Easy Green Protein Smoothie

This easy green protein smoothie has 32 grams of protein per glass and is quick to make at home—just 5 healthy ingredients and 5 minutes to make. Vegan, gluten free, soy free and nut free.

Why You’ll Love This Smoothie

• Creamy consistency
• Has 32 grams of plant protein
• Mild, sweet taste

This easy green protein smoothie is a perfect breakfast or post-workout snack packed with protein, antioxidants and healthy fats. It tastes mildly sweet and delicious despite the vibrant shade of green. All you need is a blender to make this simple yet satisfying drink.

This smoothie gets its colour from kale, which is a superfood rich in protective antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin. Antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress in the body and reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases. Kale is also a rich source of vitamin C, magnesium and calcium. This dark leafy green also acts as a prebiotic in the gut which helps encourage good bacteria levels.

Hemp seeds add extra protein and omega-3 fatty acids to this smoothie. Consuming hemp seeds on a regular basis can help to lower overall inflammation levels and improve hair and skin quality.

Ingredients Needed

These are the ingredients you will need to make this green vegan protein smoothie.

Kale: Wash any dirt from the leaves before adding to the blender.

Hemp seeds: Adds to the creamy consistency of the smoothie.

Protein powder: Plain vegan protein powder, sweetened or unsweetened.

Frozen bananas: Creates the thick, creamy base of the smoothie and adds sweetness.

Oat milk: The liquid that brings all of the other ingredients together to blend smoothly and adds a creamy consistency.

For ingredient amounts and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Benefits

High fibre

Easily get more fibre in your every day diet! In addition to being generally healthy, getting enough fibre can be extremely helpful for weight loss as it helps keep you feeling full for longer, without adding calories. Fibre also helps improve our gut health.

Nutrient dense

Vegan smoothies are a great way to get more nutrient rich foods in each day. By blending them into a single meal, it’s super quick, easy and fun! Choose ingredients like dark leafy greens, berries, nuts, seeds and fruits to make your smoothies nutrient rich.

Quick and easy

It’s incredibly fast to make a yummy smoothie. Gather your ingredients and toss them in the blending container, blend, and you’re already done! Rinse the blender container. It doesn’t get much more simple than that. Smoothies rarely take more than 5 minutes to make. This makes them a great option if you find yourself short on time for a healthy meal.

Variations

Protein powder flavours

Instead of using plain vegan protein powder you can try this smoothie with vanilla, chocolate or even berry flavour. If you prefer not to use any protein powder, try using extra hemp seeds instead to boost the protein and good fats.

Fresh banana instead of frozen

If you don’t have any frozen bananas on hand, that’s okay! This smoothie also works perfectly with fresh banana in place of frozen. Be sure not to over blend if using fresh banana, the smoothie is already starting out warmer. You don’t want to heat it too much by blending it for a long time. As soon as it looks smooth, stop blending. Place it in the fridge for 10 minutes if it accidentally gets too warm.

Try an alternative plant milk

This recipe uses oat milk but you can try using any plant based milk you prefer. Some alternatives include soy, almond or cashew! You can also make your own plant milk from scratch.

Instructions 

• Add all ingredients to blender.

• Start blending at low speed for 5-10 seconds. Increase to high speed and blend for 1-2 minutes. Use the blender tamper to push ingredients down towards the blades.

• Pour into a glass and serve your easy green protein smoothie.

Prep & Blending

Use frozen greens

Dark leafy greens can boost your smoothies nutritional content easily. Greens don’t have to be fresh for blending. Frozen greens like kale and spinach are perfect for adding into smoothie recipes. Be aware that if you want your smoothie to be a certain colour, greens may alter it.

Add ingredients in the correct order

Always add liquid ingredients to your blender first. Then add powders, nut butters, nuts and seeds. Then add fresh greens and fresh fruit. Finally add your solid ingredients like frozen fruit. If using a small blender container with a twist on lid, reverse the order so that when you turn the container over to blend the frozen ingredients are farthest away from the blades.

Use a tamper

Push ingredients down towards the blades while blending using the tamper that comes with your blender. This helps to avoid thick smoothies from getting stuck, so you don’t have to stop blending and scrape down the sides of the container.

Use a high power blender

For smoothies that have a perfectly smooth and creamy texture use a high powered blender such as a Vitamix. It can break down any ingredients to much finer particles than standard blenders, and more nutrients are released. A high speed blender also reduces the time you need to blend your recipe, which helps keep it nice and cold.

Chill your glass

By placing your smoothie glass in the freezer for a few moments you can help your smoothie stay cool for longer. This is especially helpful if you’re in a hot climate. Pop it into the freezer while you are prepping and blending, then take it out when it’s time to pour your finished smoothie!

FAQ’s

Does this smoothie taste green?

This smoothie has a mild green flavour but it is also naturally sweetened by the bananas. It’s not too strong, making it ideal if you are new to enjoying green smoothies.

Can I lose weight with smoothies?

Smoothies are an excellent weight loss food! This is because they are generally lower calorie and higher in fibre and nutrients. Due to high water content, the large volume of a smoothie helps your stomach to feel satiated. And the fibre keeps you feeling full for longer, without feeling weighed down or tired like a huge meal would.

Can smoothies be refrigerated?

Smoothies are best enjoyed immediately after blending, while they are freshest. However you can refrigerate most smoothies for 1-2 days in an airtight container such as a jar.

Can I make smoothies without a high speed blender?

Yes, you can still make smoothies with a regular blender. It might take more patience depending on the recipe, but it can work. Turn off the blender to scrape down the sides of the container, and secure the lid before continuing to blend. Repeat as needed. Alternatively you can add a small amount of additional liquid to the recipe, which should help.

How can I increase the protein?

If you wish for your smoothie to have a higher protein content, you can simply add (more) protein powder to the recipe. Plain unsweetened plant based protein will work in any smoothie. Alternatively you can try adding hemp seeds or even silken tofu.

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