3 Plant-Based Protein Smoothies to Start the Day Right and Deliciously!
While eating whole, unprocessed food is ideal, it isn’t always practical. And for most people, mornings are hectic enough without cooking a whole meal–that’s when it’s the perfect time for simple, nutritious, and totally delicious plant-based protein smoothies. They’re a much better choice than grabbing a pastry from the break room at work, or worse, skipping breakfast altogether.
Personally, I prefer pure hemp and pure pea proteins as opposed to other protein powders that contain flavorings, sweeteners, and multiple forms of protein. My compromise is to keep the processed food to a minimum. I use Manitoba Harvest hemp seed protein and Naked Pea protein in my morning protein smoothies. But use a protein or combo that’s right for you.
Tips for Making Delicious Protein Smoothies
- Hemp protein can have a strong taste in protein smoothies, so I choose to use it with other really strong flavors.
- I don’t use milk (dairy, coconut nut or soy)–they just add unnecessary calories and processed ingredients, like carrageenan, which some people do not tolerate well.
- To add creaminess, without adding dairy, try adding some avocado to your protein smoothies.
- Freeze your bananas ahead of time. Not only is freeing bananas a great way to deal with bananas that are getting too spotty, but it’s also a great way to thicken the texture of your protein smoothies and make it cold!
- If you are worried about too much sugar from the bananas, just use ½ of one.
- You can pretty much add fresh spinach to any smoothie for added nutrition, and you won’t even be able to taste it. A great way to serve vegetables to children.
Plant-Based Protein Smoothies
All of these smoothie recipes are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan (if you substitute or remove the honey). Blend in blender or food processor until you reach your desired consistency. For thicker smoothies add less liquid. If you like them thinner, add more liquid. Enjoy!
Mint Chocolate Chip Green Smoothie
- 1 cup or fresh spinach
- 1 ½ cups of filtered water
- 1 scoop of hemp seed protein powder (like Manitoba Harvest)
- ¼ – ⅓ cup of fresh mint
- 1 tablespoon of cacao nibs (I like Navitas Naturals)
- 1 teaspoon of honey (or sweetener of choice)
- ½ avocado
- Ice
Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie
- 1 tablespoon of peanut butter
- 1 scoop of pea protein powder (like Naked Pea)
- 1 ½ cup of filtered water
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon of honey (or sweetener of choice)
- 1 frozen banana (you can use an unfrozen banana, but the texture is better with frozen bananas)
- Ice
Berrylicious Smoothie
- 1 cup of frozen mixed berries (blueberries, cherries, raspberries, strawberries)
- ½ of a frozen banana (you can use an unfrozen banana as well)
- 1 scoop of pea protein powder (like Naked Pea)
- ½ cup of baby greens (like a mix of kale, spinach, Swiss chard)
- 1 ½ cups of filtered water
- 1 teaspoon of honey (or sweetener of choice)
- Ice
Related on Organic Authority
The Ultimate Post Workout Snack Smoothie Recipe
Green Power Bliss Smoothie Recipe with Spinach, Chia and Pea Protein
Top 4 ‘Clean’ Protein Powder Options Made with Real, Whole Food Ingredients
Image: Green Smoothie via Shutterstock
