My go-to green smoothie

Smoothies are officially back in my life now that I’m more reliant on my counter-top appliances for everyday meal prep. I particularly enjoy them on weekends, when a full schedule of freelance work, long runs, house cleanup and social obligations lead me to stray from my usual weekday routine. They have once again become my go-to breakfast or lunch—in just 5 minutes, I can have a smoothie in hand that would just about rival the most nutritious meal around.

I realize there are lots and lots (and lots) of smoothie recipes out there, but after trying so many others—some requiring a seemingly endless number of ingredients—I found myself coming back to this basic green smoothie for three simple reasons: it’s super tasty and almost effortless, and it packs in a ton of glorious greens that my body loves.

My go-to green smoothie includes ingredients I almost always have on hand—spinach, zucchini, almond butter, banana and Silk unsweetened almond milk, plus some added plant-based nutrition from Vega One.

While I believe eating whole foods is the best way to obtain nutrients, powdered supplements like Vega are an easy solution if you’re on the go or want to ensure you’re getting what your body needs to function at its best. It’s a convenience food that’s actually good for you! I love that there are so many plant-based options on the market these days, but I always come back to Vega because the company is constantly improving the flavour, texture and nutritional profile. Plus, the Vega One French Vanilla powder is so delicious you don’t have to add too much to get it to taste amazing.

A few notes:

• Although blending a smoothie may seem like the simplest of tasks, the key to getting all those ingredients super smooth is to add liquid in first. Your blender’s blades will move more freely when they’re surrounded by liquid rather than something dry. Add your greens next, and then chunks of fruit or other heavier ingredients last.
• Start your blender on low speed to help break down the large ingredients, and then work your way up to high for a puree.
• I like to add ice at the end for a nice cold beverage. It also helps thicken the smoothie, too. The ice is totally optional though!
• Did you know you can freeze smoothies? Make a big batch, divide it into mason jars (leaving some room at the top of the jar since liquid expands when frozen) so you can have smoothies all week long.

This post was created in partnership with Vega and Silk Canada. All opinions are my own, and I think Vega and Silk are both delicious additions to any smoothie.