Starbucks Vivanno Banana Chocolate Blend - No-Dumping Style!

For me, the worst thing about having an RNY is dumping syndrome. I hate dumping! Every RNY'er dumps differently, and some are fortunate that they seem to be immune to it (or unfortunate depending on how you look at it). Don't get me wrong, I don't hate that I dump, I just hate dumping. I do everything I can to try to avoid it. I knew what I was getting into though, to be honest I wanted the negative reinforcement that feeling so sick and jittery that I curl up in the fetal position in bed for thirty minutes anytime I step over the line and consume too much sugar. It played a pivotal role in my decision process while considering RNY versus other types of available Weight Loss Surgery.

That said, it's still a bit frustrating when I have to stand by and watch all the "normal folks" get to enjoy sweets. This week when Starbucks came out with their new line of protein smoothies called Vivanno, I was really looking forward to trying one. The problem is the new drinks are loaded with sugar. 28 grams for the Banana Chocolate and 32 grams for the Orange Mango Banana Blend. Granted 16 of those are from the whole banana that is blended in, and sugar from fruits, at least for me - are tolerated in much higher quantities then other sources of sugar. Either way though, I would surely be in dump-city if I were to drink an entire 16 oz serving (incidentally that is the only size they are sold in).

So here I am this week, not being able to join in the new-Starbucks-product-fun and feeling kind of bummed about it when I come up with the idea to try to crack the recipe and make it WLS friendly. I really need to thank the Queen of WLS Cooking: Michelle aka Eggface for inspiring me to try this. I've been over at her awesome blog - The World According To Eggface just about everyday since I discovered it. There aren't too many foods we need to deprive ourselves of anymore thanks to her RNY-friendly recipe conversions!

So tonight I got to work on it with the help of a few confidential insiders and the info I gleaned on a recognisance trip to my local Starbucks store. I must say the baristas at my local Starbucks were more then helpful when I explained to them about how I've had WLS and that I needed to really know exactly what was in one of these things just to make sure that I could tolerate the ingredients. They even went as far as volunteering to let me check out their training binder where I found much more information then I did on their website. Then once it was clear I wouldn't be able to enjoy a Grande Vivanno, they offered to whip up a fresh one just so I could sample it (the rest of which they poured into more sample cups and distributed to the other patrons in the cafe).

From there I headed to the SuperTarget and gathered up what I thought I would need. I bought a bunch of different things to test different variations and different proportions. I started with what I thought would taste the best and be the easiest to make and I'm already satisfied. I don't think I even need to try it any other way. Honestly, I feel this version actually tastes better - a bit sweeter and a bit less chalky. So here goes:

Mike's Banana Cream Chocolate Protein Smoothie - aka Mock Starbucks Vivanno Choco Banana Blend

Ingredients:

3 teaspoons of Jell-O Sugar Free Fat Free Banana Cream Instant Pudding Powder
(this is instead of the banana. It makes it creamier and a little thicker this way, and of course lower in sugar, but many people, including myself, tolerate bananas just fine, so you may want to just use the banana instead.)
1 scoop of Vanilla flavored Whey Protein Powder
(I used EAS Brand which is easy to find at Target, Wal-Mart, Costco, etc...But I know people are pretty picky and loyal to their particular brand, so by all means use whatever you want - I just suggest you use vanilla flavor for this recipe.)
1 & 1/2 tablespoons of Sugar Free Chocolate Flavored Syrup
(The brand I had in my refrigerator was Great Value from Wal-Mart. This is used instead of the 3 pumps of Mocha Syrup which according to the Starbucks website contains 18 grams of what the barista described as "crystalline sugar!")
8 ounces of Light Soymilk
(Again, big reduction in sugar here. Just make sure you check labels - many soymilks are loaded with sugar to make them taste palatable. The variety I have been buying, 8th Continent Light, is not - it contains only 5 g of sugar per 8 oz serving.)
6 Large Ice Cubes

To make:
Just add all the ingredients, blend until smooth, and enjoy a guilt-free, dump-free, high-protein meal replacement. I suggest adding the powdered ingredients first though just to improve the blend by reducing "powder pockets" in the finished product.

Nutritional Info - How They Stack-up!

Amounts per 16 oz. serving
(Starbucks Vivanno Banana Chocolate Blend / Mike's Banana Cream Chocolate Protein Smoothie)

Calories 270/215

Fat Calories 45 / 36

Total Fat (g) 5 / 4

Saturated Fat (g) 2.5 / 1

Trans Fat (g) 0 / 0

Cholesterol (mg) 15 / 70

Sodium (mg) 170 / 380

Total Carbohydrates (g) 44 / 13

Fiber (g) 6 / 0

Sugars (g) 28 / 6 + 2g Sorbitol (a type of sugar alcohol)

Protein (g) 21 / 30

Vitamin A 10% / 10%

Vitamin C 15% / 0%

Calcium 20% / 55%

Iron 15% / 8%

Caffeine (mg) 15 / 0?

Note: The Starbucks version uses a protein/fiber powder. My version uses just a protein powder and also has lacks the protein of the real banana. It's a good idea for us to try to keep our fiber intake up, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to add some powdered fiber such as Benifiber to improve the fiber content of this "meal."