Here's a quick, no-cook breakfast or mid-day snack. Plus, smoothies are an easy and tasty way to get those fruits and leafy greens into your meal-plan! This makes green smoothies an amazingly nutrient-dense meal and is way better than stopping for convenient junk food – just consider a large smoothie to be a full meal and not a snack.
Oh, and take your time! Don't gulp it down too fast. That'll give your stomach enough time to let you know when it's full. And, if for some strange reason your smoothies don't fill you up, try adding in an extra spoon of fiber like ground flax or chia seeds.
Chia and Peach Green Smoothie
Serves 1
1 cup spinach (about a fist-full)
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 banana (Frozen and sliced)
1 chopped peach (Frozen and chopped)
1.5 cups unsweetened almond milk
1 pitted date
1 scoop protein powder (use your favorite brand. I like using 100% Gold Standard Whey Protein from Optimum Nutrition)
Add ingredients to blender in order listed (you want your greens on the bottom by the blade so they blend better and have the chia on the bottom to absorb some liquid before you blend).
For a thicker consistency, wait a couple of minutes for the chia seeds to start soaking up the almond milk.
Blend, Serve and Enjoy!
Tip: Smoothies are the ultimate recipe for substitutions. Try swapping different greens, fruit or seeds to match your preference.
[Bonus]: Chia seeds not only have fiber and essential omega-3 fatty acids but they contain all of the essential amino acids from protein.
[Time-Saver]: Go ahead and make a double batch and pour half into a Ziploc bag. Double bag it by putting it into another Ziploc bag, then lay flat in the freezer. Next day, just pull it out of the freezer and give it a good kneading and pour it into your travel bottle, or pop a straw in the opening and sip it straight from the bag! You can even use it as an ice-pack in your lunch box. It'll keep your food cool and will have thawed out just in time for your mid-day snack!
Nutrition Facts - Servings: 1
Calories per serving 366; Total Fat 5.9g; Saturated Fat 1.1g; Trans Fat 0g; Cholesterol 32mg; Sodium 342mg; Potassium 1133mg; Total Carb 53.7g; Dietary Fiber 34.1g; Sugars 34.9g; Protein 30.4g
(Vitamin A 67% - Vitamin C 47% - Calcium 42% - Iron 13%) *Based on a 2,000 calorie diet
