Banana Bread Smoothie
This smoothie is for anyone who loves banana bread as much as I do but doesn’t want to deal with the sugar and carb crash afterward. With Fall in full swing, I was craving the flavor of banana bread, and this smoothie checked that box! I love the flavors of this one; a mild sweetness from the bananas balanced out with the nuttiness of walnut butter make this the perfect Fall smoothie. The cauliflower rice gives this smoothie some extra richness and adds a dose of veggies and fiber.
MCT’s have positive effects on energy expenditure, fat-burning, and weight reduction so this is the perfect addition to this (or any smoothie) if you have a busy day or are working out. MCT’s are easily absorbed so they quickly boost energy and are burned by the body for energy (fuel), instead of being stored as fat. They also can increase insulin sensitivity and in turn, reverse insulin resistance and improve overall diabetes risk factors. A win-win in my book!
Ingredients
1 cup organic almond milk
1 scoop vanilla protein
1 tbsp organic ground flax seeds
1 tbsp organic MCT oil
1-2 tbsp organic walnut butter
1 cup frozen banana slices
1/2 cup frozen organic cauliflower rice
½ tsp organic cinnamon (plus more for topping)
Mix all of the ingredients in a Vitamix or other high-powered blender, starting with liquids first.
Sprinkle the finished product with some extra cinnamon and top with fresh walnuts.
Options:
You can substitute coconut milk if you prefer.
I prefer frozen bananas and frozen cauliflower rice as it makes the smoothie colder and thicker, but if you don’t have either on hand feel free to use fresh ingredients.
I cut up and freeze ripe bananas so I always have some on hand.
If you aren’t a fan of or able to consume protein powder you can always substitute unflavored Greek yogurt.
My go to brands for this recipe:
Be Well By Kelly vanilla protein powder
Thrive Market Organic Ground Flaxseed
Garden of Life Organic MCT Oil (Unflavored)
Artisana Organics Raw Walnut Butter with Cashews
Three Trees Original Almond Milk or MALK Organic Almond*
Whole Foods organic frozen riced cauliflower
*Three Trees and MALK brands are my favorite due to the quality and limited number of ingredients in these products. They do not contain any gums, which are frequently added to non-dairy milks and can cause gastrointestinal issues. However, I do understand that it can get costly if you’re making lots of smoothies! My replacement suggestion would be Whole Foods Organic Original Unsweetened Almond Milk, but feel free to use whatever you love and works best for you.
