The 2014 Bariatric Foodie "Play With My Food" Recipe Contest Cookbook (Free Download!)

So...yesterday we say what happens when Nik gets "trigger finger." For those of you who follow BF on Facebook and Twitter, this cookbook was the "surprise" I'd been alluding to since last weekend. (So there will be no surprise tomorrow...sorry!) I really and truly did not mean to publish it until tomorrow, but hey...stuff happens.

In the end I'm glad I did because it gave me a glimpse into how easy/hard it is for you all to download things from various sources! I think I've got the bugs worked out (think being the operative word here). We shall see!

Anyhoo...let's try this again, shall we?  I'm happy to present the 2014 recipe contest cookbook, which looks WORLD'S better than the 2013 cookbook (shout out to my chief branding consultant, Pam Tremble).

What the heck is the "Play With My Food" recipe contest?

So background: Each fall I do a recipe contest called the Bariatric Foodie "Play With My Food" recipe contest. Why? Because you all cook awesome stuff and you should share it! So I pick a theme and invite folks to submit a recipe. Fellow Foodies serve as judges. This year's theme was "Play With Your Food - All Day Long!" Foodies were invited to submit recipes in one of five categories:

1. Breakfast
2. Lunch
3. Dinner
4. Dessert
5. Snacks

Download the cookbook!

Each of the categories above had a winning recipe and all winners received a prize, but all recipes are published in this FREE e-book (did I mention that it's free?).

Download the Free Cookbook

IMPORTANT: I decided to ditch my shopping cart. It was giving too many folks problems. The above link is to a version of the cookbook housed on my Google Drive. You should be able to both view and download it from there. To download it, you'd go to the icon of the downward arrow with a line underneath that looks like this:

You'll also see an icon that looks like three dots in a vertical line. If you click that, "Download" is one of the options. From my both my iPhone and my Android-based tablet, this let me open the document and from there I had some options on saving it (for example, on Apple products you can save it to iBooks).  Your mileage may vary, which is why you should keep reading if you're using a mobile device!

Mobile Phone & Tablet Users

You can download this e-book to your mobile phone or tablet the same way but keep in mind that your phone or tablet may or may not have the appropriate app to actually open it. If that's the case you should get a message (either from Google or your phone) asking you how you'd like to open the document. Here's the important part to note:

What happens after you click that button, I have no control over! 

If you have trouble, leave a blog comment and I can try to help but I'm not a mobile tech expert (I'm not an any tech expert!) so I may not be much help.

Bottom line...and I say this with love...if you are tech challenged (like me!) wait until you can open this from a laptop or desktop computer and save it there. 

I hope you enjoy this cookbook! It was written by Foodies, for Foodies, so feel free to share the download link far and wide!

Bariatric Foodie Pledge - Week One Pledge List

Whew! We got through the first round of pledging! I'm proud of us.

Here is the link to the week one pledge list

This is everyone who submitted a pledge using the form here on the blog. 

If you are not on this list and feel you should be

Since we are using free software, tech glitches are entirely possible. Here's what to do if your name is not on the list and you feel it should be.

1. You'll remember on the pledge post I asked that if you had trouble submitting your pledge to please email me before the pledge deadline of noon today EST. If I received an email from you I SHOULD have already added you to the list. But I'm human, so forgive me if I omitted you! If you just resend the email you sent me to bariatricfoodie@yahoo.com I'll add you.
2. If you have a confirmation code from submitting your pledge, please send me that at bariatricfoodie@yahoo.com and I'll add you.

If you missed the deadline

Don't fret! It happens. Join us on Sunday to pledge a goal for week two and get in on the action!

What's Next?

For those pledging, here's a run-down of the pledge week:

• Now until Saturday at Noon EST: We're working hard on our goals! Be sure to stop by the BF Facebook Page or stay connected on Twitter for daily support from fellow Foodies!
• Wednesday, February 4: There will be a special opportunity to learn more about the grand prize. Watch out for it!
• Saturday, February 7, NOON EST: Week one check-ins will open. That's where you come back to the blog and say how you did. You must check-in to be eligible for the weekly prize AND to stay eligible for the "winner takes all" grand prize! If you'd like a reminder via email, you can sign up here. Check-ins are open until NOON EST Sunday, Februray 8 EST.
• Sunday, February 8, NOON EST: Week two pledging begins with a brand new prize!

2nd Annual Bariatric Foodie "Play With MY Food" Recipe Contest

Recipes like my "Cheesy Chicken & Cauliflower Bake" are quick and easy - do you have a quick & easy recipe you love? Submit it!

 

I know you guys have some great recipes cooking in your kitchen. How? Let’s just call it intuition. (Or we could call it the fact that you guys often send me your recipes!)

Well now your recipes could win you something GOOD! That’s right…it’s time for the 2^nd Annual Bariatric Foodie “Play With MY Food” recipe contest!

I’m not going to throw all the details and rules of the recipe contest at you in this post. Instead, I’ll post them on the officialcontest page, but here’s what you need to know:

What is it/How does the contest Work

This contest is your opportunity to show off WLS-friendly dishes you love – and possibly win a prize for doing so!

Last year, I invited Foodies to remake one of my most popular recipes. This year, you’ll be able to submit recipes for FIVE (5) different categories: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks and Desserts. You may enter as many categories as you like, but you may only submit one (1) recipe for each category.

There will be one (1) winner in each category. The five winners will each receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card to help inspire future creations!

Who is Judging?

This year I’ve again asked a panel of Foodie-judges to pick the one (1) winner from each category. You can check out the judges on the official contest page, but here’s what’s important to know. Pay attention to their judging criteria. It’s listed by their names and tells you what they’ll be looking for in a winning recipe. If you’re in it to win it, be sure to pay close attention to what the judges want to see.

When/How to enter

Please see the official contest page for instructions on how to enter your recipe. 

I would advise that you NOT just fire off a recipe right now. Read the judging criteria, take a GOOD picture of your dish and then submit your entry. Also I’d advise you to go over your recipe to make sure it works well. The judges will be trying out their pick for the winning recipe. If the recipe doesn’t work, they may have to pick another winner. Make sure that doesn’t happen!

So…how can the rest of us get all the recipes, Nik?

Just like last year, after the winners are chosen, ALL the recipes submitted will be included in the special Bariatric Foodie “PWMF” recipe e-book which will be available for free download. If you want to download last year’s copy, click the button below. (NOTE: You must have Adobe Acrobat installed in the device you are using in order to view the file.)

Click this button to download last year's recipe book!

So…get your best recipes ready – they may pay off!

Foodie Pop-Quiz Answer Key

So yesterday on Facebook we did a “Pop Quiz” on nutrition for the chance at a $25 Amazon gift card. Lots of folks took part — which is why it will be a minute before I have a winner (I have a LOT of tabulating chances to do). Look for that later today, but until then, here are the answers!

Be sure you’re connected to BF on Facebook and Twitter so that you can get in on these chances to win great prizes!

Question #1 

Name one food that would be considered a legume. EXTRA CREDIT: Name a health benefit to eating legumes.

ANSWER: To answer this question I’m going to turn you over to the good folks at Wikipedia (click here)! Most of you got this question correct. Legumes have great fiber and are a heart healthy food, among other benefits.

Click here to learn more about fiber!

Question #2

Multiple Choice: “Skim (cow’s) milk is primarily a source of _____ that has a good amount of ______ in it.”

A: fat/carbs

B: protein/fat

C: carbs/protein

D: protein/carbs

ANSWER: This question tripped some folks up because they wanted calcium to be an option. Milk is a GREAT source of calcium, which is a micronutrient. Fat, carbs and protein, by contrast, are macro-nutrients. It would not have been appropriate to compare (mostly because the macro-nutrient content of milk changes slightly – with regards to fat – by what kind of cow’s milk you buy but generally the micronutrient content is not affected by the macro, if that makes sense).

In any case the answer is C! Milk has 12g of carbohydrates (from lactose) and 8g of protein, making it primarily a source of carbs, with a good (I’d even say great for a carb!) amount of protein.

A good way to tell about a food’s composition is from the nutrition facts label. Click here to read a good primer on the (current)nutrition label!

Click here to read more about milk and it's carb content.

Question #3 

Name THREE whole grains.

ANSWER: Again, I’m going to send you to a great article/site (click here). I will say among the list are amaranth, barley and corn (yes, corn!). These whole grains all have good health value so long as you eat them the way mother nature gave them to us (I mean you can cook them but the more processed a food is generally, the greater its nutrition can potentially be diminished)!

Click here to learn more about whole grains.

Question #4

Finish the sentence: “To get the most absorption possible (regardless of surgery type) you should avoid taking ______ and ______ supplements together.”

ANSWER: Caveat: My very good friend Pam says there can be a few different combinations that are correct. BUT, when I wrote this question I was thinking of calcium and iron.  Even for non-ops, calcium can affect the absorption of iron.

Click the respective links to learn about the vitamins a RNY, DS, a VSG and Gastric Banding (Lap-Band, etc.) patients should take.

Question #5

Answer in your own words: What’s the difference between a food labeled “sugar free” and a food labeled “no sugar added”?

ANSWER: An item listed sugar-free should not have any sugar from any sources (not fruit sugar, milk sugar or anything else). An item that is “no sugar added” may have naturally occurring sugars like lactose or fructose but should not have added sugars like sucrose or high-fructose corn syrup.

Click here to learn more about sugar in our foods in myseries “BF Basics: Sugar Shock!”

You didn’t expect to get even more learnin’ from this, did ya? I aim to give you what you need to live the bariatric good life, Foodies!

Stay tuned for the announcement of the winner. Good luck everyone and thanks for giving it your BEST effort!

Wanna submit a recipe to be published in Bariatric Foodie's Next Book?

One of the many yummy and SIMPLE recipe ideas included in The Bariatric Foodie Breakfast Book.

I can make you a super-STAH!

Well…not really. But I could include YOUR recipe in the next BF offering, The Bariatric Foodie Breakfast Book. The book is in the final stages of drafting (meaning the recipes are almost all written and being tested out) and I figured it’d be fun to include some of YOUR recipes!

So here’s how this is going to work.

The book covers four main kinds of breakfast recipes:

• Egg recipes (scrambles, mini-quiches, etc.)
• Smart Carbs (traditional breakfast starches made with better ingredients and added protein)
• Yogurt/Cottage Cheese recipes
• Un-breakfast (Stuff that may or may not include breakfast food but either way doesn’t feel breakfasty)

If you have a recipe that fits into one of those categories, submit it for consideration! You can submit your recipe by sending it via email to bariatricfoodie@yahoo.com (please put the word "recipe" in the subject line somewhere). You are not required to submit a picture of your recipe, however, if you happen to have one, I always love to see them!

A panel of esteemed judges will pick one recipe for each category to be included as a Foodie Submission recipe.

The deadline for recipe submission is Sunday, April 6.

I know you have questions! I thought of a few you might ask.

Who are the esteemed judges?

I’m not telling you yet. Mostly because I just asked them and haven't gotten all my "yes's" back yet! 

How are these judges going to judge the recipes?

The recipes will be judged on the following factors:

• Overall nutrition of the recipe. You don't have to submit nutrition information for your recipe (I won't publish it anyway) BUT it should be a recipe appropriate for WLS-folks (high protein, reasonable carbs, yadda, yadda...)
• Understand-ability of the recipe directions. You don't have to be Hemingway but I should be able to follow your recipe!
• Ease of use (The goal here is simple recipes that anyone can make)
• Creativity (Simple recipes do NOT mean boring recipes)
• Originality (IMPORTANT: Don’t copy a recipe from some other blogger’s blog and send it to me! That’s recipe thieving and we don’t like that around here. It’s ok if your recipe is similar to other recipes out there but it should be one of your own imagining, not a cut/paste of someone else’s recipe)

Remember, you can submit a recipe for consideration to bariatricfoodie@yahoo.com (put "recipe" somewhere in the subject line).

What’s in it for me?

Well, besides, super-STAHdom…people whose recipes are selected will receive:

1. A free copy of The Bariatric Foodie Breakfast Book
2. A $25 Amazon gift certificate

Hey, Nik, what's in that yummy looking pic?

Glad you asked! It's a knock-off of Denny's Chicken Chorizo Skillet. The recipe will be in The Bariatric Foodie Breakfast Book but I'm also going to post it here, tomorrow!

Fine print(y) stuff (and I respect you far too much to actually make it small print):

By submitting a recipe you are agreeing to comply with the BariatricFoodie Contest & Promotions rules. The winning recipe will be named for the winner (i.e. “Mary’s Slammin’ Egg Dish…) and will become the property of Bariatric Foodie. By submitting your recipe you agree that, if selected, Bariatric Foodie may publish the recipe as a part of The Bariatric Foodie Breakfast Book with the understanding that there you will be entitled to no compensation or royalties earned from the publication of your recipe. 

The Bariatric Foodie Season of Giving - Week Four!

What? You thought it was over???

No! We've got TWO more giveaways to do! That should ride us into "2014 Bariatric Foodie Pledge" Season nicely (click this link to check out last year's Pledge to get familiar - it's so much FUN!).

This week's giveaway is a little bit different. To explain how, I made a video BUT if you don't have 3:19 minutes (or just don't feel like listening to me talk) the run-down is below the video! (Or if you wanna skip it all and go to the contest widget, scroll down but do stop and read the information listed under IMPORTANT STUFF...cuz...like...it's important stuff....)

The Run Down

This week's giveaway item is BariMelts! It's a new vitamin product for bariatric patients and I got the opportunity to sample them at the Obesity Action Coalition's "Your Weight Matters" Convention in Phoenix. I liked the product and so I reached out to them to see if I could get some for my Foodie Nation.

As it turns out they are doing a full-on launch of their products in 2014: a website, Facebook Page, Twitter handle...the whole nine! You know what this means? You guys are getting the chance to win a product that few post-ops have tried yet!

So let me tell you a bit about this product.

BariMelts will offer four products:

• Multi-vitamin
• Calcium + Vitamin D3 & Magnesium
• Iron + Vitamin C
• B-Complex

And of course I had to ask all the important questions I think you guys would want to know.

• These are flavored vitamins, but they are made using only natural flavors and sweeteners.
• The tablets really do dissolve in your mouth (I've tried them, they do!) so there's no need to take them with water (which can be really helpful for newer and/or "on the go" Foodies)
• They are made in the United States (Florida to be exact and were formulated by a team of scientists/pharmacists)

If you have any other questions, leave them in the comments and I'll ask them and get right back to you! 

My full review of the vitamins is forthcoming BUT I didn't want to wait to give some away. THREE Foodies will get the chance to win the full line of vitamins. 

IMPORTANT STUFF (if you've skimmed thus far, please read this!)

Because BariMelts is such a new company, we want to get the word out there about this new option! As such, the rules for this giveaway are a bit different than others. You may claim as many of the entries in the widget below as you want, however, in order to be selected as the winner you have to have either liked BariMelts on Facebook or followed @BariMelts on Twitter. From there, grab up as many entries as you can!

I really want us to rock out this contest because I've told the BariMelts folks about the power of the Foodie Nation in getting the word out about a product. So let's DO this!

This giveaway is open to Foodies in the 50 United States and Canada.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Which protein recipe is the best? YOU be the judge!

Ok, forget that "other" election. This is the REALLY important one! Your fellow Foodies have put forth recipes to win a full canister of Fit Frappe. Five finalists were chosen. Now it's time for YOU to decide who wins!

And just because I love you...for voting...five of you will win one of these: 

A sampler pack of Fit Frappe that comes with all five flavors: Espresso, Mocha, Vanilla, Vanilla Latte and Chocolate! Trust me…you wanna try this stuff. It’s good!

Remember: you have to vote to win! 

Voting is Simple. Here's what you do:

1. Decide which recipe you like best.
2. Vote for that recipe by leaving a comment below. You can only vote once, so choose wisely!
3. Be sure to include an email address where I can contact you if you win!

Want extra chances to win? Get TWO extra chances each (for a total of FOUR extra chances) by doing the following:

•  Go like Big Train’s Facebook Page
•  Follow @Big Train on Twitter 

(NOTE: If you’ve already done any of the above, IT STILL COUNTS! Let me know in your comment so I can give you credit!)

Now…onto the recipes.

TEAM ESPRESSO: Penney's "Wake Your A$$ Up!" Shake

1 c. cold coffee
2 tbsp. Coffee Mate sugar-free Caramel Macchiato Creamer (or to taste
1 serving of Fit Frappe Espresso (the 8 oz. size serving OR  1/2 the sample pack)
1 tbsp Torani sugar-free caramel syrup

(Penney's) Directions:

"Shake it up, baby! And because I am a loon and have to work til midnight, I poured this over COFFEE ICE CUBES! Wheeee"

TEAM MOCHA: Bridget's Ode to Joyous Almond Shake

Fit Frappe mocha (8 oz. serving)
1 pump (1 tbsp) sugar-free coconut syrup
1/2 pump (1/2 tbsp) sugar-free almond syrup (or sub 2 drips of extract)
8oz milk of your choice (coconut or almond are nice)

Ice

Directions:

Blend with your method of choice (I use the Super Chill Method). If you are adventurous (and have time) sprinkle with some fresh toasted almonds or unsweetened coconut...or sugar-free whippage (whipped cream)!

TEAM VANILLA: Alyson's Orange Creamsicle Shake

1 serving Fit Frappe Vanilla (8 oz. serving)
8 oz. preferred liquid (milk, water, etc.)
1/2 sugar-free orange drink stick
Ice

Directions: Combine in the blender for a tasty treat!



TEAM VANILLA LATTE: Dana's "Big Train Vanilla Latteccino Chai"

1 heaping tbsp. Big Train Spiced Chai

1 serving (8 oz. size) Vanilla Latte Fit Frappe

3 oz. unsweetened vanilla almond milk

2 packets Truvia

7-8 ice cubes

To prepare, Dana recommends BF’s very own “Super Chill Method for making a Protein Frosty” but here’s Dana's recap:

Turn on the blender and whiz it up, and trickle another 2-3 ounces of unsweetened vanilla almond milk into the blender (either through the top if it's safe to do so, or by stopping the blender and adding it. 

After 6-8 seconds of whizzing around, stop the blender and shake the container as needed to keep it whizzing around. Once all the big pieces of ice have been whizzed into your drink, you're ready to conquer your Big Train “Latteccino Chai.” It's so thick and rich that you HAVE to drink it slowly - or risk getting a brain freeze!!”

TEAM CHOCOLATE: Wendy's Vegetarian-Friendly Chocolate Microwave Cake

1 scoop chocolate protein powder 
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 packet stevia
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
3-4 pumps of sugar free davinci syrup (I use vanilla)

You want a thick consistency - like that of playdough. press it down into the bottom of a microwave safe container. Microwave for 60-90 seconds.

There you have it, Foodies! Vote for your favorite to win! You have until noon on Saturday, September 8 to cast your vote and by doing so, enter to win a FREE sample pack of Fit Frappe!

Thanks to all the people who submitted recipes and, as always, thanks for reading Bariatric Foodie!

BF Review & Contest: Fit Frappe Chocolate

(Previously...on Bariatric Foodie...we were in the middle of exploring Fit Frappe, a protein drink for Frappe lovers by Big Train, makers of fine coffeehouse products ;) So far we've reviewed the espresso, mocha, vanilla and vanilla latte flavors.)

But first… your 4^th finalist.

Dana E. took the challenge and shared what he’d add to Vanilla Latte Fit Frappe to make it HIS latte. Here’s his recipe:

Dana’s Big Train Vanilla "Latteccino" Chai

1 heaping tbsp. Big Train Spiced Chai

1 serving (8 oz. size) Vanilla Latte Fit Frappe

3 oz. unsweetened vanilla almond milk

2 packets Truvia

7-8 ice cubes

To prepare, Dana recommends BF’s very own “Super Chill Method for making a Protein Frosty” but here’s Dana's recap:

Turn on the blender and whiz it up, and trickle another 2-3 ounces of unsweetened vanilla almond milk into the blender (either through the top if it's safe to do so, or by stopping the blender and adding it. 

After 6-8 seconds of whizzing around, stop the blender and shake the container as needed to keep it whizzing around. Once all the big pieces of ice have been whizzed into your drink, you're ready to conquer your Big Train “Latteccino Chai.” It's so thick and rich that you HAVE to drink it slowly - or risk getting a brain freeze!!”

Congrats, Dana! You’ll go up against Penney’s “Wake You’re A$$ Up” shake, Bridget’s “Odeto Joyous Almond Shake and Alyson’s Orange Creamsicle shake for the chance to win a full canister of Fit Frappe!

Today's Challenge: Today, I'd like to hear your favorite chocolate protein recipe. It can be a protein shake, a cold drink, a dessert, whatever! You can share your recipe on Facebook, by sending a tweet to @BariatricFoodie or by leaving a comment on this post. For one of you, your recipe will win you a chance at a full container of Fit Frappe to try!

Now…on with the review:

Stats (for the 8 oz. serving size):

Calories: 60

Fat: 1.5g

Carbs: 12g

Fiber: 3g

Sugar alcohols: 6g

Protein: 10g

Here are the stats on all the Fit Frappe flavors.

Aesthetics: Pretty basic. Nothing special there. I did notice the chocolate is considerably darker than the mocha in color and darker than any other chocolate powder I’d ever seen. I’m not sure if that means something though.

Preparation: The first time I made this I did a hot drink, my “Thin Mints for Grown-Ups.” On the second try I was mourning the loss of my relationship with the "ice cream man" so I made my Neopolitan Protein Shake:

Both were good. But here’s the thing. Some days I want dessert. Not often, because dessert is a whole other meal I have to find room for in my day, but just…sometimes. When I make dessert I try to make it beneficial. 

I ended up making a triple chocolate protein pudding pie but, as it sometimes goes with me, my camera is not participating to upload the picture! So…I’ll post both the recipe and the pic later on this week. Sorry!

Taste: Ok, please don’t think I take what I am about to say lightly. You can go back and read other reviews on this blog. I take chocolate VERY seriously. That being said…this is THE most chocolatey chocolate protein I have ever tasted! Yowsa! It wasn’t “chocolate-flavored.” It was chocolate. Wonderful, rich, decadent chocolate.

Verdict: You know how I was fretting about cost? I just thought of something. My surgeon wrote me a handy-dandy note saying protein is a medical need for life, which means my flexible spending plan reimburses me for protein. In keeping with that…I AM SO BUYING SOME FIT FRAPPE!

S’anyway, you’ve heard what I have to say. Now I want to hear from YOU!

What’s your favorite chocolate protein recipe? Is it a shake, a dessert? Share your recipe and you may just win a full sized canister of Fit Frappe to try at home!

Like I said, you can answer on Facebook, by tweeting @BariatricFoodie or responding here on the blog.

Then on Thursday...

The fun starts. VOTING! You guys get to vote on which of the finalists gets to win a full container of Fit Frappe AND five of you will win a sampler pack containing one serving of each flavor!

I’ve really enjoyed this contest and I think it’s so exciting that Big Train is reaching out to the bariatric community in the way it has. When I first had surgery there were only a few protein offerings for us coffee-lovers and now there are many! That’s why it’s important to…

Please, please, PLEASE show the folks at Big Train some love by liking their Facebook page or by following them on Twitter. The more they hear from us, the more information they have to make a product we can embrace and love.

Now…where are those chocolate recipes???

BF Review & Contest: Fit Frappe Vanilla Latte

NOT to be confused with Fit Frappe Vanilla, which your Foodies so kindly reviewed for you yesterday. 

But first...the third finalist ...Alyson W.!!! She took the one ingredient challenge here on the blog and suggested one of my favorite flavors of all time. Orange Sherbert! 

She recommends adding a half a stick of sugar-free orange drink mix to Fit Frappe Vanilla, your preferred liquid and ice. By doing this, you can transform your shake into that old ice cream truck favorite! Congrats Alyson! Your recipe will go up against Penney's "Wake Your A$$ Up!" shake and Bridget's "Ode to Joyous Almond Shake" for a chance to win a full canister of Fit Frappe!

Today's challenge: Vanilla is a great BASE flavor, especially for a latte. What would you add to Fit Frappe Vanilla Latte (this time you can use as many ingredients as you want!) to make it YOUR latte?

You can share your idea on Facebook, by tweeting @BariatricFoodie or by leaving a comment on this blog  post!

Now...back to our review...Fit Frappe Vanilla Latte! Again, your reviewers are Heather, Samantha and Gwen!

Stats:

(For 8 oz. portion):

Calories: 70
Fat: 1.5g
Carbs: 13g
Fiber: 3g
Sugar alcohols: 7g
Protein: 10g

You can find the stats for all the Fit Frappe flavors here.

(Heather made this note about the stats: "Initially the protein content was concerning me as being too low until I realized that the instructions were for both ½ package as well as full.")

Aesthetics

Heather: Powder looked very smooth and of a fine texture.  Due to having no sense of smell, I did not bother trying to determine odor of powder.  A benefit perhaps as I have read of many complaints of the whey protein smell.  After blending, my shake was nice and thick, exactly how I like it to be.  

Samantha: It had a bit of a chalky smell maybe.  Not what I expected after smelling their other product. I have another vanilla latte protein product in the house and that product has a much better smell. This protein powder had no real smell. Its appearance was what I expected for a latte based protein powder.

Gwen: Looked and smelled like any other protein powder I’ve used.

Preparation

Heather: I made the Vanilla Latte as I do all of my other protein drinks, with skim milk and ice in my Ninja.  The only exception was instead of throwing in 5 or 6 big ice cubes, I weighed out 180 grams of ice so that I would be tasting the Big Train beverage as directed per package.

Heather's Fit Frappe Blended Vanilla Iced Latte

Samantha: I prepared this one hot according to the directions. I stirred it until it dissolved and then I set it aside to snap a few photos and it had a separated. I stirred it again and it was fine after that. (Nik Note: Samantha also tried to use the other half of the sample to make a cold shake but reports it didn’t turn out well with the remaining half a sample. She theorizes the attempt might have been better had she used the full sample.)

Gwen: I tried it hot.

Taste:

Heather: The taste of the shake at first was underwhelming, probably because I still had some remnants of toothpaste flavoring in my mouth, however as I progressed, the shake became very good.  The only quality I wasn't sure about was a very, very slight graininess to the beverage.   I'm not sure what that would be and the only similar comparison I can relate it to is when I have added a necessary scoop of a miralax like product to other shakes.  I know everyone says miralax is undetectable, but I can tell a difference, whether it is psychological or not, who knows.  Anyway, the texture of Big Train was similar to my own perceptions, however it was not a detraction whatsoever to the drink.

Samantha: The taste of this product was actually rather disappointing. No really coffee or espresso flavor to it and not really any vanilla flavor either. It was pretty bland on the first
sip.  I have since drunk about half of a cup and still no real flavor. I used half the package and I am wondering if I had added more if that would help the flavor.  Overall this product was lack luster and a bit of a disappointment.

Samantha's Hot Fit Frappe Vanilla Latte

Gwen: I made it hot and it was a disappointment.  It had a bad aftertaste and was not the replacement for my morning coffee that I was expecting.

After-effects:

Heather: I finished the drink in record time - 45 minutes and had no problems with the sugar alcohols.  

Samantha: (Nik Note: Samantha did not report any after-effects.)

Gwen: (Nik Note: Gwen did not report any after-effects)

Verdict:

Heather: Overall, I found the drink to be very enjoyable and would definitely add it to my rotation.  

Samantha: I might buy it just so I could try it again and add more protein powder to the hot and see if it tastes better. Otherwise I will be sticking with my other Vanilla latte protein powder.

Gwen: I’ll stick to Click.

So there you have it, straight from the Foodies mouths! Mixed reviews but honest and I THANK all three of you for your opinions! 

So you've read what your Fellow Foodies and I think about the flavors so far, here's how you can get the chance to try it for yourself!

As I said before, today's challenge is simple. Vanilla makes a great base for any latte flavor. What ingredients would you add to Fit Frappe Vanilla Latte to make it YOUR drink? What do you add when you go to 'Bux or when you make a latte at home? Share your idea on Facebook, tweet it to @bariatricfoodie or leave a comment here on the blog! 

Your idea could score you the 4th finalist seat with a shot to win a full canister of Fit Frappe!

BF Review & Contest: Fit Frappe Vanilla

But first...yesterday's finalist is...

Bridget Epling!!!

Bridget submitted a recipe idea she called "Ode to Joyous Almond"

Fit Frappe mocha (8oz recipe)
1 pump (1 tbsp) sugar-free coconut syrup
1/2 pump (1/2 tbsp) sugar-free almond syrup (or sub 2 drips of extract)
8oz milk of your choice (coconut or almond are nice)

Ice

Directions:

Blend with your method of choice (I use the Super Chill Method). If you are adventurous (and have time) sprinkle with some fresh toasted almonds or unsweetened coconut...or sugar-free whippage (whipped cream)!

Congrats, Bridget! You don't need to do anything until the end of this week when your recipe goes up against Penney's "Wake Your A$$ Up" shake and the remaining three finalists. Then I need you to tell your mother, brothers, sisters, cousin and that annoying gossip at work to vote for YOU!

Today's flavor: Vanilla (which is one of the NON-coffee based flavors). 

And today's challenge: Instead of giving a full recipe, tell me ONE ingredient you'd add to this flavor to make it YOUR shake. You can do that by responding to my call Facebook, sending a Tweet to @Bariatric Foodie on Twitter or making a comment here on the blog! One of your ideas will be chose as today's finalist!

Now...you might remember that I did not try the Vanilla or Vanilla Latte. Why? Many reasons, chief among them that I am NOT a vanilla person. So I asked a few Foodies to review it. Thank you my friends!

Your reviewers are: Samantha, Heather and Gwen

Stats: Here are the stats on ALL the Fit Frappe flavors, and below are the stats for the 8 oz. serving of Vanilla:

Calories: 70
Fat: 1.5g
Carbs: 12g
Fiber: 3g
Sugar Alcohols: 7g
Protein: 10g

Aesthetics:

Samantha: The smell of the Vanilla was great. It had a vanilla scent to it but was not over powering. It also did not give off a fake vanilla smell which some protein powders. The look was no different then any other powder.

Heather:  Powder looked very smooth and of a fine texture.  Due to having no sense of smell, I did not bother trying to determine odor of powder.  A benefit perhaps as I have read of many complaints of the whey protein smell. 

Gwen: Looked and smelled like any other protein powder I’ve used.  The Latte one was a disappointment as it didn’t seem to have a smell of coffee.

Preparation: 

Samantha:  I prepared the plain vanilla one way shaken in a blender cup then poured over ice. I was a bit skeptical about only using water. I’ve noticed most say you can use water OR milk they were very specific about only adding water in their directions. I was expected a watery taste since I was using water on not milk. That was in fact not the case!

Samantha's (super cool!) Vanilla Fit Frappe set-up!

Heather:  I made the drink with skim milk and my regular allotment of 5 ice cubes, again in the wonderful Ninja machine.

Heather's Fit Frappe Vanilla!

Gwen: I made it with water in a shaker bottle for on the go use. 

The Taste:

Samantha:  It tastes like vanilla frosting. It has that hit of sugary vanilla goodness right at the end. This product tasted way better then I really thought it would using only water and pouring it over ice.

Heather:  It was very tasty!  In fact, I kept tasting it over and over, trying to figure out what it reminded me of. The texture of the drink in my cup was almost like a soft serve ice cream, although it did not seem that thick when I was transferring it to my glass.   Thus this observation made me think of my former love of Dairy Queen ice cream.  I decided right then and there that the Big Train Vanilla Fit Frappe tasted very much the same as the DQ. It was had a nice refreshing taste that was very much enjoyable.  I was so surprised that this "vanilla" drink could literally make me a convert.

Gwen: Better than expected. It dissolved nicely and had a smooth taste.  Thickened up nicely for being made with water.

Any After-Effects?

(I asked your Foodie reviewers to specifically whether they noticed any effects from the sugar alcohols.)

Samantha: I felt fine after drinking this product but in full disclosure I did not drink an entire serving.  My only concern is I do not have a huge sweet tooth so I am not sure I could even get through an entire serving of this product over ice it has a very sugary hit at the end.

Heather: No problems from the sugar alcohols at all. 

Gwen: (Nik Note) Gwen didn't note any after-effects.

The Verdict:

Samantha:  I’d buy it to replace my other protein that I use in baking and making smoothies.  I think it is great product and did not disappoint. 

Heather: I would recommend both as acceptable protein drinks for bariatric patients. I think I will be switching from my base vanilla powder to the Big Train Vanilla as soon as I run out.  It was that good!

Gwen: I would buy this one if I drank more protein shakes. 

Notes:

All three Foodie reviewers noted that they did not like the fact that the sample pack comes with two servings. Like me, they don't want to have to figure out what to do with the other half!

Gwen pointed out that she liked that there were directions for three different ways of mixing the powder, while both she and Heather noted that it mixed nicely with water.

So...your Fellow Foodies told you what they thought. You ready to win some for yourself?

You guys are always telling me how you mix up your vanilla shakes. So tell me...what one ingredient would YOU add to Fit Frappe Vanilla to make it YOUR shake? Again, you can answer by leaving a comment on my Facebook, sending a tweet to @BariatricFoodie on Twitter or simply by leaving a comment on this blog post.

Your idea could score you the third finalist seat, with a chance to win a free tub of Fit Frappe! And remember, this weekend FIVE of you will get a chance to win a free sample pack with all five flavors to try!

TOMORROW: Your Foodie Reviewers tell you about the Vanilla Latte flavor and another one of you has a chance to become a finalist to WIN a full tub!