Lean Green Protein Smoothie

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This lean green protein smoothie is the perfect blend of protein, carbs and healthy fats to keep you full until your next meal. Great for breakfast, snacktime or after a workout.

It's a brand new year and what better way to start it off but with a refreshing green protein smoothie. Smoothies are a great way to get added vitamins and minerals into your diet. They are great on the go and can be easily prepped. I'm a huge fan of this Healthy Strawberry Peach Smoothie during the summer months.

This lean green protein smoothie is loaded with lots of antioxidants. The avocado gives it the creamy texture along with the plethora of veggies and fruits. It is sweetened not with milk but with coconut water which is high in potassium alongside apple juice. Add in your favorite vegan or non vegan vanilla protein powder and you have yourself a delicious, wholesome and nutritious smoothie.

I love that I can have a refreshing and healthy drink made in minutes at home! Get your high powered blender ready to go!

WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS SMOOTHIE

• Versatile: Smoothies are the drinks that you can definitely play around with. Don't have celery? Add a cucumber instead. Don't have spinach on hand but do have kale? Add kale. They are great to mix and match. So have fun with it and enjoy!

• Balanced Meal or Snack: This lean green protein smoothie is a perfectly balanced meal or snack. It can be used as a meal replacement, snack or after workout drink. The coconut water and avocados are great sources of fats. The veggies are wonderful healthy carbs to give you energy. The protein powder is an excellent sources of protein. Most protein powders have around 20-25 grams of protein per scoop. This helps stabilize blood sugar and keep you fuller longer.

• Full of Veggies: If your like me looking for ways to add more veggies to your diet, this is the way! Smoothies are the perfect way to get them in. This also makes this smoothie very kid friendly. Win! Win!

INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED

• Coconut water
• Apple juice
• Spinach
• Zucchini
• Celery
• Granny Smith Apple
• Avocado
• Vanilla Protein Powder
• Ginger
• Ice

HOW TO MAKE THIS SMOOTHIE

Step 1: Chop veggies up.

Step 2: Place all ingredients into a high powered blender.

Step 3: Blend well until smooth. Enjoy!

ADAPTATIONS

• Use 1-2 medium size bananas instead of avocado to give it that creamy texture.

• Make it vegan by using a vegan vanilla protein powder.

• If you don't want to use protein powder, you can use ½ cup of greek yogurt instead. It will not be as much protein as protein powder but will definitely give the smoothie some.

• Use pineapple or orange juice instead of apple juice.

OPTIONAL ADD-INS

These are some great optional things to add to this smoothie if your looking for extra protein or to give it a little extra boost.

• Peanut Butter
• Almond Milk
• Chia Seeds
• Flax Seeds
• Greek Yogurt
• Cucumbers

EXPERT TIPS

• Add the liquid to the blender than spinach. Helps the greens puree then add additional ingredients.

• Adjust the liquid/ice ratio after blending. You may need more to help thicken the shake depending on how much ice was used.

• Use a high powered blender. I can't stress this enough so the ice can be blended well and the greens pureed. Vitamix or nutribullet are both great blenders for this smoothie.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1.) What is the best protein powder to use? I am a huge fan of Equip Protein Powder. It comes in a variety of flavors and has 20 grams of protein per scoop.

2.) How can I add protein without protein powder? Greek yogurt or cottage cheese are the best way to do this. You can add in ½ cup of the yogurt or cottage cheese instead of protein powder.

3.) Can this smoothie be made vegan? Yes, you can make vegan by using a vegan based vanilla protein powder. I would recommend Vega Organic Protein and Greens Powder.

4.) Can this be a meal replacement? Yes, a smoothie can be a meal replacement. Personally, I don't generally use as a meal replacement but add it into my diet. It is great after a workout.

5.) Are protein smoothies good for you? Absolutely, you can't go wrong with a well balanced drink. Smoothies are chalk full of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that our bodies all need.

HOW TO STORE

This blend can easily go into a cup with a sealed lid into the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

I hope you give this Lean Green Protein Smoothie a try! If you do give this recipe a try, please let me know!

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