Are you looking for a high protein, vegan smoothie that is made without protein powder? The Husband Protein Smoothie is IT!
Back in February, when we did the Eat More Plants Challenge, my husband Tim realized he wasn’t getting enough fruits and vegetables into his diet. He ditched his cereal or eggs and toast breakfast for a smoothie that packed with fruits, greens, and, most importantly keeps him FULL until lunch.
Tim is a big guy. He’s around 6’4″, 235 pounds. If he’s going to have a smoothie for breakfast, it’s got to be a SMOOTHIE. I’ve been tweaking this recipe for the last few months until I finally got it right.
The requirements were tough. No bananas allowed (he doesn’t love them). Must be high in protein and filling, but without protein powders (I’m not crazy about protein powders). Must be filled with fruits and vegetables. This smoothie does all of that and more. In fact, this Husband Protein Smoothie is packed with health benefits. Let’s take a look:
The Husband Protein Smoothie Benefits
- Contains 4 servings of fruit.
- Contains 2 servings of vegetables.
- Over 20 grams of plant-based protein.
- Hulled hemp seeds provide a complete protein, reduce inflammation, have an ideal balance of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids, and are rich in vitamins and minerals.
- Ginger is another anti-inflammatory food and is also great for digestion.
- Loaded with fiber which is important for digestion.
- Spinach is a rich source of many vitamins and phytonutrients, making it an anti-cancer food.
- Naturally sweetened with maple syrup (never mind the bits of almond butter floating in the syrup in the picture up there–I should have used a clean measuring spoon!), which contains manganese, zinc, calcium, potassium, iron, and magnesium.
- Contains oats, which have been shown to reduce “bad” cholesterol levels and boost immune system function.
The nutritional calculator I use didn’t recognize hemp seeds, so I don’t have a complete nutrition label for you. I did, however, calculate that this smoothie is between 500-600 calories and has between 20-23 grams of protein, depending on how much almond butter you use. There’s not a huge difference in taste between 1-2 tablespoons, but you can taste it more when you use two.
Clearly, this makes a huge and hearty smoothie. It’s definitely a Husband Smoothie in this house. If I was making this for myself, I’d share it with the kids and it’d be perfect. 🙂 
I’m so happy that Tim is starting his day in such a nutritional way these days. If you or someone you know needs a breakfast makeover, give this high protein vegan smoothie a try!
PrintThe Husband Protein Smoothie
This is a high protein and vegan smoothie that is made without any protein powders. It’s filled with nutrients and is great for digestion. At 600-700 calories and 20-23 grams of protein, this is a smoothie that will fill up even the biggest guys until lunch time!
- Prep Time: 3 mins
- Cook Time: 1 min
- Total Time: 4 mins
- Yield: 1 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen wild blueberries
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 1–2 tablespoons almond butter
- 3 tablespoons hulled hemp seeds
- 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into the blender and blend until super smooth.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 48g
- Sodium: 43mg
- Fat: 36g
- Carbohydrates: 84g
- Protein: 21g
Kate says
April 4, 2016 at 3:11 pmOh husbands and smoothies… that’s definitely a story. 😉
This recipe sounds great. Those hemp seeds sound like a good addition to my pantry, I need to give them a try!
Have a great week!
Maryea says
April 5, 2016 at 3:38 pmHaha it sounds like you have a good story! 🙂
Rui Sousa says
May 17, 2016 at 10:38 amthank you for this smoothie, but i find it to hard to blend it, can i use little water.
Maryea says
May 17, 2016 at 10:45 amYes, if it is hard to blend just add more water.
Daisy D. says
December 18, 2017 at 2:05 pmHi, can you use any kind of maple syrup?
Maryea says
December 18, 2017 at 10:21 pmYes. 🙂
Kathy says
April 5, 2016 at 10:03 amLooks and sounds like a great recipe. We already make similar smoothies but may try your exact recipe too. I like how you explained all the benefits of the ingredients. Thank you!!!
Maryea says
April 5, 2016 at 3:37 pmYou’re welcome, Kathy!
Kimmie says
April 27, 2016 at 8:30 amWhat could i put for the ginger? I dont have any stores around here that sell it ?.
Maryea says
April 27, 2016 at 9:33 pmIf you have ground ginger you could use that. Or just leave it out all together. It still tastes great without it.
Kim says
January 14, 2018 at 7:29 pmSupermarkets sell minced ginger in jars too.
Kim says
January 14, 2018 at 7:38 pmOr minced garlic in a jar from the supermarkets.
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Alina says
April 5, 2016 at 6:47 pmOh, this sound delicious and nutritious! Have you thought about adding 1-2 tablespoons of chia seeds for additional protein power (and healthy fats) :)?
I like to give my family smoothies to eat with a spoon, so I can add a few small walnuts (even more healthy fats and protein) on top.
Thank you for this great recipe!
Mark Forge says
April 8, 2016 at 3:53 amHey there, could you please share what camera/lens you use to take such beautiful photos?
Thanks!
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Maryea says
April 8, 2016 at 4:55 pmThe body is an Olympus E-520 and the lens is the 50 mm macro ED. I bought the body of the camera before I was blogging when my daughter was a baby and I couldn’t get a good picture of her because she wouldn’t sit still. I upgraded the lens in 2014. I’m dreaming of a new camera, though. I have my eye on a Canon 5D Mark III. A huge upgrade from what I have now, but maybe someday.
Megan G says
April 27, 2016 at 9:22 amI was wondering do you recommend a different fruit for the strawberries. I love them but my daughter allergic to them so I don’t keep them in the house.
Maryea says
April 27, 2016 at 9:34 pmYou could do all blueberries!
monique says
June 2, 2016 at 2:10 pmWhat would you recommend instead of almond butter? I have severe allergies.
Maryea says
June 3, 2016 at 7:53 amI would recommend sunflower seed butter or peanut butter.
Casey says
June 2, 2016 at 3:22 pmDo you have a substitute for nut butters? We have allergies in our house.
Maryea says
June 3, 2016 at 7:53 amYou can use sunflower seed butter or leave it out.
Kristin says
June 2, 2016 at 4:37 pmHave you figured out how much it costs to make each one on average? Budget is a big issue for my family. Thanks!
Maryea says
June 4, 2016 at 6:27 pmNo, I’m sorry, but I haven’t figured that out.
Sarah says
June 8, 2016 at 7:00 amWe love this smoothie in our house. We hope you dont mind but we would love to share it on our website for the new Nutri Fill-It pouches (launching in August). Full credit and links back to your blog of course.
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Maryea says
June 8, 2016 at 9:34 amYou are welcome to share it as long as you don’t include the whole recipe on your site. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoy it!
Rachel says
August 4, 2016 at 12:31 pmLooks great! Have you ever made this the night before so it’s grap and go in the morning? Does it still work that way? Thanks!
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Maryea says
August 4, 2016 at 4:07 pmI have put all the ingredients in the blender and kept it in the fridge and then blended it in the morning, but I haven’t tried blending it the night before.
Merrilee says
August 13, 2016 at 6:06 pmWhy dont you like protein powders? Also, isnt that a lot of calories just for breakfast?
Maryea says
August 15, 2016 at 8:34 amI don’t like the highly processed nature of protein powders. Most of them have more ingredients than I would like to add to my smoothies. This smoothie was created for my husband, who is 6′ 3″ and 235 pounds, so for him it’s the perfect amount of calories for breakfast. I say in the post it would be too much for me.
S says
January 31, 2018 at 7:41 pmMy husband is not quite that tall, & probably half the weight… & would LOVE that many calories each morning. I call his stomach the black hole, & before we had a baby in the house again, I would make him smoothies. I use to add everything but the sink! Love that you have figured out the protein, that’s what I know he needs & is missing. & the protein powders are always just too sweet for him. He comes from Nicaragua & isn’t (wasn’t) use to everything being overly processed. This is right up his alley! Thank you, & if he’s still hungry I’ll tell him to grab those free range hard boiled eggs for on the go too! I also love the prep the night before tip! Perfect!
Maryea says
February 1, 2018 at 6:34 amI hope your husband loves this! 🙂
anon says
October 22, 2016 at 2:32 pmI made this earlier today (though I had to make some substitutions based on what I had on hand) and shared it with my dad (he’s my smoothie buddy), and we both thought it was very tasty. I will most definitely make this again (especially as I often forget to eat on weekends)!
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Maryea says
October 23, 2016 at 8:18 amThanks for letting me know, Anon!
Chelsea Denard says
December 10, 2016 at 7:23 amTried this with powdered peanut butter (PB2) and a few squirts of liquid Stevia instead of the maple syrup. Super tasty and about 200 fewer calories, 10 grams less fat, and cuts out most of the added sugar – which works for me! Good job on choosing the hemp hearts > chia/flax. Way more protein.
Dionne says
January 8, 2017 at 11:17 pmWhat can I sub for rolled oats?
Dallas says
January 13, 2017 at 6:11 pmCould you substitute Chia seeds for hemp seeds?
Maryea says
January 14, 2017 at 7:36 amYes!
Cristina says
January 24, 2017 at 3:29 pmI found this post through Pinterest and am terribly surprised by how sexist the name of the smoothie is.
In my opinion a nowadays wife shouldn’t be considered the only responsable for her husband’s level of hungriness. When I found this it made me a little sad to see how some women still have this mentality.
Maryea says
January 24, 2017 at 10:03 pmThis smoothie recipe was developed for my husband, thus the name. I’m not sure why you think that is sexist. I feel in no way responsible for my husband’s level of hungriness. I do find joy in creating something for him that can fill him up for breakfast. That’s what marriage is all about, my friend. Finding joy in creating happiness or comfort for another person. Nothing sexist about it.
Kelly says
February 8, 2017 at 5:03 pmPerfect response Maryea – Cristina tried to make a smoothie “political” – unbelievable. But she did get a bonus with her smoothie recipe….good advise about marriage. Something we all need to be reminded of.
Thanks for sharing both.
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Janet says
September 24, 2018 at 6:20 amGreat response.
Stephen Gulbransen says
January 3, 2019 at 1:05 pmGreat response!
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Kelly says
February 8, 2017 at 4:51 pmGreat smoothie, I substituted flax seeds for the hemp and honey (from my parents hives) instead of maple syrup.
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Veronica says
June 11, 2017 at 9:50 amI am drinking this right now! I used almonds instead of almond butter, and blended it with 18 oz coconut water for extra nutrients. This is a great smoothie I will be making again. Thanks for sharing!
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Maryea says
June 11, 2017 at 10:31 pmYou’re welcome, Veronica!
Mary says
June 23, 2017 at 2:30 pmOh my gosssh with the ads. I gets that’s how you make money blogging and all that but I just wanted the recipe and I literally can’t even look at it because every time I get close to even the PICTURE of what you used, I get taken to different sites for games and other junk.
Maryea says
June 24, 2017 at 6:50 amHi Mary,
I’m sorry you had a poor experience with my ads. My intention is to make them the least intrusive as I can. Every ad has an X that you can click in the top corner to get rid of it. I’m sorry if it took you to another place–that only happens if you click directly on the ad, which indicates you are interested in seeing more about it.
Yes, ad revenue is my main source of income. It’s the way that I am able to give my readers free access to all the recipes and content I create. I’m just curious–would you rather pay to access blogs, like membership sites, or have free access but deal with ads? I have considered making HHM more membership based because I too hate ads, but I also am leery to deny access to people who can’t pay for membership. I wish I was independently wealthy so I could do this for free. 🙂
Megan. says
July 1, 2017 at 4:26 pmHey there !
Just wondering if this would work the same if I cut everything in half. Sounds like too much for me to eat all alone. 🙂
Assuming If I cut the recipe in half, that means the protein is halved ?
Maryea says
July 2, 2017 at 10:28 pmYes, you can cut it in half. If you want to keep the protein up, don’t cut the hemp seeds in half. 🙂
Megan says
July 3, 2017 at 10:06 amAmazing ! Thanks so much. Can’t wait to try it!! 🙂
Lauren says
November 5, 2017 at 8:43 pmI like the name! I’ve been looking for something like this for my husband and my vegan daughter who swims competitively! Thanks!
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Maryea says
November 6, 2017 at 12:10 pmYou’re welcome, Lauren!
Kristy says
November 25, 2017 at 9:53 amI just made this smoothie for the first time. It is delicious! I cut the ingredients in half and it was the perfect amount for me. It blended perfectly in the Ninja Pro. The fresh ginger gave it a nice clean and refreshing taste. Next time, I am going to try and leave out the syrup as I believe it will still be sweet enough from the fruit. Thanks for sharing this amazing creation!
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Maryea says
November 27, 2017 at 1:01 pmThanks, Kristy! So glad to hear that!
Ben says
February 4, 2018 at 2:51 pmI tried this recipe, pretty good but I just need to cut back on the ginger. Gives the smoothie a lil too much kick (?). Other than that, love it! 4.5 ⭐️
Maryea says
February 6, 2018 at 6:21 pmThanks for your feedback, Ben!
Christina says
April 22, 2018 at 4:42 pmMy husband can’t eat fruit. How will omitting the fruit affect the nutritional aspects? Also, could I substitute the oats for another nut or seed? Thank you!
Haley says
June 23, 2018 at 9:16 pmI made this smoothie and the ginger taste was very strong. I’m going to try it again without the ginger and I think it will taste much better! Thanks for the recipe!
Maryea says
June 25, 2018 at 7:02 amFresh ginger is strong and can be especially strong if you aren’t used to it. I admittedly love a lot of ginger in my smoothies!
Jenitha joseph says
September 12, 2018 at 6:36 amAre the youngsters in your family hooked to artificial protein shakes after a workout? Now, surprise them with these healthier homemade versions.
https://www.parentcircle.com/article/6-homemade-protein-shakes-that-your-teen-will-love/
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Katherine says
November 30, 2018 at 10:49 amHi Maryea,
Your protein smoothie recipe is fantastic. I would love to feature it in our website Green Thickies.
Of course all credits will be given to you and linked back to this page. I will not post the actual recipe, but only a small snippet from this page and one photo from here.
Hope that is okay with you. Thanks a lot 🙂
Katherine,
Green Thickies
Maryea says
November 30, 2018 at 12:02 pmThanks Katherine!