Make a Shake, Make it Great: Use Sugar-free Syrups
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In the first ‘Make a Shake, Make it Great’ blog we discussed using diet soda and sugar-free flavored water. The next stop in this series is using sugar-free syrups in your shakes.
Sugar-free syrups probably represent the largest single source of shake flavorings, and they have no calories. None. Zero. Plus, they come in a huge range of delicious flavors.
You want fruit flavors? How about banana, black cherry, blueberry, cherry, huckleberry, lime, mango, orange, peach, raspberry or watermelon, to name a few?
You want dessert flavors? There’s almond, butterscotch, butter rum, caramel, coconut, cookie dough, English toffee, German chocolate cake, gingerbread, peanut butter, praline, pumpkin pie, salted caramel, white chocolate, and more.
Want to make it a party? There’s Amaretto, B-52, creme de menthe, Irish cream, Kahlua®, and more.
The possibilities here are endless: chocolate shake + banana, chocolate shake + caramel, chocolate shake + German chocolate cake, vanilla shake + peanut butter, vanilla shake + mango, vanilla shake + pumpkin pie, multigrain cereal + hazelnut, multigrain cereal + raspberry, multigrain cereal + Irish cream (after 5:00 p.m., of course). Heck, why not try a chocolate shake with caramel, French vanilla and Kahlua? Par-tay!
The basic recipe for a sugar-free syrup shake is 1-2 Tablespoons per shake. Because it is calorie-free, feel free to add more if you want to boost the flavor.
Since the sugar-free syrups have no calories, they are appropriate for all HMR diets (including Decision-Free) as well as Phase 2. Here are two recipes to get you started:
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The Snickers® Bar Shake Add one scoop or packet of HMR Shake mix. Add ice cubes, one at a time, replacing the blender cover after adding each ice cube. Continue mixing until ice is thoroughly blended—about 1 minute. Click here for a printable version of this recipe. |
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Vermont-Style Multigrain Hot Cereal Empty contents of cereal packet into a microwave-safe bowl. Click here for a printable version of this recipe. |
While a few stores carry the sugar-free syrups, perhaps the easiest way to find the flavors you want is to order them online. The three biggest syrup sites are:
Da Vinci: www.davincigourmet.com/products/sugar_free_flavored_syrups/
Monin: www.moninstore.com
Torani: www.torani.com
If you have any sugar-free syrup recipes of your own you would like to share, please post them here.
About the Author
Keith Van Gasken began obesity treatment in a clinic setting in 1982, and has been with HMR since 1992. Roles have included health educator & mentor, as well as program and product development, with a special affinity for product & recipe development. He has maintained a 100-lb. weight loss since 1982.
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