Vanilla Hemp-Milk Shake with Goji Berries

August ends tomorrow, and back to school season will be upon us. But for now, a week of ninety degree weather is keeping the summer love alive. Here’s a refreshing meal-in-a-glass, perfect for breakfast on these last hot days of summer.

This shake is packed with protein and healthy essential fatty acids from fresh hemp seeds, and gets an added cell-saving antioxidant boost from high ORAC goji berries.

The Oxygen Radical Absorbence Capacity, or ORAC scale measures the antioxidant potential of different foods. Goji berries are one of the highest ORAC fruits, surpassed only by black raspberries and acai. Raw cacao tops them all – but that would be a different shake! Goji berries also contain all eight essential amino acids, making them a complete protein in a cherry-plum tasting package.

In this raw vegan version of the old childhood favorite, the Strawberry Milkshake, hemp seeds make the milk and goji berries stand in for strawberries.

Goji berries are a first-class thickening agent, so lots of water and ice are required, making this shake terrifically hydrating as well as delicious. Powdered vanilla bean provides a deep flavor experience but vanilla extract would also do. Tip: I always peel, bag and freeze my too-ripe bananas so I’m sure to have a stash of frozen bananas on hand.

Vanilla Hemp-Milk Shake with Goji Berries

Ingredients
4 Tablespoons goji berries
1 ½ cups filtered water
1/3 cup hemp seeds
2 frozen organic bananas
¼ teaspoon vanilla powder
4 ice cubes

Directions
Place goji berries, water and hemp seeds in blender container and allow to soak for five minutes or so while you gather the other ingredients. Blend well to make your goji hemp milk, then add bananas, vanilla powder and ice and blend again till nice and frothy.