This Vanilla Smoothie Has A Secret Ingredient

This Vanilla Smoothie Has A Secret Ingredient

Vanilla smoothies are a classic for a reason. Cold, creamy, and that sweet and exotic flavor is a real treat. We took our favorite vanilla milkshake and added a few new interesting twists (and not just the color).

Fats keep you full

Healthy dietary fat is important for energy, cell growth, protection for organs, and to help absorb fat-soluble nutrients. The fat we eat falls into four main categories: trans fats, saturated fats, monounsaturated fats, and polyunsaturated fats. We recommend avoiding trans fats, as they are linked to heart disease. Consumption of trans fats raises LDL (bad) cholesterol in the bloodstream and decreases HDL (good) cholesterol. They also can increase inflammation and risk for chronic illnesses.

Saturated fats (like from meat and coconut oil) tend to be solid at room temperature, while monounsaturated and polyunsaturated tend to be liquid. These three types of fats all have a place in a healthy diet. Avocados are primarily made up of monounsaturated fat, which is particularly heart-healthy.

Avocado is one of our favorite smoothie ingredients here at Clean. It makes smoothies incredibly rich and creamy. It also has a mild flavor, making it the perfect partner for sweet recipes. Avocados also boast a broad range of nutrients like riboflavin, folate, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins C, E, K, and B-6. They contain a quarter of the daily recommended intake of vitamin K. Vitamin D and calcium are often touted as the nutrients crucial for bone health, but vitamin K is just as important. Vitamin K helps increase calcium absorption and decreases the excretion of calcium.

Flavor for days

Our vegan protein powder is the perfect addition to this smoothie. Thanks to plant sweeteners, it will taste like dessert without the added sugar. Getting a healthy dose of plant protein will also help keep you full for longer, making it an excellent breakfast to get you through to lunch. Adequate protein is crucial for overall health. It helps produce hormones, build and repair tissues, and acts as a building block for skin, nails, and hair.

We added mint and lemon to brighten up this vanilla smoothie and give it a spring makeover. Mint is the perfect match for incorporating greens into a smoothie, as it easily masks any “grassy” taste with freshness. Lemon adds that tangy flavor for balance and zip, plus lemon and mint are great for digestion and alkalinity.

Ingredients:

1.5 cup cashew or other nut milk (or herbal mint tea for a lighter, more flavorful option)

1/4 cup canned full-fat coconut milk

1 avocado

1 serving Vanilla Daily Shake or 1 Vanilla Cleanse Shake packet

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup fresh mint

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon lemon zest

pinch of salt

1 cup ice

A handful of greens, like spinach

Directions:

Remove pit and skin from avocado. Zest and juice lemon.

Add all vanilla smoothie ingredients to a blender and blend on high until it is creamy and smooth.

Recipe and photography by Kaitlyn Noble

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