High Protein Green Smoothie (with No Banana)

Calling all smoothie fans! This High Protein Green Smoothie is full of healthy fats, fiber, protein, and flavor to help you start your day on a high note. I’m flipping the script on the standard smoothie mix by making this green smoothie with no banana! You still get plenty of greens and sweetness, but enough protein to keep you full and fueled. Grab your blender and enjoy!

Don’t get me wrong…I love a fresh banana. And if they get a little too ripe I’m not one to waste, so I chunk them up and stash them in the freezer. Adding frozen banana makes for such a creamy smoothie. Plus, it adds sweetness without diluting the flavor with too much ice. 

But what happens when you’re out of banana? Or simply don’t like them? A quick search shows a lot of people are looking for smoothie recipes with no banana. 

And I’m here to help! It’s 100% possible to make a rich, satisfying smoothie without relying on banana (fresh or frozen). So let’s get into it!

Why You’ll Love This High Protein Green Smoothie

• This delicious smoothie is endlessly customizable! I’ll provide plenty of options so you can modify it based on your needs or taste preferences. 
• It’s nourishing enough to be a meal thanks to the added protein, plus it provides 9 grams of fiber. 
• It’s written as a single serving but can be easily doubled if you want to prep ahead or share with someone else. 

Ingredients You’ll Need

Add these ingredients to your shopping list, plus anything else you want to add to your high protein green smoothie recipe! You can find everything at just about any grocery store. Or if you need the added convenience of grocery delivery, try this ready-to-shop list from our partners at Instacart. 

• Milk of your choice. I recommend regular dairy if you aren’t allergic because it’s more nutritionally complete as well as a good source of protein. There’s even lactose-free versions available if you’re lactose intolerant. Otherwise, swap for your favorite type of non-dairy milk alternative such as soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk. 
• One scoop of protein powder of your choice. Again, totally up to you if you have a favorite brand or flavor. Personally, I stick with a very basic vanilla protein powder (whey protein). 
• Dates, which provide plenty of natural sweetness without added sugar
• Baby spinach or frozen spinach. I use a large handful for fresh (which is about two cups, loosely packed) or 1/2 cup of frozen spinach. But this recipe is very forgiving, so no exact measurements are needed. A few extra leafy greens never hurt anyone!
• Avocado
• Cinnamon
• Cottage cheese. Yes, I know this seems weird to add to a smoothie but trust me! It has about 12-14 grams of protein per 1/2 cup. It can transform any smoothie into a high protein smoothie. And if you’re worried about the taste, you won’t notice the flavor at all once it’s blended up with the rest of the ingredients. 
• Ice cubes

Dates are a great way to add subtle sweetness to your smoothies. But that’s not the only thing they’re good for! Check out these ideas for what to make with dates, or you can try my Date Bark recipe and learn where dates come from.

Street Smart Nutrition Tip: Since every protein powder is different, I’m not including a nutrition calculation. Everyone has different nutrition needs, too. But generally speaking, if you can get 25-30 grams of protein at breakfast, you’re off to a great start. This can help you stay fuller, longer, and there’s benefit to spreading your protein intake throughout the day instead of loading up on it at dinnertime. 

Swaps and Substitutions

There are so many ways to customize your high protein green smoothie recipe. Don’t let my ideas limit your creativity!

Here are just a few ways you can make it your own. Use what you already have or make changes based on your taste preference or nutrition needs. 

• If you don’t have a protein powder on hand, add some peanut butter or almond butter. You’ll get less protein, but more unsaturated fats and fiber with this option. 
• Mix in some chia seeds, hemp hearts (hemp seeds), or ground flax seeds for even more fiber. 
• Oats are another option, but you’ll need to blend it a little longer to ensure it’s nice and smooth. This is one of the best ways to instantly get a thicker texture. And the extra carbs are ideal if you’re making a post-workout smoothie. 
• Swap the cottage cheese for a plain or vanilla flavored Greek yogurt. 
• Likewise, you can swap the milk for kefir, a fermented dairy product with probiotics 

And this is not a vegan smoothie as written, but you can make it one if you want to. Just swap the milk for one of the plant-based milks, omit the cottage cheese, and use a plant-based protein powder or vegan protein powder instead. Pea protein is a good option, as well as soy-based protein powders. 

Finally, don’t write off tofu in a smoothie! I know it sounds odd, but silken tofu or soft tofu blends amazingly well. Plus, there are some potential health benefits to eating soy foods like tofu more often, which you can read about HERE!

How to Make a High Protein Green Smoothie

​I used to just toss everything into the blender and hope for the best. But over many years of making smoothies I’ve learned the order of operations does make a difference! It’s no fun battling locked up blades or constantly pausing to scrape the sides of your blender. 

You’ll find tons of tips for how to build a better smoothie in my Pomegranate Berry Smoothie post. But for this particular recipe, these simple steps to make your high protein green smoothie. 

1. Chop the dates into small pieces and add them to your blender. Pour in the milk and blend on high until the dates are pureed and the milk is sweetened. 
2. Add the remaining ingredients to the blender and pulse to combine, then blend until it reaches a smooth and creamy texture. If the blades lock up, pause to scrape the sides of the blender or add additional liquid (milk or water) to thin the consistency. 
3. Serve and enjoy!

Street Smart Nutrition Tip: If you don’t feel like dragging out a cutting board, you can also use kitchen shears to cut the dates into smaller pieces. Just be sure to watch your fingers!

Meal Prep and Storage

I think smoothies always taste best when they’re fresh. So if you’re not feeling the full serving, reduce the amounts of all ingredients so you don’t end up with leftovers. I wouldn’t recommend trying to store it in the fridge for later, especially since things made with protein powder can develop a weird flavor or texture over time. 

However, you can easily use this high protein green smoothie recipe for meal prep. 

To do this, just double or triple the quantities to make a large batch. Pour into the compartments of an ice cube tray and freeze overnight. Once frozen, remove the solid smoothie cubes from the tray and store in a freezer bag or storage container.

To blend, add the smoothie cubes to your blender along with additional fruit, greens, or dairy and enough liquid to allow the blades to mix the contents. Use within three months for best results. 

I hope you enjoy this high protein green smoothie recipe, especially if you were looking for a smoothie with no banana! It’s one of my go-to smoothie blends, especially when I need a little more substance to fill me up or an excuse to squeeze in some extra greens.

As always, thanks for stopping by the Street Smart Nutrition blog.

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Cheers to more fearlessly nourishing meals!