Chunky Monkey Green Smoothie & 5 Tips For Ensuring A Satiating Smoothie
5 tips for ensuring your smoothies will taste great & keep you fueled for hours instead of just sending your blood sugar through the roof.
We’ve all been there, drinking our green smoothie because it’s the ‘healthy’ thing to do post-yoga or maybe just hanging with your girlfriends on a Saturday afternoon but then the inevitable happens after about 45 minutes. Your stomach starts groaning because you’re starving and the HANGRY monster is about to make a very large and uncomfortable appearance no matter where you are or who you’re with.
I’ve heard so many people say that smoothies just ‘don’t fill them up’ and that they’ve tried everything, but I honestly find that so hard to believe because I’m similar to that of a human garbage disposal and require a lot of calories (no I don’t count them or anything close to that, I just know by the amount of food to keep me satiated). If smoothies can fill me up, I’m very confident that they can fill you up as well. You may just need to take a closer look at the ingredients you’re consistently using to brew your smoothie potions.
And that’s exactly why I developed these 5 Tips For Ensuring A Satiating Smoothie. Read on below to ensure you’re setting your smoothie making practice up for success.
Always include a healthy fat. This has honestly been the biggest game changer for my smoothies. Once I started including things like avocado, coconut butter, ,coconut oil and/or nut butters in my smoothies, I immediately noticed how they kept me feeling content for hours rather than minutes. Plus, avocados make it extra creamy!
Don’t forget your vegetables. You’ve heard this phrase before but really, I’m dead serious. It’s so wonderful to be able to add things like spinach, cauliflower and zucchini to your smoothie without really even tasting it. This is such an easy way to sneak 1-3 more servings of veggies into your day!
Add some protein! I’m most notorious for making/consuming smoothies post-workout, so it’s crucial that I get some protein to help the muscles recover but workout or not, clean protein in a smoothie is never a bad thing. I always add almond milk and then 2 scoops of collagen peptides. My stomach is pretty sensitive to most protein powders, but it LOVES collagen so that’s the route I stick with - - do what works for you (but please read the ingredients).
Minimize added sweeteners. In full honesty, you shouldn’t need to add any kind of sweeteners to your smoothie because the fruit you’re using should naturally sweeten your beverage. If you must, opt for raw honey or pure maple syrup as your options.
Garnish with meaningful toppings. Smoothie toppings don’t just make for pretty photo ops, there’s actually a lot of very valuable nutrients contained in most topping options. Some of my favorites include: cacao nibs, chia seeds, bee pollen, goji berries, grain free granola, hemp hearts and more!
Basically what I’m trying to say here is, make sure it’s more than just fruit & water - the flavor AND texture are so much better when you get creative with your smoothies and they not only keep you satiated for hours on end, but they fuel your body with so many essential vitamins and minerals that you might not it into your daily diet otherwise.
CHUNKY MONKEY GREEN SMOOTHIE
Makes: 1 Smoothie
Ingredients:
2 Giant Handfuls of Spinach
1 ½ C. Almond Milk
1 Banana, frozen
½ An Avocado
1 Tbsp Almond Butter
1 Tsp Cinnamon
½ Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
Methods:
Add all ingredients to a blender or NutriBullet & blend until smooth.
Pour into jar, bowl or drink straight from the blender if you choose.
Option to add additional almond butter, nuts, granola, fruit or any other toppings that you fancy to make this delicious drink even more decadent.
Enjoy!
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P.S. Looking for more delicious and filling smoothie recipes? Try my Apple Pie Smoothie, Pumpkin Berry Power Smoothie or my Paleo Pumpkin Spice Smoothie & add a smoothie a day to your own morning routine!
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