Start your day with this healthy strawberry banana spinach smoothie. The added low fat vegan protein helps keep you full and energized all morning long!
This recipe was originally published on 4/28/16
Breakfast is always the hardest meal for me to deal with. Mostly because I need to start my day with something easy to throw together, not too heavy and protein rich to keep me going.
Smoothies are generally a good way for me to not only pack in greens, but also protein. Plus they are light enough not to weigh me down but filling enough to keep me going.
Pea Protein Smoothie
I am so picky with my protein powder. I want something vegan, low fat, whole food based, low carb and most of the time unflavored. I know, so high maintenance.
The good news is that I have finally found something I like. Pea protein and I am beyond excited about it! This vegan strawberry banana spinach smoothie is the perfect way to start my day and keep me full.
If you don't like pea protein, you can use whatever you like. But if you're looking for the same things I am, then give this a try! However you may need to try a few different brands of pea protein powder to find one you mesh with. Some have an aftertaste.
The one I love to use is this pea protein from NOW Foods. There is literally one ingredient, peas. Pure non-gmo peas. And once I saw that, I was sold. Hook. Line. Sinker. The best is that it is low fat and low carb, not a common find in the whole food protein vegan world.
Peas are also highly bioavailable and earth friendly, they have no major allergens and this protein keeps me full! As soon as I tried it, I was on a mission to make pea protein smoothies like it was nobody's business.
Can you add spinach to any smoothie?
I love adding spinach to my smoothies. It isn't easy to taste, so you can pack it in. And it's full of nutrients. Beginning my day full of greens gets me off to the perfect start!
Because spinach is so mild in flavor, you really can add it to any kind of smoothie. I add it to fruit based ones like this strawberry banana spinach smoothie, and to chocolate based ones like this Salted Caramel Cashew Cacao Chunk Smoothie.
What are the benefits of spinach smoothies?
Spinach has so many benefits! It has loads of nutrients but is low in calories. Some of the most beneficial things spinach provides are:
- protein
- vitamin A
- vitamin C
- fiber
- folic acid
Can you use frozen spinach for smoothies?
I personally don't use the bags of prefrozen spinach because the flavor seems to be too strong for me. It almost tastes as if it has been cooked, then frozen. You can use it if you have a brand you like flavor wise, but fresh spinach is better in my opinion.
That being said, I do have a trick I use to prep my smoothies for the week so that I can make then quick and easy each morning.
How do you make a smoothie for a week?
Being prepared for healthy eating the the number one thing you can do for success. So to prep myself for a good breakfast, I make smoothie bags.
For this strawberry banana spinach smoothie, I prep bags (or you can use jars) with the strawberries, banana and spinach. Then I put them in the freezer. When I am ready to make it, I pull one out and add the other ingredients and blend!
This helps me so I don't grab for something not as healthy. Since I know I put the effort to prep for the week, I won't let myself get lazy.
How To Make a Healthy Strawberry Banana Spinach Smoothie
Two simple instructions. This I can handle! Here is the step by step hold your hand kinda way to get a protein packed simple breakfast into your belly!
- Dump ingredients in.
- Blend.
Other Tasty Smoothies You Might Like:
- Tropical Pitaya Smoothie Bowl
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie
- Salted Caramel Cashew Cacao Chunk Smoothie
- Healthy Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie
- Protein Coffee Smoothie
Strawberry Banana Spinach Protein Smoothie
Ingredients
Strawberry Banana Spinach Smoothie:
- 1 ½ cups non dairy milk of choice
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup frozen banana
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1-2 tablespoons unflavored Pea Protein , I use NOW Foods brand
- 2 teaspoons chia seeds
- pinch sea salt
- 1 Medjool date , optional (if needed for extra sweetness)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
Notes
- This makes 3 cups total, each serving is 1 ½ cups.
- The chia seeds help thicken the smoothie and add extra nutrition.
- Prep the strawberries, bananas and spinach in bags or jars and freeze
Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.
Nutrition
Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.
Emily Kemp
Pea protein sounds like a great idea. I also love your suggestions with the jars, so easy and fuss free for mornings!
Paige
How would it change the smoothie if you don’t add the mesquite powder, not real familiar with it.
veggiesdontbite
Hi Paige! You'll be fine if you leave it out. It has a sweet almost butterscotch caramel flavor but it's not super pronounced. I often make it without when I don't have any! Thanks so much for trying it!
Meg @ Noming thru Life
It should be mandatory to drink this berry smoothie. I mean just look at that color!! Who needs a flower centerpiece this smoothie is crazy gorgeous.
veggiesdontbite
Ha! Thank you so much Meg!! I'd gladly have a smoothie centerpiece! LOL!!
Michelle Blackwood
Wow looks thick and creamy, good to know that Now carries pea protein!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Michelle!!
Greg @ Full of Beans
Love this post! 🙂
Plus LOOK at that color - wow!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Greg!!
Hauke Fox
Pea protein is pretty cool! I have it as well and I'm super happy with it 🙂
The banana/strawberry combo is deffo a great base for that powder, cool stuff 🙂
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Howie! I love it and it's the perfect base for me and what I need right now!
Hedi
This would make a brilliant post run smoothie. Pea protein has such a distinctive flavour though, I can only have it occasionally. Stunning photos !
veggiesdontbite
That's interesting you say that because I don't taste the pea protein at all in these smoothies. I wonder if some taste stronger than others. I love that it's low fat and low carb but keeps me so full. I need that with my workouts! Thanks Hedi!
Vegan Heaven
Wow! That color is just stunning, Sophia! Yummy! 🙂
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Sina!
Molly Kumar
Smoothies make such a quick n filling breakfast/any-time meal. Love the combination of strawberry-banana-spinach.
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Molly! I so agree!
The Vegan 8
I love the color and no kidding, back when I used to make smoothies each day for breakfast, it was always spinach, strawberries, blueberries and usually some lemon or orange juice so I'm totally cracking up how you made this. It looks SO GOOD. Even though you know I don't eat much fruit, I LOVE fruity smoothies because they are so darn fresh and delicious. I always used Sprout vanilla protein powder back then. I don't use them anymore because of yeah, too many sweeteners and don't feel they are that healthy, so seeing this is only peas is awesome. I have one protein powder they sent me that is ONLY pumpkin seeds, I have yet to try it though. I am however, drooling over the espresso one, which is no shocker to you I'm sure, LOL! I am craving the fruity one now though since it's been so long since I've had one and that color is so pretty. Mine always turn out more reddish purple but I think that's because I don't use the banana and I use a ton of blueberries. I love how naturally sweet it makes them!
veggiesdontbite
That's so funny! It's a great combo and the flavors work great together. I knew you'd like the espresso one. I only add a touch because I can't do caffeine but it's just enough. I probably should go and add a not saying you can add more. The vanilla powder though really adds great flavor with it too!! Thanks for all your kind words always!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yum yum power to the pea! Legumes rock!
And I feel like a smoothie is never a smoothie unless you add the veggies! (i.e. there must be some greens in there even if you can't see 'em!)
veggiesdontbite
Power to the pea is right! Who knew those little buggers were so great?!
Linda @ Veganosity
Pea protein is the best. Alex just told me about a new pea milk product that's on the market. Can you only imagine what people will think when you tell them that you like pea milk-hahaha! That smoothie looks so good, Sophia. Gorgeous color.
veggiesdontbite
Totally cracking up. Hi, I'm Sophia and I drink pea milk...HA! Thanks for the laugh and kind words!
Mandy
Your posts always make me laugh, Sophia! Diet police 😉 haha! These two smoothie variations sound SO good!! We don't use protein powder much anymore, but when we do, I prefer ones that are unsweetened and with very minimal ingredients...but this is by far the simplest option I've heard of! I'll definitely have to keep my eyes out for it. And what an awesome tip about prepping for the week - mornings can be kind of chaotic, so it's nice to have a way to make life a little easier! <3
veggiesdontbite
Haha! Thank you Mandy! I can't stand it when people think they are the police. It makes me want to sing the song from Frozen, LET IT GO!!! You would love this powder. It really truly is just peas!! I get it on amazon sometimes too. Check it out! A giant tub for not too bad of a price! And I highly recommend the jars, it makes our mornings so much less hectic!
Mandy
OMG!!!! Once again you're cracking me up! But I totally know what you're talking about...perfect song choice 😉 Awesome, when we get down to the last of what we have, I'm going to have to check this out because out of all the protein bases out there, pea protein is my favorite! Thanks for sharing!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks for always being so awesome!
Jackie of Vegan Yack Attack
Girl, that Cacao Vanilla Espresso smoothie is calling to me! Also, you are a damn genius with thinking to divide and prep all of the dry ingredients ahead of time. That's the most tedious part for me!
veggiesdontbite
You can hear it too?! Thank god I'm not the only one who hears their food 😉 YES! Isn't it SUCH a pain to scoop, spoon, sprinkle a million things every darn morning?! I thought, there HAS to be a better way. Smoothie prep!! I swear it makes my mornings so much better. Just pour some milk, handful of spinach and bam! There ya go.
Mel@avirtualvegan.com
What a great smoothie and such a gorgeous colour. Pea protein is such greta stuff!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Mel! Isn't pea protein awesome?!