Hi guys!
Writing this amidst a flurry of packing for Cabo, cleaning (naturally, I have destroyed the house the past few days while Neal is on a business trip, so…obviously that needs to be fixed 🙄) and trying to cram 5 days of work into 3–so, I will be brief with this post, haha! I will likely be in the air (or hopefully by the pool) by the time you read this 😜
As you know, I try to eat mostly plant-based during the week (at least whenever I’m cooking for myself at home) and therefore my breakfast of choice is typically a smoothie. I absolutely LOVE smoothies–and it turns out, so do you guys, haha! (By the way, you can check out my first smoothie recipe I shared right over here!)
Smoothies are fast, convenient, delicious, a great way to pack essential nutrients into one punch. The one problem? Sometimes, they leave us starving after just an hour and it seems impossible to make it until lunch!
You guys–I have FOUND the solution!
This smoothie’s secret ingredient? Oats!
It has a great balance of carbs, protein, and healthy fat to keep you full until lunch. It also happens to be a delicious way to start your day–and it’s essentially drinking your coffee and eating breakfast all at the same time!
My “Full Until Lunch” Morning Smoothie:
1 cup milk of your choice (I usually like coconut milk but I just tried macadamia and that was great too!)
1 shot of espresso (or your favorite cold brew or iced coffee.)
**Note on coffee to milk ratio** I’ve actually made this recipe with no milk and all coffee when I was in a pinch. It’s still good. It’s definitely not AS good though. So if you’re in a pinch, you could use half cold brew half water, full amount of chilled coffee, etc. Just keep in mind that you want about one cup of liquid. How much you need will really depend on how thin you like your smoothies and how much ice you use. Remember the ice will thicken it quite a bit. Just experiment and make note of what you like and adjust based on your preferences!
1 banana, sliced (I’ll buy a bunch at once and slice them into a ziplock and them put them in the freezer! They last longer that way.) The banana is a really under the radar hero ingredient–I rarely skip bananas when making smoothies because they mask the flavor of all those other “good for you” things you throw in smoothies but don’t want to taste (like protein powder, spinach, etc.) They’re also essential for texture! Once I made this smoothie without it and it was AWFUL. Don’t skip the banana!
1 big handful of spinach (I buy prewashed in bags and throw them in the freezer!) This sounds gross, I promise, you CAN NOT taste it. As much as I can, I incorporate greens with every meal, and this has become by FAR the easiest way to do so!
1 serving of vanilla (chocolate would work well too!) protein powder of your choice. FYI–I’m still looking for a good plant based protein powder after this study came out about high amounts of arsenic and lead in certain protein powders (Vega being the worst offender, which I WAS using) 🙄 Why is everything slowly killing us? I’m going to buy this one next time I go to Whole Foods, which scored well!
2 TBS serving of no sugar added peanut butter–I love the kind from Trader Joe’s with flax and chia seeds! (I included it on my mega list of favorite healthy Trader Joe’s buys!) Make sure you’re paying attention to the sugar content when you buy peanut butter–a lot of products sneak it in there even if they’re labeled “natural.”
About 1/4 cup of rolled oats. You can add more if you like, but I think this is a good place to start. If you taste your smoothie and think you can handle more oats, add a bit more! Also, make sure they’re rolled (not steel cut) because they’ll result in a smoother texture. Instant oats can work in a pinch but I wouldn’t recommend it as they taste decidedly more chalky. Bleh!
If you plan ahead, you can also soak the oats overnight in a bit of milk. I’ve read this makes them smoother and results in a less chalky smoothie! It might sound weird taste-wise. The oats make this smoothie taste like an oatmeal cookie and go a long way in filling you up!
A few sprinkles of cinnamon. This is optional but I think this really adds a lot and makes it taste like an oatmeal cookie 😍
About 5 ice cubes. You may need more if the espresso you’re pouring into the smoothie is hot (because it will melt the ice a little). If so, add a few more. You can always throw in more at the end too if it’s not cold enough or you want it thicker!
2 TBS ground flax seeds and/or 1 TBS chia seeds: I always add as much good stuff to my smoothies as I can! This is totally optional. I don’t think the flax tastes like anything at all but I do think more than 1 TBS of chia seeds makes it taste slightly bitter with a weird aftertaste, but that’s just me. I’m kind of weird. 😜 You do you!
Happy breakfasting!! What are your favorite smoothie recipes!?
Ah the protein powder I use is on the bad list too!! Thanks for sharing that!!!!
I fixed the only problem with smoothies! This looks delicious! Can’t wait to try it this weekend. Happy packing, xAllie
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I don’t believe that survey because they’re not testing the animal products for anything actually harmful, because all the harmful stuff in those we think is good. This is biased.
Am so glad you shared this! I love smoothies, but always find after making a high-calorie smoothie, I still am hungry 1-2 hours later.
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You need to try Ripple brand milk in your smoothie— its made from flour made from peas. The vanilla flavor tastes like a milkshake! The original sweetened is also good!
Check out Nuzest protein powder for a healthier option. They taste great. Thanks for the tip about the oats, I’ll try it tomorrow.
First of all, you are SO cute. I love all of these pictures! I LOVE smoothies and coffee smoothies are my go-to as well! I searched for Tone It Up protein on that website and didn’t see it listed (in any fashion), but I seriously suggest trying it too! You won’t believe how good it tastes ….doesn’t have that chalky texture or after taste.
Have the best time in Cabo!
Love this!
Do you have any suggestions for banana substitutes? I sadly have a strong banana aversion (I try them in smoothies or juices, usually by accident, a few times a year and still can’t do them!), and I feel like it’s bard to find a smoothie recipe without them. This looks delicious (my weirdness aside haha) and love the idea of oats!