Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie

Shake, shake, shake up your breakfast routine with this Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie!

This post was created in partnership with our friends at Organic Valley.

Go ahead, have dessert for breakfast.

No really, go ahead. It’s okay when it’s a Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie packed with protein, calcium and just enough sweetness to make you feel like you’re breaking all the healthy eating rules (even though you’re not).

True story, my kids will only eat ONE kind of smoothie. Vanilla yogurt + Banana + Peanut Butter + Chocolate chips (it’s just a few mini ones, don’t judge). They call it a ‘Monkey Smoothie’ and no lie, it’s the only smoothie I’ve made for them in the past four years. Until this week.

And don’t think I haven’t tried to convince them to try other kinds of smoothies. I’ve whipped up countless concoctions over the years and each time it’s been something like this: “Too green/too sour/too chalky/too _____.” I’ve even gone so far as to haul the Vitamix downstairs to the furnace room so I could blend in spinach and other veggies without them knowing all to no avail.

I’d pretty much given up and resigned to a life of making ‘Monkey Smoothies’ several times a week until I send them off to college in about a decade, but then this Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie happened. And everything changed.

They sucked it right down. Of course, it didn’t hurt that I’d fancied it up with whipped cream but there were ZERO complaints. Now, keep in mind I didn’t add spinach to this (though I desperately wanted to) but nonetheless, it was a victory in my book. And I’m pretty sure you’ll think the same – even if you’re not trying to win over two overly critical foodie kids.

This smoothie has it all – sweet, summery berries, a hint of vanilla, protein and the perfect amount of tang just like a good cheesecake should have. Plus it packs an extra nutritious punch thanks to the Organic Valley Grassmilk Yogurt inside.

Make mine grass-fed

Grass-fed isn’t just a term reserved for steaks and burgers! Milk from cows fed a diet of 100% grass or dried forage (hay) is what makes Organic Valley Grassmilk Yogurt so special. Not only does grass impart subtle flavors to the milk, it also increases the omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content. Conjugated linoleic acids are a healthy omega-6 fat with anti-inflammatory effects and thus something you want more of in your diet. Compared to conventional whole milk, Organic Valley Grassmilk contains 147% more omega-3 fatty acids and 125% more CLA.¹ Additionally, the ratio of (unhealthy) omega-6 to omega-3 is 1:1 in Organic Valley Grassmilk and 6:1 in conventional milk. ^2,3

And the taste? Grassmilk tastes the way milk should taste. Rich and creamy with subtle flavor notes that change with the seasons and with the type of pasture the cows graze. And every tub and cup of Organic Valley Grassmilk Yogurt comes with a luscious layer of cream on top.

I personally choose Grassmilk products for my own family

Even though we’re lucky enough to have access to raw milk through a ‘herdshare’ here in Colorado, as a busy working mom I just don’t have time to make yogurt and cheese from the milk. And let’s be honest, my kids PREFER the Organic Grassmilk Yogurt over my extra-tangy homemade version and they love that it comes in 6-ounce cups for lunches and road trips. I love that I can offer my family the same delicious (and nutrient-dense) options without all the fuss.

To find Organic Valley Grassmilk Yogurt in a store near you use their product locator here.

All the protein without the powder

Protein powders are a great way to add satisfying, muscle-building protein to a smoothie, but if you play your ingredient cards right you can pack your smoothie with plenty of protein without a single scoop of powder. How, you ask? With cottage cheese! Not only does it bump up the protein in the Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie, but it also gives it a rich, silky texture.

Now, did I have to sneak that cottage cheese into the blender? You bet I did. But since it’s the same color as the yogurt it was an easy sneak and didn’t require me to haul the blender to another room (seriously though, just try telling your kids why you’re trucking down the hall with a Vitamix under your arm…believable excuses and plausible explanations are almost impossible to come up with in this moment). And they were none the wiser. #momwin #evendietitianshavepickykidssometimes

Freezer pops for the win

Somewhere around the 874th time that I had to prepare a ‘Monkey Smoothie,’ I wised up and started freezing the leftover smoothie into freezer pops. This meant that I could take a day off from the smoothie making (read: drink my coffee while it was still hot) and just hand the girls a pop or two and let them have at it.

Which is exactly what you should do with this Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie, too. Maybe even double the recipe and make a few extra for afternoon snacks or a healthy, low-stress dessert on a hot summer evening.

Just pour the smoothie into the wells of your freezer pop molds (I use this one), sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs, add the lid, insert the sticks and freeze until solid. Store pops in a plastic zip-top bag in the freezer. For best taste and texture, remove pops 10 minutes prior to serving or just go sit outside on the steps or in your hammock on a hot summer night and let the warm breeze soften the pop for you.

Sources & References:

1. Organic Grass-Fed Milk Is More Nutritious. It’s Science. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.organicvalley.coop/resources/organic-grass-fed-milk-nutrition/
2. What is CLA? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://organicvalley.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3/~/what-is-cla?
3. Benbrook, C. M., Davis, D. R., Heins, B. J., Latif, M. A., Leifert, C., Butler, G., . . . Baranski, M. (2018, February 28). Enhancing the fatty acid profile of milk through forage-based rations, with nutrition modeling of diet outcomes. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/fsn3.610

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Let's Get Cookin'

Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie

• Author: Jessica Beacom
• Prep Time: 10 mins.
• Total Time: 10 mins.
• Yield: Makes 2 smoothies
• Method: Blender, Freezer

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• ¾ cup (6 ounces) Organic Valley Grassmilk Vanilla Yogurt
• ¾ cup Organic Valley Cottage Cheese (we used 4% milkfat)
• 12-14 frozen organic strawberries (about 2 cups)
• ¼ – ½ Organic Valley Grassmilk (amount used will depend on your blender and the desired consistency; we used whole milk)
• 1 Tbsp. flax meal
• 1 cup ice
• 1 sheet gluten-free graham crackers,* crushed
• Organic Valley Heavy Whipping Cream, whipped to stiff peaks (optional)

Instructions

1. Add yogurt, cottage cheese, strawberries, milk, flax meal and ice to a high-power blender. Blend until smooth.
2. Stir graham cracker crumbs into smoothie, reserving a pinch of two to sprinkle on top. Pour into glasses, top with whipped cream, if desired and remaining graham cracker crumbs.
3. To whip cream: Place ¼ cup heavy whipping cream in a small bowl. Whip with a hand mixer or by hand using a whisk until stiff peaks form. 

Notes

Notes: *We used Pamela’s brand gluten-free grahams, but you can also use our Grain-Free Graham Cracker recipe.)

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Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2 servings
• Calories: 292
• Sugar: 22g
• Sodium: 385mg
• Fat: 9g
• Carbohydrates: 33g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 17g

What’s your favorite smoothie combo and do you also have to sneak in veggies, protein, etc. without anyone seeing?! Tell us about it in the comments below.

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This post was made possible by our friends at Organic Valley. Though we received compensation for this post, the opinions expressed here are  – as always -100% our own. Thank you for supporting the great companies we work with thereby allowing us to continue creating great recipes and content for you.

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About Jessica Beacom

Jessica is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist living in Boulder, CO with her hubby and two daughters. She's been described as a 'real food evangelist' and loves sharing her knowledge with others to help them break free of the diet mentality and find their own food freedom. In her spare time she enjoys CrossFit, telemark skiing, mountain biking, teaching herself how to play the banjo and camping out under the stars.