My Protein Rich Breakfast Smoothie

Getting enough protein each day can be a challenge — so I started having a protein smoothie for breakfast and I haven't looked back.

It's filling and sets me up for the day. When I skip it, I'm hungry all day. Starting the day with protein — and continuing with protein at every meal — keeps me satiated. If you find you're often hungry, consider upping your intake.

Finding the right protein powder took some time. I needed something gluten-free, dairy-free, ideally organic, and actually delicious (some powders taste like cardboard). Then it took some testing to find a combination that tasted good.

I love the smoothie I created!

I don’t know of any other way to get this much protein at breakfast – well maybe eggs and turkey bacon, but that feels so heavy and is a lot more work to prepare.

The smoothie is pretty big and filling so I have half earlier and then the other half mid-morning.

Ingredients

1 cup organic vanilla almond milk – 30 calories (Costco)

1 organic banana – 100 calories/1g protein (Whole Foods)

1 tbsp organic hemp oil (for shiny hair)  – 120 calories (Whole Foods)

1 tbsp organic chia seeds gives it nice thick consistency – 50 calories/2 g protein (Costco)

1/3 cup organic frozen berries – 20 calories (Costco)

1 scoop Kaizen Vegan Chocolate Protein Powder – 160 calories/25 g protein (Whole Foods)

Total calories: 480

Total protein: 28 g

I put everything in my Bullet blender except the frozen berries and protein powder, which I let it sit for about 15 minutes so the Chia seeds soften.

When I’m ready to have it, I add the frozen berries and protein powder and blend for about a minute so it has a really smooth whippy dessert-like consistency.

In a pinch, it works as a quick lunch or dinner too.

Let me know if you try it!