I absolutely love a smoothie post-workout. Not only is it refreshing, but also convenient — and I’m all about convenience nowadays. I’m so excited to share with you my delicious, and purposeful, green smoothie.
Smoothies are a great way to pack in tons of ingredients, vitamins and minerals into one cup. Just blend and go!
Beneficial Post-Workout Green Smoothie
First, I start with a base, usually orange juice or soy milk. I like using juice because it makes the smoothie taste great but it does come with a lot of sugar. I dilute it with water, but not so much that you can’t taste the OJ. Orange Juice also contains potassium which helps replenish your body of the mineral after strenuous workouts and helps in muscle recovery. There is also some great tasting OJ on the market that contains half the sugar.
Fun Fact: I used to work at Jamba Juice when I was in high school. Their smoothies are AHHHHHHmazing!! I remember on my first day, I had to put on a banana costume and stand on the side of the highway, waiving at the cars as they passed by. I wish I could remember the recipes for their smoothies, but I can’t. My favorite was Razzmatazz — YUM!
I then add some frozen fruits or veggies, like kale and celery. I like using pre-packaged bags because, hellooooo convenience. The juice will also help minimize the “green” taste from the veggies. I’ve also used a scoop of greens from Amazing Grass which is a powder containing tons of veggies. They also have some containing protein, which brings me to my next ingredient.
I add my vanilla protein powder which gets me most of my protein intake. I like Vega’s Protein and Greens. If you are sensitive to the “grassy/green†taste, then maybe opt for just a vanilla-flavored powder. I’ve been using this one from Vega as of late.
I add my vanilla protein powder which gets me most of my protein intake. I like Vega’s Protein and Greens. If you are sensitive to the “grassy/green†taste, then maybe opt for just a vanilla-flavored powder. I’ve been using this one from Vega as of late.
Next, I add my collagen powder. Collagen is great for easing joint pain after those strenuous workouts. Collagen is found in our ligaments, muscles, skin, blood, bones and cartilage, which makes supplementing this protein essential. It also helps by providing elasticity to your skin, making it appear healthy and vibrant, and who doesn’t want that? And great news, pairing this supplement with Vitamin C helps with collagen synthesis and helps with soft tissue healing.
Next up is my Spirulina — this blue-green algae is jam-packed with nutrients. It’s an excellent source of antioxidants, B-vitamins and other nutrients such as Iron and Calcium. This #boss of antioxidants protects our cells from free-radicals which can wreak havoc on our bodies. There are tablets you can take, but I prefer to just mix it in a smoothie.
I blend all the ingredients for about 1 minute. It may be a little thick, so I add some water and blend again. I hardly use exact measurements so I don’t have any I can share. I use a small blender similar to the bullet. When I add my base, I fill it about 1/2 of the container. The powders I will use the scoops provided and pour the suggested serving size. I always end up adding a little more liquid after it’s all blended.
I love making smoothies post-workout because they are so easy and the best part is that my girls like them too. If I can sneak in some veggies without them knowing, then it’s a win win. What’s your go-to post-workout snack or drink of choice?
