Feel low on energy and wish you were getting more nutrition? As a mom, I know there are days where I am not eating properly or enough. Being overwhelmed with taking care of everyone, busy and trying to keep everything going. My worst is when I choose not to eat to get time for myself. Enter these nourishing smoothie recipes.
I love smoothies and have been drinking them almost daily for at least 10 years. Simple to prepare and are either a fast meal or snack. You can load them with nutrition, they are easy to digest and you can easily customize. They are great on the go and are great to cram a ton of spinach in. So when you’re in the rushed mode, you can drink your salad!
If you don’t already make smoothies I know these will make a big difference in your day. There is nothing better than starting your day with a great breakfast and setting the tone for how you’ll care for yourself. Here are 5 of my favourite combinations.
Classic Strawberry Banana
This is a classic combo that you can really add anything to and it will taste great. This is one kids love as well and can be a great way to get protein into busy toddlers. I know my daughter does not like to stop and eat, so to avoid the inevitable meltdown at the end of play, I offer protein stacked smoothies.
- 1 banana (frozen if desired)
- 1/2 cup of frozen strawberries
- 1 scoop of protein powder (this one is very gentle on digestion and plant based without soy or pea protein)
- Almond milk
- Add-ins: glob of natural peanut butter, tbsp of cacao nibs/hemp seeds or a scoop of greens powder
Add everything to the blender and cover with almond milk. The strawberries are pretty fibrous so I top up with almond milk until I get the desired consistency. Enjoy!
“Cold” Green Smoothie
My daughter calls this one “cold green smoothie please” because it is delicious and cold and refreshing. Whenever I make this smoothie I feel awesome. This recipe makes enough for 2 larger and 1 smaller servings or 2 very large. It is a slightly simplified version of Oh She Glows Green Reset Button Smoothie.
- 1 heaping cup of frozen pineapple
- 1/2 a cucumber, chopped
- 1 banana
- 1.5- 2 cups of frozen spinach – I used the nuggets and use 7
- 1 pear, cut into pieces
- 1.5 cups of water
Place everything in a blender, starting with the cucumber. Start blending at a low speed to get the liquid from the cucumber and increase to full. Drink immediately. I find this smoothie doesn’t keep super well, so you can’t make a day ahead. Definitely finish within the day and keep refrigerated if you aren’t drinking immediately.
Blueberry Hemp Smoothie
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 2 tbsp hemp seeds
- 1 cup of almond milk
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- A scoop of protein (optional)
- 1 tbsp honey (if no protein)
- Tsp vanilla (if no protein)
Add everything to the blender and blend until smooth.
Date Almond Smoothie
This is delicious and from a local vegan restaurant. I used to own their cookbook (before decluttering). From my memory, this is how I make it. I works out to 2 servings.
- 6 dates
- Large banana
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- A pinch of cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1.5 cups almond milk
Soak the dates for a few minutes in hot water to soften them. Add all the ingredients to the blender and blend until smoothie. Enjoy!
Spirulina Smoothie
Smoothies are a great way to sneak in greens powder and give your body a nutrient rich boost. Spirulina is a powerhouse and often a lot less expensive than other greens powder. Plus it actually has protein!
- 1 banana
- 1/2 cucumber
- 1 cup of spinach
- Tsp of spirulina powder
- 1 tbsp hemp seeds
- 1 cup of almond milk
Blend everything until smooth. Add more liquid as needed.
These recipes or a variation on them have been staples of mine for years. They are nutritious, filling and help give me a boost of energy. Give one a try. You could replace your breakfast or actually eat breakfast if you skip. The protein heavy ones are helpful on days when you are exercising and I love bringing one along on a hike or another activity where you need lots of energy but want something portable.
If eating well is a struggle for you, I would also recommend trying a 30 day challenge. This is my new way of successfully building habits. It has helped me follow through and show up for myself. You deserve to commit to yourself and take care of you. So try it out. Drink a nutritious smoothie using one of these nourishing smoothie recipes for 30 days. You can also find my free 30 day challenge tracker in the link above.
I’d love to hear your favourite!
