Who loves smoothies?! (currently raising my hand behind my computer) If you follow along with me on Instagram, you’d know that I drink at least one smoothie a day. Most of the time I make my own but sometimes I like to visit Smoothie King or NrGize (in LA Fitness) to get my fix. I’m addicted. Seriously. And I would say it’s a problem but it’s not because smoothies are AMAZING for you! Well, as long as you’re paying attention to what you put in them or what the place you go to puts in them.

From someone who used to hate smoothies and get super intimidated at the sight of a blender, I’m here to share with you my go-to smoothie recipe that tastes EXACTLY like a chocolate milkshake. Not kidding. AND that smoothie making actually isn’t hard at all.

Before we begin, I need to share that I am so not a fruit smoothie kind of girl. I have HUGE sweet tooth and my favorite way to satisfy it is with this smoothie. I usually drink it immediately after a workout so that I can get quick protein in (plus it’s a yummy motivator) however sometimes I drink it for breakfast, as a snack or even for my last meal. It’s really up to you. Let’s do it!

What you’ll need + how to:

A blender – I use a Ninja and I highly recommend it! My boyfriend and I have the individual one that comes with 2 cups, which is perfect for us because we like to make different smoothies. I’ll link mine below.

Purchase Blender here

Ice, ice baby – Get yourself some nice ice cubes. I recommend 3-4. Throw them in yo blender.

Milk/water – So you have a few options here. I prefer milk but you can also use water, or you could even do half milk and half water. It’s totally up to you! I use Flax Milk and my favorite is the Good Karma brand. You can find this at Whole Foods, Trader Joes, or even some local markets will sell it. I get mine at Giant Eagle if you’re form PA. I am allergic to nuts or else I would most likely use almond milk. I do however love the Flax milk because it’s light and only like 60 calories for 1 cup! Score. So I put 1 cup of Flax milk over the ice.

Find a store near you that sells Flax Milk here

Bananas – I usually add one whole banana to my smoothies. I break off pieces and throw it into the blender so that the entire banana fits. This part is v. important. The banana will put the smooth in your smoothie.

Now Powder time! I add 3 different kind of powders and they all serve a different purpose for your health. Let me break it down for ya.

1. Protein Powder – Protein is so important. Your body used protein to build and repair tissue. So perfect for you after a workout where you’re lifting heavy weights. I’ve tried a few different proteins in my day and TBH and very blunt, I usually get the farts from every kind. (it’s the worst lol, my boyfriend hates me) My stomach is very sensitive and recently in the last few years I’ve became allergic to a lot of things including soy. For most protein powders, soy is a main ingredient. THANKFULLY I found About Time Protein – they are soy free! Ever since I’ve been using the vanilla flavor for all of my smoothies and i’m in love. I also tried their Mochaccino flavor that is mixed with coffee. Very good alone, however I do not recommend substituting it in this smoothie – way too many different flavors going on lol. So I go ahead and put 1 scoop of protein powder in my smoothie. Purchase Protein Powder here.
2. Organic Greens – I recently discovered these and they are bomb! I get this brand from Walmart and the entire container is like $12? At first they only had the KIDS kind in stock so that is what I bought. Loved it. Next time they had the adult in stock. Tried it. Hated it lol. It just tastes a lot more like greens rather than chocolate, which makes sense lol. So I switched back to the KIDS kind, no shame. But anyways – I add 1 scoop of this to my smoothie for two reasons. One because it’s chocolate flavored and makes the smoothie so yummy. Two because I don’t eat enough servings of veggies throughout the day. Add in 1 scoop of this and we’re ready for the next step. Purchase greens here.
3. Collagen! (my favorite step) – So not too long after I started making this smoothie, I discovered the benefits of collagen. Collagen is amazing for you. It’s a protein that is made up of amino acids. Think of it as the glue that holds your body together. Not only does it help your hair and nails but it also provides the strength of your bones, the flexibility of your joints, and the smoothness of your skin. AKA you need it and luckily I found a brand that is now my go-to. Vital Proteins. I’m sure you’ve heard about or seen them on social media, as they have a big following and their branding is so on point – you really can’t miss them. They offer a ton of products but my favorite is their Collagen Peptides. The packets are so easy, you can literally throw them in your purse and go. Plus they come in all types of flavors. I even have/use the Collagen Coffee Creamer! However for this smoothie, I use the unflavored. You can’t event taste it and it’s so easy. Just open a packet and pour it right into your blender. Purchase Collagen here.
4. Good old Ground Cinnamon. I don’t use cinnamon really for the health benefits though it does contain a lot of antioxidants. I mainly use it for the taste. I love me some cinnamon. Sprinkle that shit in your smoothie last and be generous! Yum.

(This smoothie would also be amazing with peanut butter but i’m allergic – sad face) 

So now that all of your ingredients are in, it’s time to blend! Every blender is different so it may take a few tries for you to get a hang of how thick or how smooth you like it. When you’re done blending, add a straw (or not) and enjoy!

Oh and if you share on social media, don’t forget to tag me so that I can see.

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