After I wrap up a strenuous workout sessions, I’m not just worried about quickly consuming a solid amount of protein. I want to make sure that I feed my body a well balanced meal that provides protein along with all of the other essential nutrients that it needs to properly recover. With that in mind, this high protein spinach smoothie has become my go to post-workout drink lately because it does exactly that — fuels my body with everything from protein to probiotics to vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and even a good mix of high quality fats. I’ve definitely noticed a positive improvement in my workout recovery times since I started making this recipe and I strongly recommend giving it a try with your next workout session!

A Smoothie With Everything Your Body Needs

As I mentioned earlier, your body doesn’t just need protein after a good workout session — you need to cover your micronutrient bases as well. Thankfully this smoothie provides a great mix of fruits and vegetables that provide a ton of essential vitamins and minerals. You’ll be adding two cups of fresh spinach (you can also just use ½ cup of frozen spinach), ½ of a frozen banana, and one cup of frozen mango chunks. The spinach provides a great mix of vitamins A, C, D, and K, along with minerals like iron and calcium. Adding the banana provides the B-complex vitamins, potassium, and a good amount of fiber. And last but not least, the mango chunks provide a ton of immune boosting vitamin C to this smoothie.

Just because your muscles need more than protein to recover doesn’t mean that protein isn’t vitally important to the recovery process. That’s why this recipe still loads up on the quality protein sources beginning with ¼ cup of plain Greek yogurt. It’s a great tasting source of protein that also provides an abundance of probiotics for your gut health. If you’ve ever experienced any sort of gastrointestinal disturbance, then you probably already know that probiotics are among some of the first things you should try to sort it out. (1) Even if you’ve never had any stomach issues, probiotics provide numerous other great benefits and I would recommend including them as part of any well rounded diet.

You’ll also be adding some hemp seeds for added protein as well. Two tablespoons of hemp seeds will add an extra seven grams of protein to your smoothie along with a great mix of healthy fatty acids, vitamins, and other essential nutrients. Several studies have also been conducted that found hemp seeds have great potential as a therapeutic option when it comes to treating neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. (2)

Along with the hemp seeds, the recipe also calls for a single tablespoon of coconut flour. This helps to provide even more protein, fiber, and quality fats for the smoothie. Sadly, many people tend to shy away from coconut fats since they’re of the saturated variety. There’s a difference between animal saturated fats and those found in coconuts however, as coconut fats are mainly medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). This type of fatty acid is ideal for post-workout recovery as your body directly converts them into energy. (3)

The recipe also calls for one cup of milk and a bit of ice for use as a liquid base. The milk also helps to squeeze in just a bit more protein and fat content which helps to make the smoothie more satisfying. I’d even recommend using whole milk when making this smoothie if you’re looking to get more calories in as well. Finally, some fresh mint leaves are also added to give a delightful finishing touch by providing a slightly minty flavor. This smoothie doesn’t just give you the fuel you need after your workout — it tastes incredible while doing it!