If you follow me on Insta or if you know me at all, you know I am obsessed with my smoothies.
I started incorporating smoothies into my diet when I was in my early 20’s; a period of time where I was living in the city, spending all my money at Lolita’s after work and my version of being “healthy” was subbing white bread for wheat when ordering my weekly Bacon Turkey Bravos from Panera *don’t forget the side of Broccoli Cheddar Soup*. I wanted to sneak more greens into my diet without actually having to taste them (I secretly hate most leafy greens like spinach and kale). Smoothies were a baby step towards becoming more health conscious — fast forward and they’re still a major staple in my diet.
When I make a smoothie, I follow Kelly LeVeque’s “Fab Four Smoothie” method: Protein (20g min) + Fiber (10g min) + Tbsp. Fat + Handful Greens + 1/4 Cup Fruit + Superfoods + Liquid. I have been using this as a guideline for yearsssss.
My go-to smoothie is as follows:
1/2 frozen banana (sometimes I use a whole depending on my hunger level)
1 cup frozen spinach
I scoop frozen blueberries
1 tbsp hemp seeds
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 tbsp pepita seeds
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 scoops vanilla protein powder
2 cups almond milk
Blend everything up in a blender (I use a Nutribullet) and add liquid of your choice as needed. Some days I like it thicker, some days I prefer more of a juice texture.
I switch it up all the time and will use mango instead of blueberries, or I’ll throw in some flaxseed meal, use kale instead of spinach, almond butter instead of coconut oil, etc., but the formula never changes. I can honestly say that I have yet to buy a smoothie that I prefer to my own. It really irks me to think about all the extra sugar most places are cramming into their smoothies and for a ridiculous price. Most smoothie bars are using way too much fruit which equates to lots of unnecessary fructose sugar.
I buy all my ingredients from Trader Joes. I try to stick to organic produce but don't stress if I happen to buy non-organic or if organic is not an option. I love the Aria vanilla protein. Also, hot tip (if you don't do this already), cut up your bananas ahead of time and store them in the freezer in a container. I think of them as ice cubes that act as the "base", allowing us to add or subtract chunks depending on our desired level of thickness. This will also help cut down time when you're trying to race out the door with a smoothie in hand. I must have frozen bananas on deck at all times!
I love this smoothie because it’s nutrient dense and it’s going to keep you full for a good chunk of time which will curb you from binging on sugary snacks or unnecessary, empty calories.
Try it!
Xoxo Lulu