To Smoothie or Not to Smoothie?

I love a good smoothie just as much as a meathead with his shaker bottle at the gym. BUT, there’s a time and place for them. I mean you don’t want to be caught with the berrylicious kind without ample dental floss – That’s not a good look. So, before you start slurping away, you’ve gotta discern when a smoothie supports or takes away from your goals.

Smoothies are for hot summer days, quick post-workout fuel, rushing to get to work, or “eating” discreetly in meetings. Nobody wants to hear you chomping on the phone or watch you scarf down a spinach feta wrap on Zoom. These are heaven for a superfood seeker.

Here are some ways you can filter your choice to have one:

The Upsides

1. A good source of fuel in a rush, on the go, or multi-tasking. When you’re drying your hair, you can take sips in between sections.
2. Post-workout you’ll get some protein and produce to support your blood sugar level and your recovery.
3. If you don’t love fruits and veggies, they’re a tasty way to sneak some extra nutrients into your diet.

The Downsides

1. Drinking your calories is less psychologically satisfying than chewing
2. You are hungrier sooner because your blender does the dirty work of breaking up the ingredients. It’s like giving your body PTO, it gets paid without putting in the work.
3. Mindful eating? Probably not. These babies are gone like a dog chasing after a squirrel.

After a morning workout and before taking a shower is my optimal time for a smoothie. My goal is to keep my energy up and help my body recover faster. I go with the equivalent of snack over a meal replacement. In calorie terms that’s about 150-250 for snack size vs 300 – 600 for a meal.

Here are my top two favorite smoothies:

PB&J Smoothie

• ¾ c frozen blueberries
• ⅔ c frozen strawberries
• 1 c of spinach
• 1¼ c unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder OWYN
• 1 tbsp peanut butter (sub almond butter, cashew butter, any nut butter you love)

Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie

• 1 frozen banana*
• 1 c of spinach
• 1¼ c unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder OWYN
• 1 tbsp peanut butter (sub almond butter, cashew butter, any nut butter you love)

*Peel and break up the banana into pieces and leave in the freezer overnight

PRO TIP: Use frozen fruit so you don’t need ice. For a meal replacement add density with something like rolled oats.