Adding Protein To Green Smoothies

by Vinnie
(Connecticut)

Q: Is it ok to use whey protein in my green smoothies, or should I be using something vegan, like pea protein?

A: Hi Vinnie! Absolutely, its perfectly fine to use whey or pea protein in green smoothies. Mixing in a tablespoon or two should be enough and undetectable in the flavor.


It's a matter of preference on which one you use. I prefer raw vegan versions, but there are good arguments that whey protein can be beneficial. The reason why I like vegan or no-animal-product smoothies is because I think it's better for us, for many reasons. But whey is the best choice, if you are going dairy. I also really like raw hemp protein as an alternative if you want a powdered version.


Other options include adding nuts and seeds to your smoothie, as they can be blended in easily. Try adding cashews, sunflower seeds or tahini instead.

I'm a fan of using raw foods to get the protein we need. Some of the protein powders have synthetic ingredients and are unabsorbable by our bodies- that will never be the case with raw foods because they are food substances that are made for our body. So if you do get one of the proteins, be sure to check the ingredients and get a good, trusted brand.


You might be suprised to know that you don't really need to add protein to your smoothies. If you are using greens, they already have protein! Greens have more then you might think! For example, did you know that one pound of kale has more protein then the daily allowance recommended by the USDA? Really!! So I think you probably could save yourself some money and effort by including a good amount of rich green veggies in your recipes.


If you want to know a bit more about green smoothies and the protein in greens, I recommend the book "Green For Life" by Victoria Boutenko. She devotes a good portion to amazing facts about protein in raw greens :)