Chocolate Almond Butter Shake

 Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 2 tbsp. almond butter
• 2 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 1 cup baby spinach
• 1/4 avocado
• 1/2 cup ice cubes
• 1 tbsp. granular sugar substitute

Makes 1 Serving

1. Place all ingredients into a blender.
2. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 1 minute. Serve immediately.

WW POINTS VALUE: ? 

Note: This recipe appears on www.palm.southbeachdiet.com/recipes.  You can enjoy a chocolate shake in a new way.  The combination of avocado, spinach, cocoa powder and almond butter is quite delicious. Don't be intimidated by the combination of these ingredients. They actually taste delicious together. This easy plant-based beverage is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth while you stick to your low carb diet. 

Melon Slush

Ingredients:

• 5 ice cubes
• 4 cups cubed cantaloupe
• 1 1/2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tsp. granular sugar substitute

Makes 4 (1-cup) Servings

 

Place ice cubes in a blender and blend until just crushed. Add cantaloupe, lemon juice, and sugar substitute. Blend until combined, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately.

 

WW POINTS VALUE: 1 pt.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Quick & Easy Cookbook. This is what I call a refreshing drink or snack to enjoy anytime of day. This drink is better than the juice you would get at the grocery store or even a slushie you would get at the local food mart. You know what's in it and you can add a little more lemon or lime juice to the melon slush for a more tropical flare.

Strawberry-Blackberry Crush

Ingredients:

• 1 (6 oz.)  container blackberries
• 1 tbsp. pure maple syrup
• 1 (16 oz.) package frozen whole strawberries, thawed slightly
• 1 cup coarsely crushed ice cubes
• 3 tbsp. granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp. sliced blanched almonds
• 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. almond extract

Makes 4 Servings (3/4 cup crush, 1/4 cup blackberries & 1/4 tsp. almonds  per serving)

1. Toss together blackberries and maple syrup in a small bowl; set aside.
2. Put the strawberries, ice, sugar, 1/4 cup of the almonds, lemon juice, vanilla and almond extracts in a food processor and puree. Immediately divide the mixture evenly among 4 wineglasses. Top evenly with the blackberry mixture and sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of almonds. Serve at once.

WW POINTS VALUE: 3 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Best-Ever Desserts Cookbook. This is what I call a cool and refreshing sweet ending. This dessert literally takes 10 minutes to make and the end result is delicious. It's flavorful and gives you a nice feeling after having a delicious dinner. You can use blueberries or raspberries in place of the blackberries and the dessert will still be good. The ordinal recipe calls for 6 tablespoons of granulated sugar but I reduced it to 3 tablespoons and added 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract for more flavor and the end result is delicious. 

Melon Agua Fresca Slushes

Ingredients:

• 1 (5 lb.) honeydew melon, peeled and roughly chopped (8 cups)
• 1/2 cup chilled water
• 2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
• 2 tbsp. granular sugar substitute
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 1 small lime, thinly sliced

Makes 4 (3/4 cup) Servings

1. Spread melon pieces on a baking sheet and freeze for 1-2 hours, until just barely frozen.
2. In a blender or food processor, combine frozen melon, water and lime juice; blend until smooth. Add sugar substitute and ice cubes and continue to process until thick and slushy.
3. Divide Agua Fresca Slushes among 4 (8-ounce) glasses, garnish with lime slices, and serve.

WW POINTS VALUE: 2 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook. Agua Fresca is Spanish for fresh water; it's a common drink in Latin America that combines pureed sweet fruits with other ingredients like citrus juice, cucumber and tamarind. It's the middle of summer, it's hot outside and you want to cool off. This is a great drink to cool off and leaving you refreshed. You can use cantaloupe in this recipe and your drink will still be refreshingly delicious. You can also use lemons or lemons and limes in this recipe too. Lemons and limes always give a citrus dish or beverage a nice aftertaste. Melons are good sources of potassium, Vitamin C and B Vitamins that can actually protect your skin against sunburn and can reduce inflammation.

Blueberry-Melon Smoothies

Ingredients:

• 1 (3-pound) cantaloupe, seeded and cubed (3 cups)
• 3 cups frozen blueberries
• 3 cups nonfat or low-fat sugar-free vanilla yogurt
• Ice cubes

Makes 8 (1-cup) Servings

 

Puree 1 1/2 cups of the canteloupe and 1 1/2 cups of the blueberries in a blender until just combined, about 1 minute. Add 1 1/2 cups of the yogurt and several ice cubes and blend until ice cubes are processed, 1-2 minutes. Pour smoothie into 4 glasses. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

 

WW POINTS VALUE: 1 pt per drink

 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Parties & Holidays Cookbook. this is a wonderful drink that is cold, refreshing and delicious and compliments any meal or just  to have as a light snack or dessert. The flavors of blueberry and canteloups go very well together in this drink. If you don't have vanilla flavored yogurt, you can use plain yogurt instead and add a touch of vanilla if you'd like.

Piña Colada

Ingredients:

• 2 cups pineapple, cubed
• 1 1/2 cups pineapple juice
• 2/3 cup light coconut milk
• 6 oz. fat-free vanilla yogurt
• 1 cup ice cubes

Make 4 Servings

Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 pts ( 1 1/4 cups per serving)

Note: This recipe appears on www.weightwatchers.com. If you have never had a pina colada, you're missing out on a tropical guilty pleasure that will cool you down and relax you. It's Happy Hour somewhere and this classic drink is slimmed down with fat-free yogurt and light coconut milk. If you don't have vanilla yogurt on hand, add a little vanilla extract to the yogurt. You can also use canned pineapples packed in their own juice but it could affect the point value. A shot of rum could also affect the point value as well. This drink also has 5 ingredients so you can impress 5-Ingredient Fix Chef Claire Robinson and she will be so happy. This tropical guilty pleasure will relax you and cool you off, you will keep coming back for more.

Calypso Coolers

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1 cup chilled water
• 1 banana, peeled and frozen
• 1 cup low-fat or nonfat plain yogurt
• 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ice cubes
• 4 large strawberries for garnish (optional)

Makes 4 (3/4-cup) Servings

1. In a blender, puree almonds and water until almonds are very finely chopped. Cut banana into chunks and add to blender; puree until mixture is thick. Add yogurt, lime juice and vanilla; puree until smooth.
2. Fill 4 (8-ounce) glasses with ice. Pour Calypso Coolers over ice, garnish with strawberries, if using and serve.

WW POINTS VALUE: 2 pts

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook. This is such a nice, refreshing drink to have for breakfast or as a snack during the summer, especially in the middle of a heat wave. You will feel like you're on a tropical island with the flavors of bananas, lime juice, vanilla and strawberries it's that good. 

Peach-Raspberry Shakes

Ingredients:

• 3 small peaches, sliced
• 1 cup low-fat or nonfat plain yogurt
• 1 cup skim milk
• 1 cup raspberries
• 2 ice cubes
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• granular sugar substitute to taste (optional)

Makes 4 (1-cup) Servings

In a blender, combine peaches, yogurt, milk, raspberries, ice cubes and vanilla; puree until smooth. Add sugar substitute to taste, if using. Pour into 4 (10-ounce) glasses and serve.

WW POINTS VALUE: 2 pts

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook. It's the summer and you're looking for sonething cool and refreshing to drink this fruity pleasure is for you. There is no excuse for you not to make this shake because it only takes 10 minutes to make. You can use any berry combination and peaches with the combination of nectarines or plums and it will still be delicious. You can enjoy this as a light snack or as a dessert.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ice cubes
• 6 oz. light chocolate frozen yogurt
• 1/3 cup skim milk
• 6 medium strawberries, or 4 large, hulled

Makes 1 Serving

In a blender, combine all ingredients; puree until smooth. Pour into a tall, chilled glass.

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 pts

Note: This recipe appears on www.weightwatchers.com. I made this treat this evening and it was delicious. This cool and refreshing drink takes less than 10 minutes to make. I highly recommend this cool and refreshing drink when you're battling the heat wave and when you're craving a sweet treat such as ice cream. You can use any kind of berries in this drink and it will still be delicious. This drink is better than a milkshake and/or ice cream trat you get at the local ice cream shop. It tastes better and it's better for you.

Mango Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 2 mangos, peeled, pitted and diced
• 1 1/2 cups sugar-free vanilla fat-free or low-fat yogurt
• Ice Cubes

Makes 4 (1-cup) Servings

Puree mangoes in blender. Add yogurt and 4 or 5 ice cubes; blend untilthick and smooth, about 30 seconds. Pour into glasses and serve.

WW POINTS VALUE: 3 pts

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Quick & Easy Cookbook. It's the middle of summer and you don't want to cook but you want some flavor, this drink is for you. You can prepare this drink in 15 minutes or less and it's still deliciously filling and cheaper and healthier than the smoothies you buy at a juice bar/shop. You don't need to add any sugar to this drink because the natural sugars and fibers of the mangoes make this drink rich, cool and refreshing. You can also use pineapple, melon, or any other tropical fruit in this recipe and it will still be delicious.



Iced Green Sun Tea

Ingredients:

• 4 green tea bags
• 4 cups water
• ice cubes
• granular sugar substitute to taste (optional)
• 1 small lemon, sliced
• 4 mint sprigs for garnish (optional)

Makes 4 (1-cup) Servings

1. Place tea bags in a large glass jar or pitcher. Pour water over bags. cover the jar with plastic wrap and place on a sun-filled windowsill or outside during the hottest part of the day. Steep until tea is light green and flavorful, about 1 hour.
2. Remove tea bags from the jar and discard. Refrigerate tea to cool, about 20 minutes. Fill 4 (10-ounce) glasses with ice, add sugar substitute, if using, garnish with lemon slices and mint sprigs, if using.

WW POINTS VALUE: 0 pts

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook. This was such a nice, refreshing treat after eating a filling meal. I was never much of a tea drinker but this was a pleasant surprise. Forget the green tea products you get at the gorcery store or at the local coffee shops and cafes; once you've had this tea, you'll never go back to brand teas.

Say goodbye to the coffee shop: Iced Vanilla Coffee Milk

Ingredients:

• 3 cups strongly brewed decaffienated coffee, chilled
• 1 cup skim or 1 % milk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp granular sugar substitute
• Ice cubes
• 1/2 cup fat-free or light whipped topping
• pinch ground cinnamon for garnish (optional)
• 4 cinnamon sticks for garnish (optional)

Makes 4 (1-cup) Servings

In a pitcher, combine coffee, milk, vanilla andsugar substitute; stir well. Fill 4 (10-ounce) glasses with ice. Pour coffee mixture over ice. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the whipped topping into each glass. Stir gently so that some topping mixes with coffee and some remains at the top of the glass. Garnish each with a pinch of ground cinnamon and a cinnamon stick, if using.

WW POINTS VALUE: 1 pt

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook. I was on a roll brewing coffee for my dinner earlier this evening and I thought this would be a nice after-dinner treat. I was right. This drink is a nice, refreshing drink to enjoy anytime of the day during the summer and it  will quickly cool you down. This drink is something you would get at a coffee sshop but pay a lot of money for. You can save yourself a lot of money and calories when you make this treat at home. This drink is also great for company as well.

Mounds Milkshake

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup light coconut milk
• 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 tbsp shredded coconut flakes
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups ice cubes

Makes 2 Servings

Place all ingredients in a blender; cover and blend until smooth. Makes about 1 cup serving.

WW POINTS VALUE: 3-5 Pts (I Hope!)

Note: This recipe was created by me earlier this month when I was cleaning out the fridge and was craving dessert. I had to get rid of the coconut milk so it wouldn't go bad. This was probably the best milkshake I ever made from scratch. It literally tasted like a cold Mounds bar in your mouth. You know the saying, "Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't."? I added the vanilla for this shake to make it a Mounds shake and if you feel like an Almond Joy Milkshake, use Almond extract instead of vanilla. 

Oat Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 2 1/1 cups strawberries, halved
• 1 cup fat-free plain yogurt
• 1/2 tsp granular sugar substitute
• 1/4 cup skim milk
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 3 tbsp oat bran
• 2 tbsp sugar-free pancake syrup
• 1/2 cup ice cubes

Makes 4 Servings

In a blender or food proccessor, combine the strawberries, yogurt, sugar substitute, milk, walnuts, oat bran, syrup and ice cubes. Blend until smooth and frothy.

WW POINTS VALUE: 3 pts

Note. This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Cookbook. This is a wonderful breakfast shake if you're on the go and can easily be made in 15 minutes or less. This shake also makes for a delicious light snack during the day. You can substitute quick-cooking oats in place of the oat bran and it will taste like an oatmeal shake and it still taste delicious. The orginal recipe calls fornonfat dry milk but I used skim milk to make the shake smooth and creamy. You can also use any kind of berry or even a berry mixture in this recipe. This shake is great during a heat wave and it's too hot to cook.

Mango Lassi

Ingredients:

• 1 medium mango, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 1/2 cups low-fat or nonfat plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup chilled water
• 1 tbsp granular sugar substitute
• Pinch ground cardamom
• Ice cubes

Makes 4 (3/4-cup) Servings

In a blender, combine mango, yogurt, water, sugar substitute and cardamom, if using; puree until smooth. Fill 4 (8 oz.) glasses with ice cubes. Pour Mango Lassi over ice and serve.

WW POINTS VALUE: 2 pts

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook. It is officially the first day of Spring and the weather will be getting warmer and it's a good reason to fire up the grill and make some cool, refreshing drinks. A Lassi is a frothy and refreshing yogurt drink and what is considered the official drink of India. A Lassi is often made with fresh fruit. You can use any kind of fruit with this recipe and it will still be delicious. Don't add too much cardamom because cardamom has a strong flavor to it and a little bit of it goes a long way. This drink is perfect for a morning or afternoon snack and a savior during a heat wave.

 

Green Apple Spritzers

Ingredients:

• 1 large Granny Smith apple
• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
• 3 tbsp ice water
• 1 1/2 tsp granular sugar substitute
• ice cubes
• 24 oz. seltzer water

Make 4 Servings

1.  Cut 8 very thin wedges from apple; core, peel and roughly chop the rest. Toss apple wedges with 1/2 teaspoon of the lemon juice in a small bowl. In a separate small bowl, toss chopped apple with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice.
2. Puree chopped apples, water ans sugar substitute in a blender. Divide pureed apple mixture among 4 glasses (about 2 tablespoons each); top each with a few ice cubes and fill each glass with seltzer. Stir, tops each spritzer with 2 apple wedges and serve.

WW POINTS VALUE: 0 pts

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Parties & Holidays Cookbook. This is a wonderful drink that can be enjoyed at a party, making a toast or as an after-dinner drink to cleanse your palate. The South Beach diet has always had refreshing drinks and this drink did not disappoint me. Remember to have the lemon juice on hand before you slice the apple because tossing the apple with the lemon juice will keep the apple from browning. This apple spritzer is so refreshing it will cleanse your palate and prevent you from eating any more than you should. 

Blackberry-Banana Breakfast Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 2 small bananas, quartered (1 1/2 cups)
• 1 cup blackberries, plus extra for garnish (optional)
• 1 1/2 cups nonfat or low-fat yogurt
• 1 tbsp granular sugar substitute
• 1 tbsp wheat germ
• 4 ice cubes

Make 4 Servings

In a blender, combine bananas and blackberries; puree until smooth. Add yogurt, sugar substitute, if using, wheat germ and ice cubes; blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour into 4 (10 oz.) glasses, garnish with whole blackberries, if using and serve.

WW POINTS  VALUE: 1 Pt.

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook. This breakfast smoothie can be enjoyed anytime of day. It's also a delicious treat to enjoy when you don't feel like cooking and/or there's a massive heat wave and you want to cool off. You can also use any kind of berry in this recipe and it will still taste delicious. You can also use wheat bran in place of wheat germ and it won't make a difference. This is also a nice treat if you're ever sick or you have a sore throat. The sugar is there to sweeten to tartness of your berries.

 

Mary on the Beach

Ingredients:

• 1 (28 oz.) can whole peeled tomatoes, with juices
• 1 cup chilled water
• 1/3 cup freh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp hot pepper sauce
• 1/4 tsp celery seeds
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• Ice cubes
• 4 celery stalks with leaves
• 4 lime wedges

Makes 4 (1-cup) Servings

1. In a blender, puree the tomatoes and their juices until smooth. Strain puree into a large pitcher, pushing liquid through the strainer with a rubber spatula; discard the seeds. Add water, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce. celery seeds and pepper to pitcher; stir to combine.
2. Fill 4 (10 oz.) glasses with ice. Pour tomato mixture over ice, add a celery stalk and lime wedge to each glass and serve.

WW POINTS VALUE: 1 pt

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook. This is a deliciously healthy alternative to a Bloody Mary and a great way to kickstart your weight loss. This drink can be made in about 10 minute. But if you're in a hurry, you can substitute 3 cups  low-sodium tomato juice. Or if you're a gardener or just came back from the local farmer's market, you can use the ripest tomatoes whirled in a juicer for the freshest tomato juice. The Worcestershire sauce, the hot pepper sauce and freshly ground black pepper give this drink a real kick. 

Chilly Chocolate

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp granular sugar substitute
• Pinch of salt
• 3 cups cold 1 % milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• Ice cubes

Makes 4 (3/4-cup) Servings

1. In a medium bowl,  stir together cocoa powder, sugar substitute and salt. Slowly pour in 1 cup of the milk and whisk until smooth. Whisk in remaining 2 cups milk and vanilla.
2. Fill 4 (8-ounce) glasses with ice. Pour Chilly Chocolate over ice and serve.

WW POINTS VALUE: 2 pts

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook. I needed something to  wash down my dessert and I was feeling Iron Chef-worthy (with chocolate and nuts as the secret ingredients and this drink was the perfect way to accompany this treat. The recipe calls for vanilla extract but you can use any kind of extract with this drink and it will taste just as deliicous-peppermint, almond, cherry, orange, coconut, raspberry or banana just to name a few.

Mango-Peach Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 mango, peeled, pitted and cut into chunks (about 1 cup)
• 2 peaches, pitted and cut into chunks (1 cup)
• 1/2 cup plain fat-free yougurt
• 2 tbsp honey
• 6 ice cubes

Makes 2 Servings

Conbine all ingredients in a blender and process until thick and smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour into 2 glasses.

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 pts

Note: This recipe appears in the WW in 20 Minutes Cookbook. This is a cold and refreshing drink that can be served at breakfast, lunch, dinner or even as a light snack. It's a tasty drink for breakfast and a great way to get your sevings of fruit for the day. The honey adds a little bit of sweetness to this drink.