FOOD

With the temperatures increasing, I’ve been craving smoothies again. There are so many ways to craft a delicious smoothie, but for me it’s typically a mix of frozen berries or bananas, spinach, non-dairy milk, coconut water and protein powder. For my most recent smoothie, I went with a classic favorite. Jam-packed with frozen berries, banana, unsweetened vanilla almond milk and my secret ingredient, Vega One Vanilla nutritional shake, this smoothie is equal parts nutritious and delicious.

Vanilla Berry Banana Smoothie

Serves One

– 1 cup frozen mixed berries (raspberry, blueberry, blackberry)

– 1 medium banana, chopped & frozen

– 1 scoop vanilla Vega One nutritional shake

– 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

– 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water as needed for blending.

I have a regular blender and find that using the ice blend setting works very well. The trick to the creamy, frozen consistency is using frozen fruit and frozen banana. I actually peel and chop ripe bananas up and store them in sandwich baggies in the freezer for smoothies. I’ve never liked the slushy-like consistency of ice cubes in a smoothie, so this works perfectly for me.

Note: You can absolutely sub the unsweetened vanilla almond milk for any other milk, or coconut water. Vega One is sweetened with Stevia and has a nice flavor, so my preference is to not add additional sugar or sweetener to this smoothie.

Why Vega One Protein Powder?

In case you’re wondering, the stats on this smoothie are pretty decent. It clocks in at about 350 calories and 9 grams of fat.

For readers not familiar with Vega One Nutritional Shake, it’s a personal favorite. It’s a vegan protein powder that’s free from dairy,  gluten and soy. I know what you’re thinking – why would I use a vegan protein powder if I’m not vegan? For me it’s two things – taste and nutritional stats.

If you look at the nutritionals, it’s pretty impressive that one scoop contains  50% daily intake of vitamins and minerals, 15 g protein, fiber, Omega-3, Antioxidants, Probiotics and Greens. At $39.99 for a small tub it’s definitely pricey, but the contents make it a great solution for me to get the nutrients I need while trying to manage my busy life. For my readers in Boston, I purchase Vega One locally at Whole Foods, but you can also order on their website, or Amazon (affiliate link) for slightly cheaper. I’m also a huge fan of the chocolate flavor!

What’s your favorite smoothie combo? Leave a comment and let me know – I’m always looking for good new ideas!

For more of my recipes, click here.