Hello my almond butter loving friends. If you're new to HEAB, you may like to subscribe to my RSS feed or receive my posts via email. Thanks for reading!
Winners of the NuNaturals Stevia Giveaway:
Emily and Ozlen, please email me with your addresses and I’ll forward your info to the kind folks at NuNaturals (who by the way are very excited for their Rose Bowl bound Oregon Ducks!!!)
Let’s see, where were we…oh yes, the gums.
Smoothie Girl Deb changed my life forever when she sent me xanthan and guar gums this past summer. Thanks again Deb! And now, I would like to change your life by sending some to you. In honor of HEAB’s 1st Birthday, Bob’s Red Mill has agreed to send a bag of each to one lucky HEABer. Thanks Bob!
What are the gums? They are all natural thickeners, and trust me, once you go gums, you’ll never go back.
Rather than add more oil to your next homemade salad dressing, try adding a 1/4 tsp of guar gum to thicken the mix. Better yet, just skip your dressing recipe altogether and make this one instead. Then shoot me an email expressing your love for me. 
Mmm, Lemisoni dressing with roasted tempeh, avocado, and walnuts on a bed of spinach. My idea of a perfect salad! Then for dessert, make this…
Protein ice-cream topped with kabocha custard. I make the ice-cream in my Vita-Mix, and the gums are what make it thick. No ice-cream maker required. I also used xanthan gum in my custard. Again, LOVE THE GUMS and use them everyday.
I am no gum expert. If you have questions, please read Smoothie Girl Deb’s post on why she uses xanthan and guar gums. Deb is my gums guru. Allie over at Pimp My Protein Shake is also a fan of the gums. Please check out these ladies’ awesome blogs for some great smoothie ideas and recipes. You guys think I make some crazy things in my Vita-Mix? Well, I’ve got nothing on these girls. Trust me, nothing!
To win your own bags of xanthan and guar gums please leave a comment below telling me your favorite way to pimp your shake.
P.S. CD and I will be in Memphis through tomorrow night, and I’ll have limited computer access. So, if you have any questions, you may not hear from me until Sunday. Have a good weekend my friends!
{ 199 comments }
I am not that creative (yet) but my favorite “pimping” mechanism is to add nut butter to just about every smoothie I make
I don’t get too creative with pimping out my shakes, but I love to add any kind of nut butter or sometimes Amazing Grass.
I pimp my smoothies by serving them in the fanciest glasses I can find. Green monster out of a champagne flute? Heck yes!
This time of year I like to pimp my shakes with pumpkin, cinnamon, and molasses.
lots of spices and peanut butter!
Peanut butter or cocoa powder.
You know my favorite way to pimp my smoothies…chili powder!
Very excited about this one…I’ve become quite a gummy fan.
Perhaps your friends at NuNaturals would like to wager on their Ducks against my Rose Bowl bound Buckeyes?
I know Polly’s with me. GO BUCKS!!
i love adding amazing grass to my green monsters! the chocolate flavor is so yummy
I’ve been pimpin my shakes with pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, and cocoa powder YUM! Oh and chia seeds but those are in everything I eat nowdays.
Funny, I was going to post this even before I knew you were doing a giveaway. I recently tried protein ice cream but didn’t have guar gum. It was good with just xanthan! But then I found SO delicious coconut milk ( I used the unsweetened). I just did 1 small scoop protein powder with 1/2 cup coconut milk, 1/2 tsp xanthan gum, stevia, ice, and a little coconut water. (I think the key is to blend everything and then add the ice last. That way they gums prevent the ice crystals from forming as you blend up the ice). It was the fluffiest, creamiest, prettiest (pure white!) HUGE blenderful ever. I think it turned out that way b/c the coconut milk has guar gum and carrageenan in it. If you haven’t tried making the ice cream with this milk as the base I wanted to suggest it b/c quite frankly I was shocked (in a good way) at the turnout. Plus, it a good alternative for those of use who have trouble finding guar.
Thanks Ally, I’ve made the ice-cream with So Delicious Coconut milk kefir, but never with the unsweetened milk beverage. I will definitely try it when I run out of almond milk. I bet the coconut water added a nice sweet touch as well. Thanks for the tips!
peanut flour is an awesome smoothie thickener
I’ve been wanting to try gums for some time but whoa, are they expensive! Thanks for the link to Pimpin’ My Shake – I’m always on the lookout for new smoothie/shake recipes. My latest favorite way to pimp it is with chia seeds and lots of greens.
I was using just chia seeds and cinnamon to pimp my shake.I found xantham gum and started adding that.I can’t find guar gum anywhere:-( cc
I’m gonna say amazing grass meal…but ive got nothing on these girls!
Pumpkin is awesome in a shake! With granola on top
i use a good ol’ frozen naner in my smoothies… but i’d love to try some gums to thicken them up a little.
I just bought my first bag of xanthan gum last week and have been using to make heavenly pumpkin shakes (with rice protein, kefir and almond milk)…yumm!! I haven’t tried the guar gum…what’s the difference?
Jillian, The xanthan gum adds thickness while the guar gum adds creaminess. They work really well together. So yummy.
haven’t gotten all that adventurous yet….. almond butter is a must though!
I love pimpin out my shake with some maca powder and salted almond butter!
I would love to try the gums! I’ve seen xanthan gum in the health food store, but was a little hesitant… my fave way to pimp out my shakes as of lately has been with the Vega smoothie inusion. So good!
I’ve been dying to try those gums out! I don’t make shakes or smoothies too often but when I do I like to add pumpkin and cinnamon!
i’m also not that creative when it comes to smoothie pimpin’, but i do love the honey
I saw some of that at kroger last week, 9.99 for a little bag, and thought, – my shakes will just be a little thinner.. ha.. At least i knew what it was thanks to you!
The kabocha custard would be on the list of things to try if i had some though.. along with “no ice cream maker” ice cream!
I typically like metrx vanilla protein power to thicken, and it has protein, i’m guessing unlike the gums.. But im sure it doesn’t thiken quite as much either! There is enough room for both in my world though
FYI- The somewhat speedy elf will be making another race apperance tommorrow if all goes as planned!
Jacob, What race are you running tomorrow? The xanthan is so worth it. That bag will last you forever as you only use about a 1/4 tsp at a time.
Lovin’ that ice cream creation!
Pimp out smoothie method = adding luscious medjool dates.
Ooh I’v been wanting to try the gums ever since your first post about them! I usually pinp my shakes with lots of different kinds of greens. Also I love pumpkin and vanilla and using different spices.
I love to add pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice to a banana/pear/greens smoothie! Tastes like pumpkin pie!
spinach and chia seeds are as ‘crazy’ as i’ve gotten so far! i have been really wanting to try those gums, i just cant seem to spend $15+ per bag :/
i don’t do nearly enough pimping, but these gums would certainly get me going!! i have started putting fun things like avocado in them, thanks to you
Not adventurous but i like the chocolate protein poweder and almond butter combination in my smoothies!
I like to pimp my smoothies up with pumpkin pie spice! Actually I almost always make Green Monsters with spinach and some sort of spice for the added flavor.
A little bit of cinnamon and some NuNaturals vanilla liquid stevia can make any smoothie amazing!!
Don’t do anything too exciting to my shakes…always use a base of spinach + frozen nanner + almond butter though!
Holly S. Almond butter is always exciting!
I actually never drink shakes–but I’d imagine nut butters make for delicious pimpology
A little bit of flax seeds sprinkled on top!
I put tons of organic frozen strawberries in my shake and put it in nice stemware. It makes it 100% better!!
I would love to try the gums! Mainly for my mom because she was just required to go on a gluten free diet and the gums are in a lot of recipes we’ve been finding. Hope to Win!!
I pimp my vanilla shakes with spinach and chia seeds! And sometimes hemp oil! If I’m having a chocolate protein shake I like to pimp that one up with some decaf instant coffee powder so that I comes out like a Frappaccino. (A Shari “cheap-accino”!)
Have a great Friday!
I have been dying to try out gums myself! I’ve seen how you’ve used them and I’ve been wanting to try them out ever since… they would work great in my smoothies!
well, i usually add about 2 teaspoon of sugarfree strawberry jam for better flavor and some ground flexseed
I’ve wanted to try the gums, but haven’t been able to find them! I pimp my smoothies by adding rolled oats to the mix; it makes the smoothie thick and gives them staying power!
I am so boring and my shakes are usually pretty tame. Fruit smoothies or green monsters. But I love reading about how Deb uses the gums and would def love to try them!
frozen bananas-yum!
I’ve been dying to try these gums for my vegan ice cream creations! My shakes are pretty standard – frozen nana, spinach, almond milk, almond butter, brown rice protein.. but I feel like a pimp when I drink it, so that’s all that matters right?
Best way to a pimp a shake is with frozen banana – makes it so creamy and delicious!
Have fun in Memphis!
I really want to try those fabulous gums you speak of. Protein Ice Cream sounds like something I could like!
My favorite thing to add is chia seeds – i find it has a thickening effect, kind of like what I imagine the gums do…But I would love to try the gums to compare!
I’m not a smoothie type person. But if I did…I’d add any nut butters I guess? Gums – never really heard of them before – haha I’m too busy to keep up. Seems like there’s always something new. Have a fun weekend! You must be a Country music fan down in Nashville
EatMoveLove, Not much of a country fan. More of an acoustic rock kind of gal. Patty Griffin, Ray LaMontagne, David Gray…my favs.
i am a relatively new smoothie kid, but i pimp by using frozen bananas. and unsweetened cocoa powder. alright, alright!
Oh man I am dying to try the gums but don’t want to fork out the $$$ right now!
Lately I have been making mocha shake with cold coffee, 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder and some NuNaturals stevia. It’s amazing! The perfect morning pick me up!
I find i have to have a frozen banana in my shakes, make it thick and yummy! However, you given me a thought about these gums! I’ve never tried them and would love to see what kind of things i can make with them
i obviously pimp my shakes and smoothies with spinach and pumpkin. tis the season for pumpkin pie!
lo
The possibility of making ice cream without an ice cream maker? Fantastic! I’d love to be able to try that!
Enjoy Memphis!
I’d love some gum lady!
Will the winner also get a free breakfast from you since you whip up the best pancakes??
JK!
I’d love for you to check out my blog – giveaway coming and workout songs!
http://katiechangesforkatie.blogspot.com/
Katie
Okay, mine is a little odd, I like to use egg whites that come in the carton. It adds a lot of protein which helps keep me full, and the carton says it’s pasturized…
Been meaning to check out the gums, but I admit the price has been preventing me from buying. What it I dont like them??
Lanie, If you don’t like them, you can send your gums to me. I’ll make you a batch of Oaties – we can trade.
Oooh, ooh, me! I really want to like smoothies but I don’t feel like they are filling because they are so thin. What’s the difference between the two types and their uses?
Chelsea, The xanthan gums adds thickness while the guar gum will make your smoothie more creamy, and they work really well together. Definitely will not get a “thin” smoothie with the gums!
I”m a pimp shake virgin, I’d like some gum to try to learn how to make some!
I love adding chia to my smoothies. But now I will have to check out the blogs you mentioned and the gums.
I normally throw in bananas or pumpkin … I’ve never used gums in a shake, but I’m itching to try it!
Awesome giveaway! I have been intrigued by your gums for some time now. I am a smoothie fanatic, my blendtec is my favorite kitchen appliance. I’ll try just about anything – no fruit veggie o nut butter is safe in my house.
Almond butter & bananas are how I roll. I have been dying to try these gums after hearing you rave about them so winning would be a god-send to my poor law school budget diet
Thanks for the giveaway & have fun in Memphis!
I am dying to try the gums! Right now I pimp my shakes with frozen banana. Deb says it’s about the same consistency, but of course I would like a lighter option on days when I want a simpler smoothie!
Heather – I am so excited about this give-away! I have wanted to try the gums ever since you sent me that very (informative) e-mail a few weeks ago. … I haven’t purchased them yet because they’re so expensive, I have to save up! hahaha…
I pimp my shakes by adding TONS of cinnammon, pumpkin pie spice, pumpkin puree, frozen berries and greek yogurt. YUM.
I never win anything!! My fingers are crossed …….
I always drain my yogurt over night in a seive lined with coffee filters to get rid of all the whey – makes it extra thick and creamy!
I would love to try the gums, but haven’t bought them because of the cost! I would love to try them in a chocolate banana shake…
Hi Heather
I don’t use gums myself. I have never quite gotten into the smoothie-craze. I lack patience for the cleaning, financial cost, or time taken to mix and blend things and prefer a chew. I do know that a lot of foods I eat have gums like xanthan gum and guar gum in them though, so I can see their use.
Another nice posting.
I hope you will not be a stranger to my blog!
I have been looking everywhere for these! I can’t find them and I desperately want to try them!
Heather
How often should a person eat tempeh? Can I eat 3-4 oz every 2nd day? The whole soy thing drives me crazy! Good or bad?
Kathey, I constantly hear different info. on soy consumption. Eat one serving a day. Don’t eat soy at all, etc. I stay away from most soy products as they bother my stomach. However, fermented soy products like miso and tempeh don’t seem to bother me. Sometimes, I’ll eat them everyday for a week, but then I may not have any soy for weeks at a time. I go through phases. In my opinion, the fermented products are best. Processed soy products like boca burgers, soy dogs, etc.? I’ll take a pass.
Hey heather, awesome giveaway!! I love to add amazing meal pomegranate mango to my blueberry smoothies. Sooo tropical yum! Their chocolate packet with a frozen banana smoothie is great too
I know this is highly scandalous in the blog world, akin to taking money out of my Nana’s pocketbook, but I put silken tofu in my shakes. Mmm…the silkiness. Almost like I shaved my legs.
I love to add raw cocoa nibs to my green shakes. The slight crunch comes up through the straw and makes for a treat in my shakes!
One way we pimp our chocolate “milk”shake is by adding spinach and flax…oh so yummy and the kids don’t even know it is good for them! hehehe! I’d love to experiment with the gums. I’ve never used them so I’d probably look like the mad scientist in the kitchen for the first few weeks! hehehe!
Love, love, love Bob’s products! They are great! 
To pimp my shakes, I usually add some AMAZING GRASS!
Pretty much everyday, I make a mid afternoon pick me up…MINT CHOC MOCHA
1 cup cold coffee
1 cup ice
xanthan gum/guar gum
1 tbsp cocoa powder
stevia vanilla liquid Nu Naturals, of course
2 squirts of mint extract
Totally addicting!!!
Melissa, Mint choc. mocha – on my to-make list for sure!
I pimp my shake with tons of spinach! You don’t even taste it with PB and banana in it. Loves it!
Thanks for the shout-out Heabie! I’m really not an expert, but I have links to Wikepedia articles for readers to get all the 411. I have found that you need to play with the amounts before you get it right-as I’m sure you have discovered. Once you get it right, you can’t imagine smoothies without them.
Question for me isn’t what I pimp my smoothies With, but what DON’T I pimp them with!
Allie aka Protein girl, is the true genius though. Her site is a must-read for smoothie enthusiasts!!
Shweet!I would love some gums. They make you smoothies look so darn fluffy. My pimped out smoothies might contain kale or beet or coffee. I’m just learning that some extracts can be powerful too. Like vanilla or coconut. Have fun in Memphis.
sprinkle my smoothies with granola for a festive garnish
I like to use frozen nanners for more thickness, but otherwise I just throw in lots of spinach, and I’ve also thrown in carrots and whole strawberries including the stems b/c I heard there are a lot of nutrients there? Hmm…
I pimp my shake with some bells on my ankles! haha–ohhhh, you mean THAT kind of shake?! I like to add some espresso beans so I get all the nutrition with a kick!
Spinach is my go-to pimping ingredient-can’t taste it, and can’t beat it for the nutrients! (not to mention the bright green color does a lovely job of terrifying my husband!)
my favorite thing is Amazing Grass! I feel like it makes things automatically that much more nutritious!
I would love to try the gums!
Might sound kinda boring, but I think the best is just a plain ol’ frozen banana!! Gotta love the almond butter, though:)
Jenn
Honestly, my favorite smoothies involve just some greek yogurt and frozen tropical fruit. I’m not that creative. But with some gum I totally would be!
I just jumped on the green monster bandwagon, but before that, my favorite was chocolate protein powder, peanut butter, rolled oats, milk and ice…so good after a tough workout!
Really..the ducks? Come on! You’re looking at a born and bred Beaver. (I am glad it was a good game)
I’m pretty traditional – lots of fruit, maybe some chocolate…
Are you and CD going to Graceland?
Tiffany S., Nope, already been to Graceland. CD is here to run a race tomorrow morning.
I play it pretty safe when pimping my smoothies, sticking to nut butters and fruits and veggies. Your recipes always look so amazing and I’d love to step it up and throw in some of that gum!
I’ve been loving cinnamon on everything, and pumpkin pie spice. Thanks for this – haven’t been able to find both of these.
I love to add flavors of the seasons! Right now Im into adding pumpkin to just about anything! Pumpkin pie shakes!!
Unfortunately I don’t get too crazy with my smoothies yet … but I’m definitely willing to branch out and try some crazier options!
Count me in on the gums!
I would love to make an eggnog shake! I don’t drink soy or cow’s milk so there is zero options out there but if I had the gums I could make it with almond milk!
Thanks!
I pimp out my shakes with Cocoa and coconut
hmmm nothing better then something sweet in the morning. I would LOVE to try the gums though!
My idea smoothie/shake involves peach ice cream, but I also go for spinach sometimes
I use frozen berries and banana
Quite classical, though.
But sometimes I get creative and toss in cocoa or coconut or nuts or dried fruit that has been soaked overnight
Would absolutely LOVE the idea of trying the gums though…we don’t get them here where I live, unfortunately.
Hey lady I would love more gums b/c they’re kinda pricey and this would rock! I swear 2/3rd’s of the shakes I first made with my gums went down the drain as they were TOO Gummy!
I pimp it up by keeping it low key, simple, raw
Since I have a junk food loving husband and two little ones to try and keep nutritionally fit, I like to add Fruit and Veggie Complete powder from Optimal Health Systems. It is 6 servings of raw fruit and vegetables in each serving. A great addition to a berry smoothie!
Blessings!
Amy
i would love to win this! i always think about trying the gums when i read your posts but never remember to pick them up.
i pimp my shakes with just cocoa powder! i keep it simple with banana and almond milk.
How do I pimp my shakes … with cocoa and/or flavorings!! Nothing like a chocolate protein shake with a little peppermint or cherry extract. Of course, my newfound love for homemade nut butters take the cake, my favorite being almond and hazelnut! I am still branching out in the greens area, but I am salivating over Amazing Grass Chocolate Green Superfood.
I am DYING to try the protein ice cream, and am stoked if I win these gums! Thanks for doing awesome giveaways!!!
I go through massive amounts of baby spinach every week – but my favorite part of my green smoothies is the 1/2 frozen banana I put in.
lately im loving pumpkin, pumpkin butter, almond butter, and cinnamon in my smoothies! so delicious, like a pumpkin pie almond butter delicious treat!
would love to try the gums, cannot find them!!!
i like to add berries~ or ice~
i make mine with oatmeal to thicken them…
Wow, can’t wait to try the gums. Thanks for the tips! I think I’ll try your protein ice cream this weekend too….:)
How I pimp my shake: Well see- I’M the pimp, so whatever I put in my body is automatically pimped. Bam.
I’d love some gum! My favorite way to pimp my shake is to add bananas and cinnamon to EVERYthing. In fact, I’ve yet to find a situation that cannot be remedied by lots and lots of cinnamon. Mmm.
I like pimping my shakes with spinach. Does that count as pimping?
I’d love to win some gums – they sound so versatile 
Thanks for this post! (I didn’t know I needed guar gum too) I’m excited to get some and try it.
Shakes- I love a adding a little ground flax and spinach to any variety.
I am so sad! I haven’t been making shakes at home because every time I have to use my sorry little Oster it depresses me. Instead I get 1 a week at my part time job and pimp it by being a pain in the keester…basically I pick apart one of their smoothie recipes and then add my own twist on it
my current?
“Heavenly Hemp” which is Hemp Milk, banana, papaya, kale, bee pollen, & agave.
I stay away from raw kale whenever possible, so I sub spirulina & barleygrass powder. I also omit the agave and instead get 2 dates.
KaPow!
i pimp mine with vanilla liquid stevia! your amazing heather, thankyou so much!
I like to pimp out my protein shake with different fruits! Would looooove some gums though!! Thanks so much Heather!
I still haven’t mastered the perfect shake. I do like adding almond butter though.
You are so sweet to be offering all of these great giveaways.
I love adding pumpkin to my smoothies. Mmmm, so much flavor and nutrients!
I pimp my shakes with chia seeds and raw oats
Let’s see – cinnamon, chia seeds, Maca, Cacao nibs, nut butters. I could go on and on
Most of those were introduced to me by lovely blog ladies!
count me in
! i seesome possible vegan ice cream in my future…yumm
i love adding dates to sweeten my smoothies naturally. mmm!
Cocoa powder and CINNAMON. With rice and soy protein powder, vanilla extract, tooons of ice and some canned pumpkin + Stevia.
BOMB.
Pumpkin is awesome in a shake!
i “pimp” my shake my adding a spoonful of flax
My favorite way to pump my shake is peanut butter!! No chunky though, smooth!!
I have many favorite pimping techniques. I add pumpkin pie spice to basically everything, sometimes some vanilla extract. Lately I’ve been adding some raw oats right into my fruit smoothies for some thickening. Oh and chia seeds too! I’ve used guar gum before, but I’d love to try some xanthan.
My fav way is simple vanilla extract and lots of spices!
I pimp with Jay Robb.
i pimp with coconut milk and cinnamon in just about everything!
Thanks for the opportunity. I love adding PB2 and cocoa powder to mine..talk about a Chocolate PB milkshake!
I always add a couple spoonfuls of plain yogurt to my smoothies. The tartness always balances out all the flavours
I’ve never used gums before, and this would be a great opportunity to start! Thanks!
I like adding raw almond butter!
I pimp my shake w/ 1/2 tsp. matcha green tea powder and a slice of fresh gingerroot. It adds antioxidants from the green tea and ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory.
PS. if you add a squeeze of fresh lime juice to your shakes that contain fresh greens it sweetens up the greens naturally and you can use less fruit! =)
Thanks for the lime tip Kelly. That’s great!
I love frozen bananas!
And ginger!
:>
I eat a massive smoothie every morning…would love to try gumming it up!
My kinda pimping=major cinnamon or PB2 powder.
I like adding oats to my shakes because it gives them a little bit of sweetness and more body.
I like to add banana and ginger , just like the spicy and sweetness from these two, and warms my body a bit
I pimp my shake with pumpkin and peanut butter! Woohoo!
Sheesh, Have I told you lately that you’re blog is kick ass! The food all looks so GOOD! Thanks for blogging!
Thanks for reading Lori.
I love adding coconut oil – gives it a little tropical feel
I have variations on my standard: 2 c. almond milk, scoop whey protein and stevia.
hazelnut butter + cocoa = nutella shake
pecan butter + cottage cheese = butter pecan shake
cottage cheese + lemon juice + pinch of cinnamon = cheesecake shake
Meghan, So attacking my hazelnuts when I get home. Need Nutella in my life!
My favorite way to pimp my shake is to add lots of ground flax and frozen spinach.
if heabs and deb recommend it, i am there!
Have fun in Memphis!!!
i haven’t been on the shake bandwagon long enough to reach the point when I begin “pimping” and trying new ingredients…I would love to try the gums and protein ice cream though!
I think I would make a shake/pudding by making it super thick and eating it with a spoon by adding the gums, kabocha, and yogurt
Inspired by your kombucha love, last weekend I pimped by usual boring shake with the guts of half of an acorn squash.. it was delicious!
sprinkle some freshly ground cardamom into a mango smoothie- so good and aromatic!
Hi Heather! This is my first time commenting (yay!) but Ive been reading your blog for the past couple of weeks – I love it and I totally think I would love you if we ever met
– you have such a nice tone!Anyhow I was backtracking slightly and your protein increase post – this is EXACTLY what is going on with me. Overweight for most of my teens, lost a sinificant amount of weight a few years ago, was a bit too thin at first and am now at the slim end of normal. I have had about 3 periods in 5 years. They thought I had dermoid cysts, they thought I had PCOS and now they just dont know. I am basically (just like you!) told to go on BCP and if I dont want to do that to maybe come back for another PCOS test in a few months – ugh! Essentially no doctors can agree because some scans show cysts and some dont (I KNOW!) – and Im not overweight or really that prone to it, and I never got bad PMS etc. I dont want kids right not but my boyfriend and I would definitely love them in the future – and I also just want to know what the heck is going on!
. I will definitely let you know if ANYTHING works – but if theres any way you could update us if you find an answer i would be SO grateful t YOU! I really wish you all the best luck and hope its somewhere near as comforitng for you to know there is some else with the exact same issue! Lots of Love x
Interesingly though – like you I am a whole-carbaholic I used to be a sugar addict ( i was never really a fast food person) and now I just live for toast, peanut butter and pur fruit jam. In trying to find any common factor the 3 times I got my period, I do think I eating more protein (partic animal!) was key. I tried making my diet really high fat for a while and that had no effect so Im definitely going to try upping my protein and cutting down on my favourite sprouted bread and vegan cookies
Thank you so much Emma – it’s very comforting to know that you are out there, and yes, I think we would be good friends if our paths were to ever cross. Haven’t noticed any changes yet from a higher protein diet, but I’m sticking with it. I’ll be sure to keep everyone posted as I know there are others out there with our same problem. Best of luck in cutting back on your beloved sprouted grain bread. Why is it sooo good?
So glad you found me and thanks for reading my blog. Love, Heather
i love the question for this giveaway! i’ve been pimping my shakes with rolled oats, a dash (or two or three) of coconut milk and avocado!
Those girls are no joke in pimping their shakes! That’s awesome.
I put oatmeal in my shakes and if I’m getting really crazy, I’ll put some kefir in too. I loveeeee having shakes in the morning before work because I can make them at night. So easy and convenient.
I don’t know how to pimp a shake yet, but I’ve been reading your blog posts and trying to figure out a safe way to make some. I should really just order some rice protein powder.
Entering myself for the drawing..
Coconut oil, almond butter, hemp protein and banana… mmmm.
I’m really curious to try making the protein ice cream.
I pimp my shakes with steamed kabocha. It thickens them up and adds a bit of sweetness. If I’m out, I use pumpkin.
Oo I’d love to finally try these gums!
Lately, as you’ve seen, I’ve been adding cocoa and coffee to my smoothies. It goes with most combos, like blueberry banana, pumpkin, etc and definitely hides the green taste when I add spinach. It is also a great way to hide that crazy green color because for some reason most people find it totally normal for me to have a chocolate milkshake in the morning but something green and healthy is “weird” :p
Hmm… my smoothies taste so much better with a cube of frozen pudding whizzed in!! It makes it like a frosty…
Oh and for nutrition some wheat germ or chiaaaa…
And the gums are very food science-esque, right up my alley!!
i pimp with pumpkin!
I would love to try some gums. Usually I pimp with flax seed and currently pumpkin!
Berries, half a banana, spinach, and almond milk! YUUMMM!!! I love Bob’s Xanthum Gum! I use it to make everything from GF/DF ice cream to GF/DF Banana Bread! I’ve never used Guar Gum, though.
Holymoly, I must win this. MUST.
“Big Pimpin’,
shakin’ C’s,
yeah I be
BIG PIMPIN’ fo’ H-E-A-B,
yo yo yo,
Big Pimpin shakes are cin-na-mon-nee…”
In other words, I quite like to use the spice of the cinnamon variety.
i’ve tried your lemisoni dressing without the gum and fell in love, but i’d love to try the real gummy version.
hmm, i’m not a huge smoothie person, but i do love adding in raw oats. it takes the texture to a wonderful place!
my fav shake is with almond milk, banana (or mixed berries), chocolate amazing grass, a handful of spinach and a few drops of liquid nunaturals stevia. yummmy!!
Wow! I have been trying to find xanthan gum for a very long time! My favorite shake is a cocoa-banana shake with a couple of scoops of protein powder. I love the way that the banana makes it so smooth and creamy! Yum!
Almond milk and flax seed are my usuals.
I seriously don’t know what I’m gonna do with two whole days of no HEABs. But I guess we have to learn to share you with Memphis, and your hubby, of course.
Since we are gluten free folks we know all about those gums… they are essential for gluten free baking… they help with binding things together. Though I have never tried them in smoothies or ice creams before??? Only in baked goods!
Have fun in Memphis!
I definitely want to try the gums! I add in any greens I can handle!
I would love to try the gum in my tahini dressing,
Not really into smoothies. But I pimp blended salads all the time. Does that count?
Gena, That totally counts.
I like to pimp my smoothies with Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil and Hemp Heart Seeds! Yummy!
I have never tried gums~would like too!
I’m not very creative when it comes to pimping…my shakes nor anything else
for that matter. I do the ol’ standby which consists of frozen bananas, almond buttah, and flax (I know, boring). When feel a little crazy I’ll spice things up w/cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, etc. The gums sound interesting and I’m always looking for ways to step outside of my box. Although I may not actually step outside at least the thought is there!
i pimp with just about everything! chia seeds, extracts, nut butter… so deliciousss!
I don’t do anything to pimp my shakes, so clearly I NEED some gums!
I always have to have something sticking out/on top of of my shakes. Cookies, fruit chunks, wafers, chocolate bars…..
it may take away from the healthy aspect, but it’s so much more FUN!
yum. My favorite smoothie ingredients are raspberries and almond butter!
Always with the mori-nu!!! (and on an embarassing note, I’m like freaking sandra lee with extracts…..mmmm chemicals. Thanks food network)
I pimp my shakes with nut butter and as many veggies as I can hide the taste of
Pretty glasses! And sneaking in veggies
I love adding bananas!! And spinach isn’t bad either
I pimp with pumpkin!
I began pimping my morning smoothies with spinach last week … like other bloggers have said, really don’t taste it. Can’t find gums to save my life in our teeny tiny community, would love to be lucky!!!
I like to add macadamia nuts to a smoothie with frozen banana, coconut milk and any other fixins’ I’m feeling. it is high in fat, but such a great treat!!
I have been putting pumpkin in my smoothies lately. I am always trying to thicken up my smoothies with pumpkin or bananas or chia seeds, but they don’t quite do it for me. I would love to try the gums!!!!
Peanut butter all the way!
Hi Heather – new to your site. I eat virgin shakes. I keep them nice and honest with frozen strawberries
Tahini, banana, vanilla, honey and raw cacao. MMMMmmmmmmmm………..
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