High-Protein Brain-Healthy Smoothie

High-Protein Brain-Healthy Smoothie is a creamy & refreshing smoothie. It contains frozen banana, strawberries, baby spinach, unsweetened almond milk, ice cubes, cashew butter, hemp seeds, & Medjool dates. This smoothie is prepared quickly in 10 minutes, good to prepare for a busy breakfast or day. This smoothie is good to make for breakfast, snack, or workout. Serve this High-Protein Brain-Healthy Smoothie with whole-grain toast with almond butter, a vegetable egg white omelet, or a cottage cheese bowl. We can easily store this smoothie; it’s good to prepare for meal prep.

STATS:

• Caloric count: 355 kcal
• Duration for Prep: Ten minutes
• Duration for Cook: Nil
• Total Duration: Ten minutes
• Cuisine: American
• Serving Size: 1 smoothie
• Course: Breakfast, Snack
• Diet: High-Protein
• Servings: 2

EQUIPMENT:

• High-speed blender
• Measuring cups
• Knife
• Measuring spoons
• Cutting board
• Serving glasses

INGREDIENTS:

• One cup baby spinach
• 1 small frozen banana, sliced
• 1 cup strawberry slices
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 2 tbsp. cashew butter
• One cup almond milk (unsweetened)
• 2 tbsp. hemp seeds
• 2 Medjool dates

INGREDIENT NOTES:

FROZEN BANANA:

• Add the frozen banana to make this smoothie thick and creamy without adding yogurt or ice cream. It will provide potassium, natural sweetness, and a smooth texture. We would also utilize fresh banana instead, but it might make the smoothie less frosty.

STRAWBERRIES:

• Include the strawberries to provide a natural sweet taste, fiber, & vitamin C. You would also utilize frozen strawberries instead to make the smoothie thicker & refreshing.

BABY SPINACH:

• Add the baby spinach to provide folate, vitamin A, iron, & antioxidants, which will support brain health. It blends smoothly into the smoothie.

UNSWEETENED ALMOND MILK:

• Add the almond milk to provide creamy consistency without the addition of extra sugar. We would also utilize oat milk, soy milk, or dairy milk instead, as preferred.

ICE CUBES:

• Include the ice cubes to make this smoothie thick & refreshing. You would also reduce the amount of ice if all the fruits are frozen to achieve the desired texture.

CASHEW BUTTER:

• Add the cashew butter to provide good fats, extra protein, and to make it creamier. We would also utilize almond butter or peanut butter instead to provide the same rich texture & taste.

HEMP SEEDS:

• Include the hemp seeds to provide vegan protein, fats, magnesium, & iron. They are added to support brain & heart health while making it healthier.

MEDJOOL DATES:

• Add the Medjool dates to sweeten the smoothie naturally and also provide fiber, potassium, & an indulgent taste like caramel. We would also utilize fewer dates if the banana is very ripe to decrease the sweet taste.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Include the almond milk, then spinach, frozen strawberries, bananas, and dates in the blender.
2. Then add cashew and hemp seeds, then include the ice cubes.
3. Now blend the smoothie on high for one to two minutes till it gets smooth.
4. We can have the smoothie & include more dates if required.
5. Add the smoothie to serving glasses and serve.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS:

BREAKFAST:

• Whole-Grain Toast with Almond Butter
• Vegetable Egg White Omelet
• Cottage Cheese Bowl
• Overnight Oats

HEALTHY SNACKS:

• Mixed Nuts
• Roasted Chickpeas
• Apple Slices
• Greek Yogurt

PROTEIN PAIRINGS:

• Boiled Eggs
• Cottage Cheese
• Turkey Roll-Ups
• Grilled Chicken Strips

TOPPINGS:

• Hemp Seeds
• Chia Seeds
• Sliced Strawberries
• Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
• Granola

TIPS:

• Freeze the ripe banana in advance to make the texture creamy.
• We have to blend the leafy ingredient in milk first to make a smooth texture.
• Add the frozen strawberries to achieve a thick smoothie consistency.
• Include a spoonful of vanilla protein powder to provide extra protein.
• Add a spoonful of flaxseed powder to add the omega-3 fats.
• You can increase or decrease the quantity of almond milk to alter the thickness of the smoothie.

STORAGE INFORMATION:

It is good to have the fresh smoothie, though you could store the smoothie if required.

FRIDGE:

• Put the smoothie in the closed glass jar and store for 24 hours.

FREEZER:

• Add the smoothie to the ice cubes, then add the cubes to the plastic bag and freeze for one month.

FAQs:

Will I prepare the smoothie in advance?

• Yes, prepare the smoothie before the requirement and store it in the fridge for 24 hours.

How to add extra protein in a smoothie?

• You can include protein, hemp seeds, or Greek yogurt to add more protein to this smoothie.

What to add instead of spinach?

• You can add baby Swiss chard or kale instead to prepare this smoothie.

Does this smoothie contain dairy?

• No, this smoothie is prepared with almond milk, so it is dairy-free naturally.

How can I decrease the sweet taste of this smoothie?

• You can decrease or omit the dates to decrease the sweet taste of this smoothie.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:  

Serving Size: 1 smoothie

Total Carbs: 36 g

Fiber: 7 g

Vitamin A: 0.42 g

Calcium: 0.24 g

Iron: 0.003 g

Sodium: 0.16 g

Calories: 355 kcal

Potassium: 0.72 g

Fat: 21 g

Net Carbs: 29 g

Servings: 2

Protein: 11 g