Mornin’!
Good news – I’ve found coffee’s perfect mate!
Nope, not Coffeemate, good ol’ Half & Half with a sprinkling of Sun Crystals.
Sun Crystals is a stevia/sugar blend and lately I’ve been adding about a teaspoon of it with 2 Tablespoons Half & Half into my coffee.
I’ve always been a French Vanilla Coffeemate kind of gal, but the sweet Sun Crystals combined with the creamy Half & Half, seriously makes for the best cup of coffee I’ve ever made at home.
Dreamy and satisfying – and about $3 less than a Starby’s latte. I can get into that! What do you add to your coffee?
Now, if Half & Half + Sun Crystals is coffee’s perfect mate, vanilla whey protein powder is a Green Monster Smoothie’s perfect mate! (omg my hair is so long in that link!!)
The always friendly Ben at Swanson Vitamin’s sent me some of their Vanilla Whey Protein Powder to test out in my smoothies.
I’m a HUGE fan of vanilla whey protein powder.
It’s silky, not grainy, slightly sweet, and adds such a lasting feeling of fullness to my smoothies.
The Swanson brand was no exception. It gave the Green Monster I made for breakfast a nice, thick texture, a sweet hint, and staying powah!
In the mix:
- 1 scoop Swanson Vanilla Whey Protein Powder
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 Tablespoon almond butter
- 1 cup skim milk (out of almond!)
- 2 big handfuls spinach
Blended to the moon and back,
and presto! A nutritious and refreshing smoothie. I love drinking spinach for breakfast. It sets such a good tone for the rest of the day, no? 
Even better news, I’ve found lunch’s perfect mate – Mayo Free Tuna Salad!
I HEART this recipe.
It combines crunchy carrots, zesty pickles and protein-packed tuna, with creamy Greek yogurt and Dijon mustard.
SO FLAVORFUL!!!!!! And perfect to plop onto a Thin Bun with some spinach and call it a day lunch.
Well we better add a Tropical Fruit Tart Larabar,
and a sweet Pink Lady Apple, THEN call it lunch. 
In other news, Bachelorette?! I can honestly say that for once, I was surprised! I truly thought she wasn’t going to pick either guy! Do you think it will last?! I…don’t… 
I know! I think they’re both great people, but I just don’t see it. I hope they prove me wrong!!!!
Giveaway!
Since I liked the Vanilla Whey Protein Powder so much, Swanson Vitamins decided to let me give away a cannister to a reader – wheee! You have until 5pm tonight to enter by leaving me a comment describing your favorite smoothie combo.
Have a great day guys!
I go basic with my smoothies–spinach, almond milk and banana.
Don’t enter me in the contest (I can easily get that whey powder on my own – you know why! ha) but my typical smoothie is just banana, peanut butter, almond milk and chocolate protein powder. Sometimes I’ll add chia, skim milk, or other various things, but I keep mine pretty simple.
As far as coffee goes, I’ve been trying to just drink plain coffee from now on. It’s been hard because I love Starbucks mochas (or mochas from anywhere), but plain coffee and no soda is a way to slowly get healthier. You idea above looks really tempting, though!
Cheers!
I make a fruit smoothy with frozen berries, cottage cheese, yogurt, banana, ground flax and a splash of milk. Sometimes I skip the yogurt since the cottage cheese adds protein without the sugar. The yogurt is just a little smoother than the CC. Delicious!
I just go with the tried & true strawberry banana combo! Why mess with perfection?!
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/2 cup strawberries, 1/2 frozen banana, 1/8 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp maca powder, 1/2 scoop EAS vanilla protein powder = best smoothie combo
My favorite combo is chocolate whey protein powder, chocolate amazing grass meal, spinach, peanut butter, banana and milk. It’s so good!!!
I’m a green monster convert! And I just discovered the wonderfulness of almond milk! Yum!
I love a good strawberry banana smoothie with yogurt and a splash of OJ.
I just discovered your blog and have to say I love it! Thanks so much for the work you put into it!
For me, whatever fruit goes into a smoothie tastes great! I always make mine with fruit, almond milk and a bit of yogurt if I have some. But my definite fave is chocolate Almond Breeze milk and a nice frozen banana! Yumm!
Greetings from the coldest capital city (Winnipeg, MB, Canada)! (Although not right now… it’s summer… smoothie season! Woohoo!)
Now that peaches are in season I love blending Greek yogurt with a splash of milk and fresh peaches. You really can’t beat fresh peaches! I would love to try adding a little vanilla whey protein powder
I am also a green monster addict thanks to u!
My fav. smoothie combo is nothing new, pretty much what a lot of people are drinking:
2 handfuls of spinach
1 cup almond milk
1 tsp bee pollen and/or 1 Tbsp ground flax seed
1/2 scoop of Jay Robb’s protein powder (vanilla is what I am currently using)
1/ 2 frozen banana
Yumm!!! My friends don’t understand why I must put spinach in my shakes:)). Those that don’t try don’t understand the greatness of the green monster!! LOL!
Peanut butter and chocolate!!
My favorite smoothie with vanilla whey protein powder is Key Lime Pie. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! It has a scoop of vanilla whey protein powder, 2 tsp of lime juice, a half a packet of sugar-free vanilla carnation instant breakfast, one grahm cracker, and some ice cubes. I love it
Peach, vanilla sweeten almond milk, banana YUM! tasts like a milk shake!
1 frozen banana
1 cup skim milk
1 tbsp peanut butter or almond butter
1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
Spinach
In my coffee I put sugar free vanilla syrup from Starbucks and/or vanilla soy milk. I am trying to lay off the white sugar, and I don’t like Splenda – now I can’t even use that because it makes my stomach want to explode. Not good.
Spinach, almond milk, strawberries and frozen banana!
Your green monsters are always so pretty!
I love smoothies with vanilla whey protein, vanilla almond milk, blueberries, frozen banana and chopped strawberries. Sometimes I throw some flaxseed in there too. YUM!
peanut butter & banana with some ice and milk = yum
I’ve started drinking green monster smoothies. I’ll switch between spinach, almond milk, xantham gum, fiber one strawberry yogurt (frozen), with frozen mango and frozen blueberries or with frozen bananas and strawberries/raspberries… so yummy! I have been thinking about buying protein powder to add, but I couldn’t decide on the right brand. I need to add protein but don’t want to add a lot of extra calories… any suggestions?
Almond milk, bananas, blueberries, a handful of almonds, chia seeds, spinach, and PROTEIN POWDER!!! Love this giveaway : )
My fav smoothie combo is vanilla yogurt, strawberries, orange, banana and proteion powder with a little almond milk and ice!!
Basic:
skim milk + banana
I prefer just berries with vanilla yogurt and almond milk in my smoothies-boring.
My favorite combo lately is frozen cherries, banana, almond milk, cocoa powder, protein powder, and when I’m feeling frisky…spinach! yummmmm
My favorite add ins are: almond milk, a nut butter and flaxseed.
Spinach, vanilla protein powder, 1/2 frozen banana, 1/2 cup frozen peaches, 1 cup almond milk…amazing!
I’ve just jumped on the smoothie bandwagon and have yet to find my dream concotion…hoping to read these answers to get some ideas! Would LOVE to try some protein powder and this one sounds good!!
My favorite smoothie combo is relatively basic: spinach, almond milk, protein powder, and a frozen banana. Sometimes I’ll throw some frozen cherries or peaches in there, you know, to go a little crazy.
I am a fruit smoothie girl at heart, and when perfection is attained it usually includes a banana, mango, strawberries, orange juice, milk, and any other fruit in the fridge.
I love a tropical smoothie with frozen mango, frozen peaches, pineapple juice, banana and what else but protein powder!!
Some plain or vanilla all-natural yogurt, either a banana, pb and flaxseed or peach, mango and blueberry! YUM!!
I’m kinda new to the smoothie thing, but so far my favorite is: frozen banana, soy milk, a little pb and chia seeds. I have some chocolate protein powder but haven’t tried it in my smoothie yet.
I’m kind of boring…frozen fruit and some yogurt and milk to think it out a bit. Yum.
Spinach, Frozen banana, Tb. of cocoa powder, t. of instant coffee, and Chocolate protein powder! TASTES DELICIOUS
OH AND SOMETIMES I HAD IN CHIA SEEDS FOR EXTRA NUTRITION!
I love vanilla whey protein. Ever since I read your posting about green monsters I’m hooked! Best ever is Whey Protein, frozen banana, almond milk, chia seeds and peanut butter. I’ve tried others but this is the best!
frozen Raspberries, strawberries and mango, blended with a titch of plain yogurt and eaten as thick as can be- with a spoon! Yumness!
I am plain jane with my smoothies: 1 c plain almond milk, 1 T nut butter, 1 banana, spinach, and frozen blueberries is my favorite. I mix it up depending on what I have though!
Vanilla protein powder, chocolate pudding powder, ice and almond milk!
Im really more interested in the cute glass that the smoothie was in. I want one! Don’t tell me it’s an antique!
Actually, I love your green monster smoothie recipe! (I have yet to test it with vanilla whey protein powder, though!)
My favorite summer smoothie goes like this: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, skim milk, 1/2 scoop of vanilla protein powder, and fro yo. Yum yum!
I have a bunch of frozen fruit in the freezer that I throw together with some tropical juice and blend it up with my stick blender. Sometime I add some chia seeds! Would love to try the protein powder, I am always afraid of that kind of thing because some of them taste so funky!
I like frozen banana, spinach, vanilla almond milk, and blueberries. Sometimes I’ll add flaxseed as well. I wish I had protein powder to put in it though for more staying power!
Last night’s Bachelorette was great! I had heard she wasn’t going to pick anyone, but I’m not surprised with the results though. I really hope they stay together for good because they’re such a cute couple!!
I have many favorites, but all include some sort of nut butter and greek yogurt. I love the thickness, and it keeps me full longer
Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Shake
peanut butter, chocolate protein powder, plain nonfat greek yogurt, unsweetened chocolate almond milk, banana
Vanilla Maple Cashew Shake
Cashew butter, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, a little vanilla extract and maple syrup (I love lots of this!), either plain or vanilla nonfat greek yogurt, plain or vanilla protein powder.
They are both heavenly!
Yogurt, peach, mango, ice, and maybe a little bit of spinach if i have any!!!!
My favorite combo is vanilla unsweetened almond milk, vanilla protein powder, frozen blueberries, 1/2 cup of OJ, plus lots of spinach!
I like smoothies with strawberries. I want to try making a smoothie with bananas and chocolate
I made a green monster this morning, and I immediately thought of you–I was mentally comparing the hue of my concoction to your pretty ones;)
Favorite smoothie combo: mango, banana, vanilla hemp protein, and soymilk.