Berry Green Protein Smoothie

 

If you recently read this post by me on Instagram, you’d know I’m a big believer in smoothie bowls—the kind that require a spoon and come with all the toppings. Needless to say, I highly recommend having this nut-free, vegan goodness with something creamy and something crunchy on top (I promptly added extra homemade granola + some almond butter on top of this bowl). Read on for the super simple recipe + nutrition facts on some of the ingredients included.

berry-green-plant-protein-smoothie
 

Berry Green Protein Smoothie

RECIPE

Serves: 1

Blend:

1 C milk of choice (I used Califia Farms unsweetened vanilla almond milk but can sub oat or soy milk to keep this nut-free + vegan; regular milk or coconut water would likely work too)

1/2 C frozen banana, sliced

1/3 C frozen cauliflower rice

1/3 C frozen organic blueberries

1 C organic baby spinach

1 tbsp ground flax

1 tbsp chia seeds

1/2 scoop plant-based protein powder (optional; I used Four Sigmatic’s Superfood Protein)

1/2 tsp spirulina powder (optional; I used Organic Tradition’s spirulina)

3 dashes cinnamon

Good to know:

  • Cauliflower rice - Adding frozen cauliflower not only bulks up the smoothie, but also adds fiber without compromising flavor. Talk about an easy way to add more veggies to your day.

  • Spinach - Spinach is on the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen List (AKA the list of fruits + vegetables that contain the highest levels of pesticide residue), so I recommend buying organic spinach if possible. Curious what other foods are best bought organic? Check out the Dirty Dozen List here. P.S. It’s not all doom + gloom! There’s also a clean 15 list, which tells you which types of produce are a-ok to buy conventional.

  • Blueberries - High in pigments called anthocyanins, blueberries are one of tastiest anti-inflammatory foods around.

  • Chia seeds - Everyone knows chia seeds are packed with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, but they’re also high in soluble fiber, which helps to keep you feeling full for longer.

  • Spirulina - Spirulina is an awesome type of blue-green algae that’s crazy high in plant protein. It’s 70% protein by weight, which means just one tablespoon can provide six grams of protein, the same amount as an egg(!). It has a distinct taste, so start small when working it into recipes. Want to learn more about the ingredient? I wrote all about it for Health.com here.

Note:

  • This is not a super sweet smoothie. Throw a date into your blender if you like things on the sweet side!

    Did you make this Berry Green Protein Smoothie recipe? Let me know in the comments what you thought! Follow along @ALIVEWELLNutrition on Instagram for more green smoothie recipes.

Breakfast, RecipeAnthea Levibreakfast1 Comment