I have a confession to make: I am obsessed with smoothies. If you keep up with my Instagram stories, then this may already be evident, but there isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t have a smoothie in tow. From my daily homemade, “clean out the freezer,” type concoctions, to my delicious, dessert-like smoothie recipes on the blog, and even to my beloved Barry’s Bootcamp Fuel Bar, when it comes to smoothies, I don’t discriminate. As long as it tastes good, I will drink it happily!
However, over the years of being a self-proclaimed smoothie fiend, there are a few things that truly make a great smoothie… and in my opinion, these are non-negotiable. While taste is one thing, there are other elements that contribute to whether a smoothie is truly *worth it*. And, in my opinion, a good smoothie must have three key things in order to be worth the effort of making (or buying) them. Ritual Essential Protein 18+ is my go to for making the best smoothie — its a must have!
Three Key Qualities That Every Smoothie Needs
- Thick and Frozen: Let’s be honest, very few people enjoy a runny smoothie! To me, it’s just not the same experience if a smoothie is more on the liquid side. I always make my smoothies extra thick, and when I’m ordering them out, I ask for them that way too.
And if you’re wondering what the key is to making those perfectly thick smoothies… it’s using frozen fruit. That’s it! In almost all of my smoothie recipes, like my Peanut Butter & Jelly Protein Smoothie, I recommend (and use) frozen bananas to achieve that thick and creamy texture. It’s a simple and easy way to get the perfect smoothie every time! - Loaded with Fats, Fiber, Fruit, and Veggies: While I’m a big believer in having smoothies that taste delicious, I also want them to be nutritious, too. Which is why I need my smoothies to be packed with all of the essential nutrients that I need to power me through my mornings.
So, what does that look like? First, it’s making sure that we’re getting healthy fats to fuel our brain power, fiber to satisfy our digestive system, and fruits and veggies to give us vitamins and minerals that our bodies need, and carbs to keep us satisfied.
In my Peanut Butter & Jelly Protein Smoothie, we get all of those nutrients in one! We get healthy fats from the peanut butter, fiber from the flax seeds, and our fruits and veggies from the bananas, blueberries, and cauliflower. It’s a win-win! - Don’t Forget the Protein: Of course, when talking about nutrients, we cannot skip out on the protein. Protein not only helps us to build muscles, but also help fuel our days!*
But let’s be honest, not all protein powders are created equal. Some are animal-sourced, and some are plant-based. Some are super simple and basic (with a not-so-great flavor) and others are loaded with additives and artificial sweeteners. For me, finding a great protein powder was a game changer when it came to my daily smoothies. And in my opinion, the ONLY protein powder that I use or recommend is by Ritual.
Ritual’s protein powder is made with simple, plant-based, non-GMO ingredients and is third-party lab tested for heavy metals and microbes to ensure clean, simple, key ingredients into their products. Plus, it has l-methionine to help provide a complete amino acid profile. 🙂 And, not to mention, they have three different formulas for different life stages. Their standard “Daily Shake 18+” is what I take, but they also offer a “Daily Shake 50+” for those who are 50 and older, and a “Daily Shake Pregnancy & Postpartum” for those who are expecting or are new moms! Click HERE to try out Ritual for yourself!
My Absolute Favorite Plant-Based Protein Powder
Over the years, I have tried so many protein powders that never quite hit the mark for me. Some were too gritty, no matter how much I blended them. Others contained weird ingredients that I didn’t feel comfortable putting into my body. And others just flat-out did not taste good. Finding my ride-or-die protein powder was a lot like looking for a partner. Sometimes, it takes some trial-and-error to find the right one!
I first discovered Ritual’s protein powder at Barry’s Bootcamp. If you’ve never been to Barry’s, they have a smoothie bar (aka their “Fuel Bar”) in all of their locations, which makes it perfect to refuel on a nutritious smoothie after a tough workout. Whenever I take a Barry’s class, I have to get a smoothie after – it’s just part of the whole experience!
A few months ago I finally asked the Fuel Bar staff what protein powder they used in their smoothies, and to my delight, it was Ritual. I immediately went home and ordered it after! Every time I would get a smoothie at Barry’s, I would be so impressed by the fact that it wasn’t gritty and had an amazing, subtle vanilla flavor.
Now, whenever I make a smoothie, I only use Ritual’s protein powder. Not only because of the flavor and the texture, but their transparency helps ensure that I know what I’m putting in my body.
How to Use This Perfect Protein Powder
There are two ways to take Ritual’s protein powder. First, you can mix it with some cold water in a shaker and drink it straight. Unlike other protein powders that often don’t taste great on their own, Ritual’s protein powder has notes of vanilla and caramel and actually taste delicious, even when it’s just mixed with water!
However, my favorite way to take it (and the way that I take it daily) is to mix it into one of my smoothies. Because the flavor profile is subtle yet sweet, it fares well with practically any smoothie combination.
Of course, my Peanut Butter & Jelly Smoothie is the perfect recipe to try it in, but I also recommend adding it into my German Chocolate Cake Smoothie for a rich, decadent, dessert-like yet protein-packed treat. Or, try my Low-Sugar Strawberries ‘N Cream Smoothie for the perfect smoothie to take you into the spring and summer months!
If you decide to try out Ritual’s protein powder, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! And, since I practically live on Instagram, be sure to tag me in your creations so that I can repost them! x
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