You might have noticed, we drink a lot of smoothies around here.
If you happen to follow my #healthyhappyandfree Instagram account, you probably have picked up on that.
Smoothies really are an easy way to pack in nutrition. They’re also great when you’re on the go. (Or just too lazy to use a plate and a fork. hehe.)
You’ve probably heard me mention that Green smoothies are my most common go-to. And it’s true.
But here’s a little insider-info about me…(shh, I don’t always confess this stuff…)
Sometimes…sometimes…I’m just not in the mood for fruity smoothies. Sometimes I don’t feel like berry, or papaya, or orange…and sometimes I don’t even want to drink green!
I know, I just said that.
Sometimes I’m just craving something creamy and sweet. And when I can find a way to make a healthy smoothie taste a little more like dessert, well: I’m all in.
Assuming I’m not tooootally alone, I thought I would share three of my favorite smoothie recipes that have absolutely no (zero!) fruits and veggies in them. (Well, there is one slight caveat there, but you’ll have to hop to the bottom to hear about that.) I actually have a longer list, so if you like these, let me know and I’ll share more!
Just like with all smoothies, you can switch these up a hundred different ways. Try adjusting things according to your taste and what you happen to have on hand.
The one ingredient common to all of these is a vanilla protein powder. If you don’t have protein powder, then you can still make them, but it does add the creamy thickness that I love. (Adding a couple frozen bananas will help thicken them, if you need to sub.) Also, a note on the protein powder (and the caveat mentioned above) at the bottom of the post.*
My most-common go-to for protein sans-fruit:
VANILLA, DATE, ALMOND BUTTER SMOOTHIE:
Printable recipe here:
Vanilla, date, almond-butter smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cups almond mik or milk of choice
- 4 dates pitted.
- 1 Tablespoon almond butter any nut butter is fine!
- 1/2 Tablespoon coconut butter
- 1 Tablespoon Cacao nibs I save a couple nibs to sprinkle on top!
- 2 scoops protein powder depending on how much you like
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth
- Pour into cups and top with cacao nibs.
- ENJOY!!
Very similar, but with the added bliss of a creamy cocoa-base
COCO-DATE-ALMOND BUTTER SMOOTHIE
**Follow exact recipe above but add a full Tablespoon organic cocoa powder (and sprinkle some on top to be fancy.)
And a really fun combo:
CHAI TEA PROTEIN SMOOTHIE:
monicaswanson.com
Recipe (serves 2)
–1 cup milk of choice
–1 cup strong chai tea (either make a cup and chill it, or use something like Oregon Chai which comes in the box)
–2 scoop vanilla protein powder
–1 tsp. cinnamon
–1/2 tsp. each: nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, vanilla extract
1 cup ice
Blend well and ENJOY!
I often drink one of these for breakfast, or lunch, or if my lunch was too small (which is often, because lunch is a weird meal that I can’t figure out,) then for a snack around 3:00. Perfection!
NOTE ON PROTEIN POWDER: **
People ask me a lot about which kind of protein powder I recommend. I wish I knew more about the different brands, but I don’t. I have always only used Juice Plus Complete Powder. Here are three reasons I love it:
1. It tastes incredible. It has such a smooth, consistency, and the vanilla flavor literally blends with everything! (It does come in chocolate as well as vanilla, but I mostly use vanilla and then add cocoa powder if I want a chocolate flavor.)
2. It isn’t a “high protein” powder, but a “balanced nutrition” drink. Since I’m not exactly bodybuilding or anything, (right!?) I’m not looking to add high amounts of protein to my diet. I just want a healthy balance of protein, good-carbs, and fiber. Juice Plus Complete does that.
3: (**and the caveat mentioned) Juice Plus Complete actually has all kinds of fruit and veggie powders IN IT. Really! So though you will never taste tomato or spinach or broccoli, the powders from all of those and more are in each scoop. That is why I love it.
As I mentioned in this recent post, we have been taking Juice Plus products for nearly twenty years (I’ve lost track.) Though I’m not actively in sales, I keep a distributor link for friends and families, and you can check it out right HERE. If you have any questions– email me or leave a comment. I’m not an expert, but I am a long-time fan. 😉
Feel free to comment and tell me your go-to smoothie — whether it has fruits and veggies in it or not! ALSO: If you have a favorite protein powder, please tell us about it (and feel free to share links!) in comments too!
I appreciate it so much when you pin and share posts, so your friends can have a look too! Mahalo!
With Aloha,
Monica
It’s awesome I love smoothies
I take it for my sisters
They don’t eat much…
I have so many allergies to fruits and veggies I am having to cut out my smoothie powders (Vital Protiens Fruit & Veggie combined with their Dark Choc Blackberries powder). These are the only one’s I can stand the taste of (i dislike that sweetner taste in so many). These recipes have given me some good ideas – thank you! Please share more!
Thanks so much! I’m pregnant and can’t keep fruits n veggies down and I’ve missed my protein shakes! The more ‘savory’ flavor is just perfect!
I’ve also been taking Juice Plus for years (and am a distributor :)) and was excited to see it in your post :)! I love using Complete in smoothies or even just with almond milk.
Thanks for sharing these! I agree that Juice Plus’ protein powder tastes the best! If I’m out of that, I use the plant-based Orgain vanilla. It tastes pretty good and is available at Costco usually. In the fall, I make a soothie with puréed pumpkin, almond milk, cinnamon and coffee to get that “pumpkin spice latte” taste. Mmmmm.
Thanks for commenting Jen! I have never tried that one that you find at Costco–now I will have to look for it! 🙂 I love pumpkin everything, and that sounds like a yummy combo! Much love and thanks for sharing! xo
These look delish and I will try for sure! I use a protein powder that’s plant based (no whey) called Vega. Their vanilla flavor is yummy and I like mine with Almond milk, almond butter and banana. Lately I’ve been trying avocado instead of banana fir variety and even though it’s not as sweet, it’s super creamy! Highly recommend it!
Oh yum, i love avocado in anything! I recently bought the Yonanas machine (have you heard of it?) But I love putting avocado through that as well. The creaminess is so good! I haven’t heard of Vega either, but thank you for sharing! Much aloha to you and your family!
I’ve haven’t heard of that machine but I will check it out! I miss my “Almond Loco” smoothie from Lanikai Juice and I am excited to try your cocoa-date-almond butter as it sounds similar. Sending you a shaka (and a hug) from the OC :)….let me know if you are ever out this way. Would love to see you!
Thank you very much for these recipes! Can’t wait to try them! I use Nature’s Plus Spiru-Tein “High Protein Energy Meal” protein powder. It’s a blend of soy/rice/pea proteins, and has vitamins in it, plus things like magnesium, manganese, zinc, folic acid, etc. And I know what you mean, sometimes I don’t feel like greens or fruits, and I just want some almonds and dates and maybe some chocolate, too! Variety is the spice of life!!
I love, love, love smoothies, shakes, juices too!
My favorite is a green juice that I usually have for lunch: kale, spinach, parsley, cucumber, celery, green apples, lemon, and ginger (in the summer I also add pineapple).
Every morning I drink a “lactation smoothy” (since I’m still breastfeeding my baby), and I absolutely love it: almond milk, banana, oatmeal, flaxseed, cinnamon, honey, and peanut butter. It’s so good!
My husband drinks a powder protein shake in the morning, it’s a plant protein powder since I’m allergic to whey (he’s sacrificing himself for me ?). It’s a vanilla one from Orgain, Organic Protein Plant Based Powder. (We try to stick to organic stuff as much as we can!) ?
Copying those smoothies recipes, Monica! Thank you for sharing them! I’ll try them one each day! Can’t wait! ?
These are some good options. I really dislike the grainy taste of most protein shakes. Also, I don’t also want fruity so thanks for sharing this choices.