I have experimented a bit, asked advice on Facebook, pinned a bunch of recipes on Pinterest, and just randomly googled flavor combinations. I would like to try more, but right now I have a go-to recipe that I try to drink every weekday morning. I've noticed a difference in my body when I stop drinking them...apparently I don't get as much fruits and veggies as I should, and this is just a perfect and tasty way to get my nutrients. I make it last through the morning at work until an hour or so before lunch.
It seems kind of silly to take pictures while I make it because it's ridiculously easy to throw together as long as you add the ingredients in order.
Strawberry-Banana-Peanut Butter Spinach Smoothie (with almond milk, flax, and protein)
Serves: 1 (20 oz)
Serves: 1 (20 oz)
First, you need the necessary utensils: kickass blender (Black Friday sale, thank you), 1 cup, 1 tablespoon, and 1 stylish tumbler.
Pour one cup of plain unsweetened almond milk in the blender. I like it unsweetened because it acts as a liquid base and doesn't make the smoothie overly sweet. I prefer the kind of almond milk that you get in the dairy case because they tend not to have carrageenan. That deceptive ingredient is everywhere, especially in almond milk that you can store in a pantry. I like Trader Joe's brand:
But I really prefer Silk's brand. It's 30 calories less and tastes nicer. It's hard to find that at Trader Joe's, so I have to wait until we get to Giant to pick some up. I'm fine going between the two.
I add a scoop of french vanilla flavored protein next so it absorbs in the liquid faster. I was recommended this brand by a good friend who works at a health food/supplement store. I also tried the strawberry and thought it was fine, but I prefer the vanilla. I just like vanilla in everything! My trainer prefers that I have whey protein.
Next, I add either 2 tablespoons of flaxseed or 1 tablespoon of chia seeds. I was using chia seeds for awhile, but Trader Joe's was out of stock before a storm once, and I decided to give flaxseed a go. I really like them both and can see going between the two. The chia thickens the smoothie more, and I prefer a thicker texture. But this flaxseed is just so tasty and healthy as well!
Fruit is next. I typically hate bananas, but I've realized just how vital they are to giving a smoothie body and texture. Plus, their health benefits are amazing. I just hate the smell and taste, so I make sure to overpower it with other flavors. I use half an organic Chiquita banana (to save on calories and taste). Sometimes I peel one and freeze the other half, sometimes I actually stop being lazy and just break up and freeze the whole bunch of bananas so I'm always ready.
Next is 3/4 cup of strawberries. I like getting frozen fruit because then I don't have to use ice (another great tip from a friend), and I don't have to worry about it going bad. I've been known to throw away things without using them because they spoiled thanks to my kitchen laziness. Bad habits, waste of money- no good. Plus, I really should start to follow the motto that Weight Watchers always shared: "Plan to succeed."
I love to add a tablespoon of peanut butter for extra protein and flavor. Smart Balance is my favorite. I don't mind using the real stuff over the powdered because I only use half a serving, the taste is stronger, and it keeps me fuller longer.
This is the powdered peanut butter I sometimes use- recommended once again by my friend! It tastes good, if a bit subtle, and has minimal calories and fat in comparison to regular peanut butter. However, I'm actually more curious to see how it would taste in some of my baking recipes. I do recommend it if you're looking for an alternative.
I add the greens last. I tend to go for a big handful of organic baby spinach a lot because of the mild taste. The final color is unappealing, but the spinach adds amazing nutrients and really cuts the sweetness down. I have a hard time drinking smoothies without green veggies.
I've also tried kale and Trader Joe's Power Greens that has kale, spinach, and baby chard. All of the above is good, but spinach is my favorite.
Put the lid on, hit blend on low, stop to scrape if necessary, give it a good final pulse....and you're done!
I make these before my shower in the morning so I can put the smoothie in the freezer to thicken for about a half hour. If it's not a work day, I actually get a few chores done while waiting. Imagine that!
This is the nutritional content for this particular smoothie. (with TJ's almond milk, flaxseed, and spinach)
So tell me, what are your favorite smoothies?
23 grams of protein, that's awesome! I'm always trying to get more protein in my breakfast. Currently I eat a banana and a granola bar (the nature valley protein ones which have 10g) but more often than not I'm still hungry before lunchtime comes around.
ReplyDeleteIf I don't have a lot of protein in the morning, I crash hard during the day. I love that protein powder b/c it's so subtle and doesn't have artificial crap in it.
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