Triple Green Protein Smoothie

 

 

At BlogHer Food in Miami last month, I opted to attend the “Turning Online into a Product Line” breakout session on the first afternoon. I slipped into the small conference room, snagged a seat at a circular table in the back right corner, and pulled out my notebook, pen poised to start scribbling notes, before I finally gazed up at the three women behind the presenters’ table.

 

After the moderator introduced Jadah of Simple Green Smoothies, I immediately sat up a little straighter in the barely cushioned chair. As part of her opening, she revealed that she lived in the same part of California that I was born! Something about her welcoming tone, warm smile, and relaxed sense of humor captivated the entire audience—including me!

 

 

She explained the early beginnings of her business, based entirely on green smoothies. She and her co-founder started posting recipes on Instagram and immediately gained a humongous following for their fun fresh fruit-and-veggie shots. They also worked on their website and added multiple cleanse programs (both free and for a fee), all while staying happy, healthy, and completely motivated.

 

Although I had never tried a single sip of a green smoothie before in my life (yes, I’m rather late to the game!), I recognized that if a simple beverage could turn around this woman’s entire life, it was probably worth swapping out some of my spinach from my dinner salads into my morning routine!

 

So with our town’s temperatures skyrocketing to 108° this weekend—and not dropping anytime soon—I finally decided today was the day to take the plunge and created…

 

 

A Triple Green Protein Smoothie! With only 4 ingredients and no protein powder required, this refreshing drink is packed with 3 wholesome green fruits and veggies, resulting in an incredible rejuvenating boost. Plus it’s low fat, low calorie, and completely clean eating—the perfect healthy way to start your day!

 

 

I might be strange, but when I first heart about “green” smoothies, it completely confused me that people added in fruits and veggies that weren’t actually green in color! Now it makes sense why they throw in mangos, bananas, peaches, and pineapple: they help mask some of the kale’s earthiness.

 

(And just to clarify, “green” smoothies earned their name because of their color, not because they’re environmentally “green!”)

 

 

But for my first green smoothie, I decided to be a bit of a purist and chose spinach, kale, and honeydew. If you don’t like kale, that’s totally fine! Its slightly spiced and bitter flavor is an acquired taste, so substitute extra spinach instead—or even broccoli or zucchini if you’re feeling wild. (The zucchini swap is definitely next on my list!)

 

For the protein boost, I turned to Greek yogurt. Thick, creamy, and with a subtle tang, it contains 23 grams of protein per cup—compared to about 8 grams in regular yogurt. It’s my favorite easy and sneaky way to add more protein to my mornings!

 

 

When I make smoothies and frappuccinos, I generally blend together everything but the ice first. This helps ensure no large chunks of fruit—or greens, in this case!—get overlooked and yields a much smoother consistency. Then add the ice, which essentially thickens the drink and helps you stay hydrated. (I’m the worst at remembering to drink my 8 glasses of water every day, so extra ice in my smoothies and frapps really helps!)

 

But if you prefer more of a thin juice consistency, skip the ice and add a little extra water instead.

 

You may also need to add a tiny bit of sweetener like Truvia, Swerve, or Stevia (all clean-eating friendly) if you’re new to green smoothies like me. Or just double the amount of honeydew… It’s really easy to adapt this recipe to fit your tastes!

 

 

Full of nourishing vitamins and nutrients, this Triple Green Protein Smoothie is a fun and satisfying way to sneak in more fruits and veggies. It’s perfect for a hot summer day, post-workout refreshment, or just a simple healthy pick-me-up. Besides, who can resist such a bright and pretty color?

 

Watch out grocery stores—I might start buying double the greens!

 

 

View Nutrition Information