Everyday Spinach Protein Smoothie (Vegan & Electrolyte-Rich)

(Note: this post was originally published on September 14, 2024. It has since been updated with a few tweaks.)

The Spinach Protein Smoothie I Have for Breakfast EVERY SINGLE DAY

If you're looking to start your day with a breakfast that really gets you going, this loaded spinach protein smoothie is for you. Bursting with plant-based protein, energy-giving electrolytes, muscle-building creatine, and whole host of important vitamins and minerals, this is the ultimate pre-workout breakfast. Although this smoothie looks (and is!) very healthy, it has a delicately sweet matcha, vanilla, and mint flavor that you'll want to keep coming back to day after day.

I have a very intimate relationship with this smoothie. I started making green smoothies for breakfast over a dozen years ago and I have this exact spinach protein smoothie every single morning. Over all these years, I've done a lot of experimenting with the texture, flavor, and nutrition of vegan green smoothies. This recipe is the final result of literally several thousand tests and I'm beyond excited to share it with you.

Importantly, this spinach protein smoothie is a blank canvas for whatever flavors you want to use. I like to tweak the flavors and add-ins every morning to keep it fresh and different, as well as to cycle different nutrients into my diet. Once you read all the options below, you'll see why this vegan green smoothie can easily become an everyday breakfast.

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Spinach Protein Smoothie Nutrition

This spinach protein smoothie focuses on a few key nutritional aspects that I've optimized to serve as pre-workout fuel. In addition to the specific targets below, this vegan green smoothie is easy to digest, so it's a good option if you work out in the mornings. It has some carbs (instant fuel) thanks to a banana, but minimal fat so that it doesn't weigh you down during exercise.

• Protein. There are two main sources of plant-based protein in this smoothie: legume milk (choose unsweetened soy or chickpea milk) and protein powder (my favorite is Sprout Living; use the code ROGUE to save 20%). Personally, I find that this smoothie has enough protein to fuel my workout and keep me satisfied for a few hours, but not so much that it feels heavy. However, you can easily tailor the protein to fit your own needs.
• Electrolytes. Critical for proper hydration and energy, this recipe has several sources of electrolytes. The combination of a banana and coconut water provide good naturally-occurring electrolytes, unsweetened unflavored electrolyte drops provide an additional boost, and an additional trace metal supplement aids with hydration at the cellular level. Of course you can adjust the supplements to your own preferences and needs.
• Creatine. This compound (I use Sunwarrior creatine) is most well-known for its muscle-building effects. However it also serves important cognitive functions, especially for plant-based eaters who don't get creatine from meat. Creatine has been my latest addition to this pre-workout green smoothie (I've been using it for about two years) and I absolutely love the results.
• Vitamins and minerals. Leafy greens are rich in a wide variety of nutrients. Spinach in particular is loaded with vitamins A, C, and K, and also contains calcium, iron, and folate. Starting your day with greens is a wonderful, natural way to give your body a wealth of vitamins and minerals right from the outset.

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Spinach Smoothie Variations

There are an infinite number of ways you can change up this powerful vegan green protein smoothie to make it work for you. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Make it thicker. Want a thicker, more indulgent texture? Add 1 c frozen cauliflower florets. They'll disappear right into the smoothie but will leave you with a much richer, creamier texture.
• Change the protein. You'll see that I suggest vanilla protein powder in this recipe, but it also works nicely with chocolate protein powder (just keep in mind that the color may not be as bright). If you enjoy using a collagen protein (or a vegan protein that supports collagen building), that will work well here too.
• Add more protein. Depending on your goals and workout plan, you can certainly add more protein powder than what the recipe calls for. You can also add some yogurt.
• Make it sweeter. I've designed this spinach smoothie to be relatively low in sugar. If it's not sweet enough for your tastes, try adding one or two pitted dates.
• Add a powerhouse ingredient. If you're looking to increase the nutrition of this unique green electrolyte smoothie even further, you can experiment with adding a tablespoon or two of chia seeds, hemp hearts, cacao nibs, etc. Personally, I choose one or two add-ins and switch them up each morning so that I'm always getting different flavors and nutrients.
• Swap the flavors. As written, this recipe suggests adding matcha and fresh mint for antioxidants and a burst of freshness, respectively. Feel free to omit those and instead experiment with other flavor powerhouses like crystallized ginger, fresh ginger, cinnamon, lime juice, lemon juice, etc. This everyday breakfast smoothie is a blank canvas that you can tweak each time you make it.

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Interested in Other Veggie Smoothies?

If you're interested in experimenting with veggie-based smoothies, then you'll love my e-book, Blend the Rainbow. It has eight smoothie recipes that are based in cauliflower, carrots, and/or spinach rather than fruit. All of the recipes are high in plant-based protein and fiber, low in carbs and sugar, and loaded with veggie-powered nutrition. You can purchase the e-book here for $5.

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Do Vegetable Smoothies Taste Weird?

As long as you add some flavorful ingredients, smoothies filled with powerful veggies like cauliflower, carrots, and spinach can be delicious. You’ll see that this spinach protein smoothie and all the recipes in my Blend the Rainbow e-book call for some minimal sweetness (for example, a couple pitted dates or a small amount of frozen fruit) and big flavor components like ginger, matcha, cinnamon, etc. You’ll never know that you’re consuming a few servings of veggies!

Importantly, your taste buds can be trained over time. If you’re used to buying or making high-sugar smoothies, give yourself some time to adjust to low-sugar recipes. If you’ve never tried veggies in a smoothie before, you can tailor these recipes by tweaking the ratio of veggies to fruit. Feel free to use less of the veggie and more of the fruit than the recipe suggests, especially as you’re getting started; as you get used to low-sugar smoothies, adjust the proportions as your tastes evolve.

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Ingredients and Substitutions

Here's what you'll need for this spinach and banana smoothie recipe, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.

• Banana. Use a banana that's very ripe, since it's the only source of sweetness in this recipe. You can choose a large banana if you have near-term energy needs (i.e., pre-workout) or a small banana if you'll be more sedentary; the banana is the main source of carbs and rapidly-accessible fuel.
• Baby spinach. This recipe works best with tender baby spinach, which breaks down easily and completely during blending. Full-sized spinach or kale will not work since the texture will be less smooth.
• Unsweetened soy or chickpea milk. These two plant milks are high in protein. This spinach smoothie recipe will work fine with a different plant milk like almond, but it won't be as protein-rich and the texture may feel less creamy.
• Coconut water. Choose an option with no added sugar. This recipe will also work fine without the coconut water, especially if you add the other electrolyte options below.
• Vanilla plant-based protein powder. I love the organic plant proteins from Sprout Living; use the code ROGUE to save 20%. Their Vanilla Lucuma works beautifully in this smoothie thanks to its great vanilla flavor and light color.
• Creatine. I highly recommend this monohydrate creatine from Sunwarrior. It disappears right into a smoothie.
• Unsweetened unflavored electrolyte drops. I love the drops from Buoy; I use them 3-4 times a day and they've really made a huge difference in my hydration. If you shop through the link, you'll save 30% (new customers) or 20% (returning customers).
• Sunwarrior Liquid Light. This is a trace metal complex from Sunwarrior created to optimize hydration and energy. I absolutely swear by this stuff and use it every single morning.
• Matcha. My favorite matcha is from Matcha Nude; use the code ROGUE for 15% off. Or, see the flavor variations above for other ideas.
• Fresh mint. See the flavor variations above for other ideas, since you may want to make a different flavor each day.

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Closing Thoughts

I'm so excited for you to try this vegan green protein smoothie. I have it every single morning for breakfast (as long as I'm not traveling and hence without my blender); I've made it at least 300 times a year for a dozen years. That's a LOT of time to develop and refine this recipe. It has done wonders for my overall nutrition and health, and I think it will for you too.

There's really no better way to start your day. This powerful spinach protein smoothie will get you going with good hydration, important electrolytes, and a gentle nudge of caffeine from the matcha. It will fuel your workout with some easily-digestible carbs from the banana and some good plant-based protein (but not too much to weigh you down during exercise). Then it will keep you satisfied and will help with recovery thanks to protein and creatine.

Happy blending!

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Share It!

It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.

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Suggested Pairings

Salted Maple Matcha Latte

Strawberry Lemon Yogurt and Granola Parfait

Vegan Morning Glory Blender Muffins

Chickpea Flour Banana Bread (Vegan, Gluten-Free, High-Protein)

Superfood Turmeric Granola

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