmm….love the abundance of green!
Glad you woke up feeling great and energized…hope the rest of the day is just as great too!
Allyson says
I found a family of CENTIPEDES in my apartment this morning! Don’t tell PETA, but I for sure stomped the crap out of them.
Stomping a slug, though! What a mess that would be 🙂
Amy says
I actually make my own almond milk which is much more cost effective and lets me control everything that goes into it.
I’ve been trying to stay away from soy milk as I too have been hearing a lot about some possible hormonal effects of soy and figure I get enough through other means. What’s your take on all of the soy news lately? Do you think there’s merit?
Faye says
Eww, I hate slugs more than I hate roaches! I’ll take an exoskeleton vs. slimy any day!
Danielle says
Thanks for posting the nutritional stats for all the milks. I stick to skim milk (purely because I prefer the taste) but after seeing all of them side by side I think it’s the best choice for me as well.
Stacey says
Jason had a slug in his bathtub the other night! I almost stepped on it, eeekkkkk!!!!
I am totally in a withdrawal from green monsters, I havent had one in three days!! CAnt wait to be near my blender again!
Next week my vacay starts, hopefully we can FINALLY meet up! 🙂 Have a good day!
Christie @ Find My Weigh says
I have been working on consuming less dairy because of it’s connection with increasing sinus issues. I am not cutting it out completely but am cutting back. In this process, I have switched to hemp milk which I really like. It is expensive but the amount of money I save on allergy meds and the hassle of sinus infections is worth it.
Erin says
A 9:30 running pace is about where I’m at too (with the bum ankle). But I kinda like being not overly winded when running (jogging)! Good job on the 5.4 mi!
Jessica says
Kath,
While I respect your opinion regarding almond milk, I have to somewhat disagree. I think that while protein can be important to the diet, when using almond milk in smoothies, there are other means to add more protein versus using regular milk or soy milk. Also, ever since I’ve read news about the effects of soy consumption on fertility and hormones especially with respect to younger women, I try to keep my soy consumption to a minimum. But, I still do enjoy soy from time to time and use soy milk occassionally. Thanks for your view!
april says
I feel the same way about the protein issue! Almond milk just wouldn’t keep me as full as skim milk or soymilk I’m afraid.
Kristin P. says
The Almond Milk looks like a good source of Vitamin E though. 50% compared to 0% for the others.
Katharina says
That cup is HUGE!!!!!!!! I love it!!! Where’d ya get it?
Mandy A says
although I do wish there was more protein in AM, I have to stick to it… i don’t do well with soy at ALL and cow’s milk is questionable sometimes!! Just better suited for my tummy right now
Jennifer says
I have to agree with Jessica’s comment and add that most Americans consumer 2 to 3 times the recommended daily amount of protein. Our society seems to be protein obsessed even though we don’t need the large quantities once though vital for health.
Also, there is some new research out there about hormone level variations in men who consume a lot of soy (and not just the processed soy that has a bad rap). Last month’s Mens Health Magazine had a great article regarding. Check it out if you get a chance!
Morgan says
Thank you for posting this about the milks…I was wondering what the draw was of almond milk myself, though I am super curious to try some!
Thanks for your blog in general, I read it daily, and blogs like yours have prompted me to start my own, and focus on getting healthy. I don’t know how much weight I have lost as I have gotten healthier habits (I don’t own a scale, intentionally), but I feel really inspired by your blog. So thanks!
anne says
Thanks for the side by side comparison. Three cheers for cow milk!! We buy our milk from a local dairy who loves their cows. Less expensive than soy or almond too.
leslie says
thank you for posting this. i sometimes use almond milk in smoothies, but i never use it to replace milk i would be using as a protein source (like in oats, for instance). if i was having a smoothie for breakfast i would definitely use soy milk or regular milk too!
i’d really love to know your thoughts on the whole soy debate that’s going around. i understand the idea of watching out for soy (or anything) popping up in places it doesn’t belong, but people have been eating tofu, tempeh, and edamame for a long long time. i drink that costco soy milk too. 🙂
Mrs. Myers (Eat Move Write) says
It’s funny you wrote about Almond Milk today. Last night at the store, I picked up a carton to compare it to my regular 1% I usually buy because everyone is always talking about Almond Milk. I saw the same thing you did. No protein at all and so I put it back. So, I’m still a cow’s milk girl, for now.
Maggie says
I like the almond milk, even though it’s low in protein… because I like how 75% of its calories come from healthy fats.
I’m also lactose intolerant so I can’t have regular milk (but don’t like it anyway).
Rice milk is also an interesting alternative (the cheap brand at WF) but I can’t remember what the protein content in that is. Hm.
MarathonVal says
Thanks for this posting – just yesterday I picked up my first jug of AM myself (Almond Breeze unsweetened vanilla) because, thought I LOVE Silk light vanilla soy milk, I have heard so much hype about how we are taking it too much soy.
Hmmmm…. I too noticed the low protein counts though. I am still undecided!
Suzanne says
Sorry for being out of the loop – but is all this talk about the negatives effects of soy?
This is very disheartening since I eat so much tofu and soy milk everyday! 🙁
But if it’s doing harm to my body, I would definitely have to cut down….
Julie says
That is one hugh jass smoothie, it looks awesome.
I like the comparisons of ab/soy/skim milk. I’d love to start drinking skim instead of ab, but I’m afraid it would spoil before I could use it all, plus I assume organic cow’s milk is more expensive than organic almond milk, no?
Michele | aka Raw Juice Girl says
Oh my goodness, that green smoothie looks divine, Kath!! Yum-O!!! And, I absolutely ADORE Amazing Grass Wheat Grass powder–it’s fantabulous!! 🙂
A wonderful green morning… Yay!!
I am juice fasting so I had a pineapple-strawberry juice this morning with the berry flavored (acai and goji) Amazing Grass Green SuperFood powder–it was DELISH! 😉
*smiles*
Michele
K says
EW! That slug would have freaked me out!!
Thanks for the comparison of different milks! That kind of info is good to know!
Maya says
Thanks so much for your info on almond milk! I was going to try it after seeing it everywhere, but your analysis is makingme think again–as a vegetarian I can always use a little protein when i can et it without paying so much for protein powders!
Jess says
I’m a Silk light plain soymilk gal. I think it’s delicious. The low protein and lower calcium in almond milk is why I haven’t even tried it.
Jennifer says
I would also LOVE to hear your take on the soy debate that is going on. I have heard both sides and would really like your personal opinion (or some educational facts) on the topic. I personally don’t like the taste of soy but I have heard of it’s negative effects on babies and toddlers in the long run. Great side by side comparison! I love my skim milk but like the almond breeze in smoothies. 🙂
Jenn (www.j3nn.net) says
Yeah, I used to use almond milk in my cereal until I realized how high in sodium it was and low in protein. For a few calories more, cow juice or soy milk are the way to go. I also like Calorie Countdown fat free “milk” for 45 calories/cup. Only problem is, it contains sucralose and I try to avoid artificial sweeteners, but I’ll make small exceptions here and there.
Jenn
Hallie (Healthy Twists) says
I swtich between almond milk and skim. Almond milk does have certain nutrients like Vitamin E, and I also feel like it doesn’t bother my stomach like milk sometimes can. But since it’s so expensive, I use it more like a treat, and most of the time stick to skim milk.
Thanks for giving us your opinion, though. It’s interesting to hear what people think on these topics. And hey, when it comes down to it, everyone has to do what works for them!
Anne K. says
eew that slug is icky! thanks for the milk comparison, I didn’t know almond milk had that little protein.
Amanda @ Cakes and Ale says
Do you ever worry about the long-term affects of soy? I know the jury is still out on whether or not it can increase the risk for things like breast cancer, but I try to limit my intake because of this… the hard part is, I really love soy milk!
What’s your opinion?
Kyle - aka BigBItes says
I just got started blogging about food myself and when i searched food blogs your name was nearly first. When i saw healthy stuff- i cringed a little- i am quite the opposite most of the time. Anyway- i really enjoy style- the pics and writing are very enjoyable.
I cannot promise I will actually enjoy the recipes- but i will def try one of them out- doubt it will include tofu 😛
My site is all about having food fun for the family. I will be letting my 3 and 1 year old help. I guess it would be more responsible if I injected some healthy stuff versus red meat and grease all of the time.
Thanks again –
Kyle aka Bigbites
twitter @bigbites
Emily (A Nutritionist Eats) says
What a pretty green smoothie! Mine never seem to be that nice of a color!
Christina says
ewww, slug! Those are like the only bugs that creep me out, they’re so slimy!
Rosalie says
I don’t really care about protein content in milk (since I get plenty anyway, AND I eat whey powder!) but almond milk is too expensive/not yummy tasting enought o justify my purchase on a regular basis… Soy and 1% for drinking, whole milk for coffee/tea/recipes/oatmeal! 🙂
Sally says
I buy almond milk to keep at work because it lasts longer than regular milk. I usually just use a splash every day or every other day or so in my tea or shaken with some Amazing Grass powder and so I worry that regular milk would go bad before I would use it all. Also, skim/low-fat milk kind of weirds me out because of the processing it goes through to remove the fat.
Rachel (Rachel's Work Bites) says
Wow thats a juicey slug! I drink organic fat free milk (a glass each night) but in my smoothies I use almond milk. I put Whey protein in the smoothie so the Almond Milk is for add ingredients. I try to stay away from direct soy products (soy milk, soy protein etc). I’m with Jillian Michaels that there is so much soy in all our products already, and too much soy can over produce estrogen which could actually be harmful to you.
Kath says
Re. Soy,
My opinion of soy: unless you have a health condition that soy might have an impact on (estrogen-fed cancers, strong family history) then I don’ t see anything wrong with consuming it even on a daily basis. Until the literature points a strong negative correlation between the bean and some specific health problem, then I’m not worried. That said, I would not eat soy at every meal. But you wouldn’t want to eat ANY food at every meal, right!? Balance?! I also stay away from products processed with soy, but if you’re getting it in your milk, bars, beans, tofu, and more, that does seem to be an overload. I think soy’s history also says something for the food. If it were an artificial ingredient, I would be a lot more concerned.
Re. Tofu in smoothies,
The Silken tofu doesn’t really thicken it that much – but it is pretty creamy. It tastes just like soy milk once it’s all blended in. You can’t really taste it at all.
Liz ,
It’s just like walnuts! If you love them, you’ll love it.
Suzanne,
Frozen spinach has always been a little slimy for me, so I haven’t added it. I prefer baby spinach because it seems to be milder.
Jessica ,
Do you mean protein powders? What else do you add? Yogurt? I think it just gets expensive, that’s all.
Katharina ,
Homegoods? Target? Dunno.
Jennifer ,
I hear ya on protein – like I said, I’m not a pusher. But I think having the extra in the milk does help satiety, which seems to be a pretty important factor for a smoothie breakfast.
Julie ,
I think you’d be surprised at the costs. I haven’t broken them down, but a half gallon of organic skim is about $3.50 and that’s probably the same cost as 2 Almond Breeze cartons?
Kath
Sarah says
Kath, I’ve been reading your blog for awhile now but never commented. I just want to thank you for breaking down the nutritionals for almond milk, soy milk, and skim milk. I also see these milks used quite a bit in other blogs and I had a hard time understanding why one of those other milks would be superior to cow’s milk…so thank you! It’s also good to see that plain ‘ol milk is holding its own!
Deva says
Your smoothie looks fab! I loved seeing the nutritionals for almond milk. The lack of protein and satiety from rice milk (not one of your comparisons but someone mentioned it up in the comments) was part of why I stopped using rice milk, even though it is delicious, and now use local organic milk or soy milk.
ri'chele says
Thank you for the comps on the milk. You should do this professionally 😉 I have been stuck with the notion that I must add powders to my smoothies, I agree too pricey. Thanks for helping me out of my rut.
HUngrygirl says
Most people prefer not to have soy milk because it is so heavily processed and hard for our bodies to digest.
Kate says
Maggie, I’ve never seen a rice milk with much nutrition at all.
I personally use hemp (I say use because I can’t drink a glass of anything resembling milk no matter what I tastes like). I’m allergic to dairy and soy, and hemp seems to give me the most of what my diets lacks (B12, calcium, vitamin D, healthy fats). I use protein powder if I’m worried about the protein issue, but I’m much more concerned about vitamins than protein — especially as someone who knows what a severe vitamin deficiency feels like.
As for soy, if I could eat it, I would stay away from the highly processed soy products (the fake meats, some brands of soy milk, soy protein powder, and the soy that sneaks into much of our processed food), just to be extra cautious. The research about the dangers of soy is very shaky — and most has been funded by the cattle industry, which has a vested interest in negative soy research — but there is no danger associated with high intake of traditional soy products. Asian cultures have been eating such diets for centuries and have very low rates of certain cancers supposedly associated with soy or estrogen.
Lynn (The Actors Diet) says
I just used the unsweetened vanilla almond breeze in my cereal this morning, instead of the usual skim milk. it is tres delicious, but left me hungry an hour earlier than usual.
MelanieF says
I do agree with Kath on soy. I stay away for the processed soy products, but I do drink organic soy milk and almond milk everyday and I eat tofu every once in a while and I see no harm in having those if I do not have a serious health problem.
I personnaly don’t like cow’s milk.
Kristine says
Kath –
First of all, I absolutely LOVE your blog! I have been reading for quite some time now, which brings me to the question of how you feel about “off days.” You seem to work out a lot, but I am just wondering if you ever take days off! Thank you! 🙂
Kristine
Kath says
Kristine,
This is on my FAQ page!
K
Tay says
I agree, it’s the protein content of Almond Breezee that turns me off of it. But I honestly LOVE the taste (especially in coffee!) so I’ll make up my protein elsewhere. I switch off b/w light soy (plain or vanilla) and almond milk. Not a fan of cow’s milk!
Andrea (Off Her Cork) says
I just did a post about almond milk vs. soymilk! 🙂 I can’t justify almond milk b/c of the lack of protein, high sugar amount, and no good fats listed. It’s basically empty calories for me.
Love the cran-rasp seltzer! Mixed with some POM or unsweetened cranberry juice it makes a nice fizzie. 🙂
Sarah says
I hate how low it is in protein too!
And I think I actually heard that Almond Breeze contains soy!! (sorry if that’s a repeat)
Tamara says
Hi Kath,
Since you brought it up here, I would love to hear your thoughts about soy. I have been hearing SO MUCH awful stuff about it and I don’t know what to believe anymore. Since you have a background in nutrition and no qualms with it, it’d be great to know your perspectives!
Here’s an example of an anti-soy info video that covers the main problems: