I don’t know about you but when I work a long day and end it off with a workout, I need something immediately to quench my thirst and cure my cravings. Obviously you’ve read the countless articles online of “what to eat post-workout” and 9 times out of 10 a smoothie recipe is linked. The main form of energy you need after a day of running around like a chicken with your head cut off is protein. Instead of having a protein-packed dinner, I like to aim for something quick and easy to hold me over as a snack – especially when it’s only 3 or 4p.m.
My Saturdays aren’t too chaotic usually but after working this morning at the early 6:45a.m. shift, getting off at 1:45p.m. and heading straight over to a 3:00p.m. FlyWheel class, I was beat. My legs felt like Jell-O and my feet were about to fall off. Nothing compares to finally getting home after a long day and kicking your shoes off at the door and throwing yourself on your futon to watch some Netflix. But before I did that, I whipped out my Vitamix and all of the essential green smoothie ingredients.
Let me introduce you to the beauty that is Bai5. If you haven’t heard of it or seen it all over the inter-web, it is a super fruit infused, antioxidant drink that is lightly sweetened with two low-calorie natural sweeteners: Erythritol and Stevia. Each bottle contains a little over 2 servings, coming in 10 different flavors from Congo Pear to Costa Rica Clementine. The little antioxidant packed super fruit used is called “coffee fruit”, which is the red fruit that surrounds coffee beans. Instead of giving you the burst of energy and jitters that coffee beans give you, the coffee fruit will deliver a fresh taste with no energy crash. Only the energy lift!
Along with the coffee fruit extract, white tea extract and Vitamin C are also packed into these BPA-free bottles. How awesome is that, folks!?
As a customer who has tried drinks in the past with artificial sweeteners (aspartame and sucralose) such as Dasani’s flavored waters, I know what is the real deal and what tastes like artificially processed crap in a bottle. Trust me friends, Bai is the complete opposite of that. You can taste the lightly sweetened flavor but it does not taste fake what-so-ever. Fresh, light and fruity is how I would put it.
I drank half over ice paired with lunch last weekend post-yoga but had the rest to pour into this green smoothie. It was a great alternative to using almond milk like I always do.
- 1 cup of Molokai Coconut Bai5
- ¾ cup organic spinach
- ½ cup frozen strawberries
- ¼ cup frozen pineapple
- ½ cup frozen peaches
- 1 scoop Vega vanilla protein powder (or any vegan/natural protein powder)
- Ice for desired consistency
- Combine all ingredients in a high power blender and puree until smooth and thick.
- Feel free to top with coconut chips, granola or oats for an extra crunch!
By combining Bai5 with spinach I packed enough antioxidants to last me through the week.
Just kidding… I probably need to eat another ten bowls of spinach for that to happen but when you’re on the run and never know when you can pack vegetables into your day next, throwing them in a smoothie is an easy way to do it.
Whenever I’m using protein powder with greens in a smoothie, Vega‘s French Vanilla is my go-to. It provides a list of ingredients ranging from kale and spirulina to pea protein (rather than whey in dairy-based protein powders) and stevia extract for slight sweetness. You definitely can taste the earthiness of the greens which is why I normally only use it for those specialty green smoothies made with tropical fruits as opposed to if I were making a mixed berry almond milk smoothie.
Now that I’ve had my first smoothie of spring, complete with all of the necessary greens and antioxidants, I’m ready to roll!
Roll into one of my favorite seasons filled with new seasonal produce. Mangoes, pineapple, honeydew and of course my two favorites: strawberry and spinach! Yum. Also roll into my bed forever and never leave.
Until I have to get up and make dinner once I post this.
🙂
Happy Saturday, ya’ll!
-Addie
[…] For a refreshing post-workout flavored drink or something to just enjoy when you’re sitting on your couch watching House Hunters (my life), I like to lean towards Bai beverages. I’ve posted a recipe before on my blog with my favorite Bai flavor: the Molokai Coconut, which you can check out here. […]