A Meal Shake With More Protein Than Steak

Sid's Kick-Ass Meal Shake tastes a lot better than it looks.
(Photo © Maria Wakem)

It’s been about two months since Matthew and I returned from our Vegan Vacation in Mendocino, and we’re feeling better than ever. The transition to a vegan diet hasn’t been easy. I’ve had a few minor slips, including an accidental encounter with a shrimp. But meat mishaps aside, most of our meals now consist of local organic veggies from our CSA box along with the occasional night out at No Worries or Herbivore.

Friends who know about my not-so-secret weakness (extra crispy fried chicken) often ask me how I’ve been able to overcome my meat cravings. The answer: I don’t have them anymore. In fact, I haven’t had them since I started drinking Sid’s Kick-Ass Meal Shake. (Yes, that’s really what it’s called, and no, I’m not getting paid for this endorsement.) This powerhouse shake is packed with vitamins, minerals, proteins, antioxidants, phytochemicals, fiber, and essential fatty acids. It’s the wholly satisfying creation of certified nutrition consultant Sid Garza-Hillman, and one 8-ounce glass every morning has managed to extinguish any animal protein urge.

According to Sid, who got Matthew and me started on our vegan kick, the meal shake provides you with all the nutrients listed above without a single pill or laboratory isolated nutrient. “The shake is whole foods based, which makes it accessible and absorbable by the body,” says Sid. Most notably, he adds that the shake is a better source of protein than a steak, which has acid-forming concentrated animal proteins that put stress on the body, weaken the immune system, and lead to inflammation, among other health conditions.

“A steak offers around 28% protein per calorie, while this meal shake contains things like spirulina (about 60% protein per calorie), chlorella (about 60% protein per calorie), and hemp seeds or powder (about 30% protein per calorie plus all the essential amino acids),” explains Sid. “Protein is simply a non-issue when you eat a variety of plants.”

SID’S KICK-ASS MEAL SHAKE

Makes about 6 to 8 servings. 

INGREDIENTS

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1 Tbsp Vitamineral Greens

2-4 Tbsp Raw Cacao Powder (to taste)

1 Tbsp Kelp Powder

1 Tbsp Chlorella Powder

1 Tbsp Maca

1 Tbsp Spirulina Powder

1 Tbsp Noni Powder

3 Tbsp Raw Hemp Protein

2-3 Tbsp Coconut Oil

1 Tbsp Yacon Root Powder

3 Tbsp Whole Chia Seed (or Ground Flax)

1 Tbsp Bee Pollen

1 Ripe Banana (or a handful of Frozen Blueberries)

Local Raw Agave Nectar or Local Raw Organic Honey (to taste)

Add enough water to fill an entire 2-liter blender. Blend until smooth. Sid recommends drinking one 8-ounce glass daily to start, and then eventually working your way up to 16 ounces or more. Cheers!

For more on why nixing animal proteins is good for your health, watch this related video from another favorite health expert of mine, Dr. Karina Stewart, Co-founder of Kamalaya Koh Samui.