Hide Veggies in Your Diet with a Hemp Protein Smoothie
Disclaimer: I was given product to review in my partnership with Fit Approach and Manitoba Harvest. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own.
I'm a runner, I coach runners and I have many personal training clients. One of the first things many of them ask me is what supplements they should take. I have to admit, I do not regularly take supplements. When I do it is usually after long training runs for marathons when I am trying to eat a lot of calories or when I am in a rush and don't have time to make a full meal.
When I was given the opportunity to sample and review Manitoba Harvest's new Hemp Protein Smoothie, I was excited for a few reasons. One, I am a vegetarian and steer clear of whey and any animal based proteins in general. I just feel like I do better when going for whole foods. (My husband on the other hand loves whey - different tricks for different folks). Two, I am always looking for a protein powder that actually tastes good and isn't sweetened with Stevia or other sweeteners.
Manitoba Harvest's Hemp Protein Smoothie powder is different.
- It's made from hemp
- Has veggies hidden inside
- Sweetened with coconut sugar
- Comes in three flavors
- Actually tastes good (more on that later)
For me the mark of a good protein powder is that it is made from whole, natural foods with no chemical additives, isn't chalky and tastes good! These powders included organic spinach, kale and broccoli which upped the nutrition value. At 30 grams a serving, with 15 grams of plant-based protein, this is a great mid-day pick me up or post workout shake.
I was able to sample all three flavors and honestly can say that these are the best vegan protein powders that I have found. The flavor and how it mixes with water alone is excellent. Here is how I have enjoyed them and my suggestions for you!
Mixed Berry Smoothie
The first flavor I tried out was Mixed Berry and I tried it two ways. I made a smoothie and the following week made a smoothie bowl. I don't always like to add protein powders to my smoothies because they change the flavor so drastically. This powder actually had a mild flavor and blended well.
The Recipes
Mixed Berry Smoothie
1 banana (fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup coconut yogurt (any berry or vanilla flavor)
1 cup of frozen mixed berries (I used strawberries and blueberries)
1 cup of any type of milk or non-dairy beverage (I used Silk Cashew Milk)
4 tablespoons Manitoba Harvest Mixed Berry Protein Powder
If you want a thicker smoothie, add a handful of ice
Blend and enjoy :)
In fact, I liked the smoothie so much I branched out and tried a smoothie bowl! It has since become my go-to breakfast.
Smoothie Bowl
Mixed Berry Blast Smoothie Bowl
Blend together:
5 large frozen strawberries
1/2 cup of frozen blueberries
1/2 cup frozen peaches
4 tablespoons Manitoba Harvest Mixed Berry Protein Powder
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup orange juice
Blend and pour smoothie into a bowl (it should be thick!)
Top with:
Fresh sliced strawberries
Handful of raspberries
1/2 tablespoon each of: hemp seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds and sliced almonds.
Grab a spoon and enjoy!
Chocolate Hemp Protein Smoothie
I'm a bit of a chocoholic. Dark chocolate is my favorite. For this protein powder I chose to add it to a blend of coconut milk and chocolate coconut water and simply shake it up in my shaker bottle. It was pretty tasty and blended perfectly - no clumps! Much improved from the previous chocolate protein powder I had in my life.
Vanilla Chai Hemp Protein Smoothie (My Favorite!)
I love all things Chai. Pumpkin chai, regular chai, chocolate chai and now I love Vanilla Chai from Manitoba Harvest! Seriously, this had to be my favorite. I just mixed the recommended 4 tablespoons into my blender bottle with 12 ounces of non-dairy coconut milk and shook it up for 30 seconds. Instant summer classic. Refreshing, filling and no nasty aftertaste thanks to the coconut sugar sweetener.
Try it and save 15% off!
Through April 30th, you can save 15% off your order at ManitobaHarvest.com with code: hempsmoothielaunch2016. Can't wait? Win some when you:
- Share your favorite flavor on social media - or what you think will be your favorite flavor.
- Tag @ManitobaHarvest (of course!)
- Hashtag it: #hempproteinsmoothie so I can find all your great posts!
Winner will be chosen on April 15, so get posting!
