Strawberry Banana Protein Smoothie

Protein smoothies are a staple in my diet. They're quick, easy, and liquid, which is great for someone who commonly has a upset tummy and can't tolerate much breakfast food. I used to buy the pre-packaged Jamba Juice smoothie mixes at the store, but they are SO incredibly expensive that once my grad-school budget happened I simply couldn't afford them anymore. And why bother? Making your own is a little daunting at first but it's a really simple formula.

I like finding a lot of recipes on Pinterest and editing them however necessary (take out dairy when I'm dairy free, slightly more or less fruit, different fruit, whatever). Frankly, smoothie making is more of an artform than anything. No two smoothies are going to turn out alike, so know you always have the freedom to add more or less liquid, fruit, greens, whatever you so choose.

However, I do have a couple rules that I always always always follow:

1. ALWAYS use frozen fruit. It negates the need for ice and thus you become full faster and stay full longer. If you freeze bananas, peel them first. Trust me. I learned the hard way.
2. Don't use water as your liquid. You want something with nutrients in it. Cow's milk, soy milk, coconut water, juice, whatever. Just. Not. Water. If you opt for juice make sure you're using something that is 100% juice with no sugar added.
3. Don't use sweeteners. A lot of "recipes" call for Honey or other sweeteners. Frankly, you don't need them. All it does is boost the sugar content without altering the taste much.

I loosely based this particular recipe off of the popular "Lauren Conrad's 7 Days to Skinny Jeans" pin that is everywhere on Pinterest. The recipe follows.

1/2 Cup Frozen Strawberries
1 Frozen Banana
1/2 Cup Old Fashioned Rolled Oats*
1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
1 TBSP "Very Green" Dietary Supplement
1 1/2 Cups Light Vanilla Soy Milk

*I make sure I use certified Gluten Free oats, but I'm picky. These are dry, uncooked oats. Don't use Instant Oatmeal.

It turns out looking like this:

Of course you're free to switch out berries, flavor of protein powder, liquid, whatever. This is just what I personally use. And don't worry, I see your brain gears turning.

What is Very Green?

Good Question! Very Green is a dietary supplement you can pick up at your local organic market or health food store. It may be called something different, but when you buy it at Trader Joe's it looks something like what you see on the right. Basically, it's a full serving of veggies in powder form. I add it to all my smoothies in lieu of adding things like raw spinach or kale because it blends right in and doesn't add volume. It also does not alter taste. It changes the color a little, as the powder is green, but you're getting a full serving greens for basically no room in your blender, allowing you to add more fruit, liquid, or whatever you may like. You also don't have to worry about cleaning the greens before you blend them, or de-stemming things, or winding up with stems in your smoothie if your blender isn't the best.

I haven't tried, but I'm guessing it can also be added to other foods like soups and sauces. It can also be taken straight with water or juice. Here's the dietary panel:

Okay so now that that little side track is over. Put all that in the blender, and, well, blend. I often find myself having to pulse the blender a bit, and then stop and shimmy it a little to get everything back around the blades, but within about 45-60 seconds of blending you should have a nice consistancy. Don't be afraid to add more liquid if you like yours thinner. The one in the picture below was on the thicker side, but I also neglected to use the full 1.5 Cups of liquid. So your final result should look something like this:

Drink up!