Green Protein Smoothie with Spinach, Mango, and Hemp Seeds
Kiana drank this smoothie nearly every morning during her vegan period, and it's still in heavy rotation. The beauty of it is that two full cups of spinach disappear completely; the mango and banana handle all the flavor, and the hemp seeds add protein and omega-3s without tasting like a supplement. The whole thing takes two minutes from fridge to hand, which is important because Kiana is typically drinking this while finding her keys and trying to get out the door. If you think you don't like green smoothies, it's because nobody's made you this one yet.
- VEG
- GF
- DF
- ≤30
Estimated macros per serving
Calories ~260 · Protein ~9g · Carbs ~30g · Fat ~13g
Ingredients
For the smoothie:
- 2 cups packed baby spinach
- 1 cup frozen mango chunks
- 1 medium ripe banana, peeled (fresh or frozen)
- 3 tablespoons hemp seeds (hemp hearts)
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or oat milk)
- ½ cup water (adjust for desired thickness)
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Method
- Add the almond milk, water, and lemon juice to a high-speed blender first: liquids on the bottom prevents the blade from struggling.
- Add the baby spinach and blend on high for 10–20 seconds (or up to 30 seconds in a standard blender), until the spinach is broken down and the liquid is bright green. This two-step approach guarantees no spinach chunks.
- Add the frozen mango, banana, hemp seeds, and almond butter. Blend on high for 45–60 seconds, until completely smooth and creamy. If the blend stalls, add water 2 tablespoons at a time and keep going.
- Taste and adjust: add a splash more almond milk if it's too thick, or a squeeze more lemon if it tastes flat. Pour into a tall glass and drink immediately.
Variations & Notes
- Protein boost: Add a scoop of vanilla plant-based protein powder for an extra 20–21 grams of protein (varies by brand). Reduce the banana to half if you find it too sweet.
- Substitutions: Frozen pineapple or frozen peach chunks work well in place of mango. Sunflower seed butter swaps in for almond butter if you're nut-free. Coconut milk works but adds more fat and richness.
- Extra Hungry: Blend in ¼ cup of rolled oats: it thickens the smoothie and adds staying power.
- Meal prep trick: Pre-portion the spinach, frozen fruit, and hemp seeds into individual freezer bags. In the morning, dump a bag into the blender with the liquids and go.