Green Protein Smoothie
- Time: 5 minutes
- Servings: 3
- Serving Size: 8.0 ounces
- Stage: 3 Post-Op (Pureed foods)
INGREDIENTS:
- Soy milk, unsweetened - 1 3/4 cup (420 grams)
- Spinach, fresh - 3 small hanfulds (90 grams)
- Banana - 1 medium (120 grams)
- Vanilla-flavored protein powder - 4 1/2 tbsp (29 grams)(please see nutritionist notes below)
- Almond butter - 2 tbsp (32 grams)
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Add everything to a blender and mix for 1 minute to make sure everything gets blended properly. Serve. Use a spoon to scoop out as much of the shake as possible from the blender. Enjoy!
*Note: Always add the liquids first to prevent the powders from getting stuck at the bottom of your blender. Feel free to add a couple of extra tablespoons of water to reduce the thickness of the drink. Refrigerate when not drinking. Stays fresh in the refrigerator for 1 day. Shake well before drinking.
NUTRITION FACTS per serving:
- Calories 190
- Protein 14 grams
- Carbs 15 grams
- Fat 9 grams
- Fiber 4 grams
- Sugar 6 grams
- Iron 14% DV
- Calcium 25% DV
- Sodium 7% DV
DV = Daily Value, Based on diet for healthy adults
Nutritionist notes: Feel free to choose between whey-based or plant-based protein powder. For whey-based protein we recommend the brands Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey and Isopure. For plant-based protein we recommend the brands Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Plant-based and Vega Clean Protein. Please note that some patients may become intolerant to dairy after their surgery. If this is your case, we highly recommend opting for a plant-based protein powder. Plant-based protein powder has a slightly stronger taste than whey-based protein powder. We recommend making your own protein drinks because that way you have more control more what you put in and help avoid many artificial ingredients that pre-made drinks contain. We also recommend using unsweetened soy milk instead of regular milk because it has less calories (vs. 1% milk), more calcium, and almost the same amount of protein. Plus, some patients become intolerant to dairy after the surgery, making soy milk a great alternative.
If you're following our Post-Op Meal Plan and do not want to make your own protein drinks you can simply replace each with 1/2 a Premier Protein shake of any flavor you like.
Tags: high-protein, gastric sleeve, vsg, bariatric, recipe
*The picture is meant for illustrative purposes and may sometimes not be representative of the serving size. For a precise serving size please follow the list of ingredients carefully, using grams as the most exact measurement.