If you’ve watched my Instastories the last few months then you may have noticed I’ve been on a serious smoothie kick. What started as a desire to switch up my breakfast routine after completing Whole30 in June, quickly became one of the best things I’ve done for my overall health since Lively was born.
Since I’m breastfeeding, it’s been a challenge to feel full and keep from eating around the clock. At one point, I was eating something every hour on the hour. I gave myself permission to do this because, well, I’m feeding a ravenous little human. While my body does need extra calories while breastfeeding, constantly grazing all day long is not the way to do it.
Celebrity nutritionist, Kelly LeVeque states, “when you eat, you begin the process of digestion, which requires your body to expend a lot of time and energy to break down food into molecules that can be absorbed and utilized. Complete digestion usually takes six hours or more. When you eat snacks in between meals, you tax your body. You are asking it to restart a process it has not yet completed from the last time you ate. Not only does this take energy away from other repairs your body is making (hello, tired eyes), but it also leads to weight gain. When your body cannot absorb and utilize food, it stores it as fat. In addition, restarting the process of digestion by snacking cuts short your body’s ability to burn fat in between meals.”
My constant snacking (even on healthy, whole foods) was keeping my body in digestion mode and thus causing me gas, bloating, unbalanced blood sugar and weight gain. In an effort to break from the constant snacking, I started incorporating one of Kelly’s Fab 4 smoothie into my morning routine. For the first time, I was able to go from breakfast to lunch without grabbing for the plantain chips!
A Fab 4 smoothie is made up of the following: fiber, greens, protein, & healthy fat. Kelly calls these smoothies her clients’ “secret weapon” and I now know why. I’ve loved learning more about this concept from her Body Love book (highly recommend!) and while I’ve enjoyed trying some of the recipes from the book, I’ve had fun coming up with my own creations like this Pink Lemonade smoothie!
This smoothie contains frozen cauliflower (you can’t taste it plus it makes the smoothie thick and creamy like ice cream), frozen raspberries, fresh lemon juice, chia seeds, coconut butter, vanilla protein powder and unsweetened coconut milk.
One of the keys to a successful Fab 4 smoothie or meal is protein. Protein is the building block of your muscles and other cells and it’s what signals to your brain after a meal that you’re full. There are a lot of protein powders out there and not all are created equal. I really like Bulletproof’s Vanilla Collagen Protein because it provides grams of protein per serving, is certified paleo friendly and has only a few clean ingredients. I’ve found that it’s easy on my digestion, does not taste chalky, and it gives my smoothies just the right amount of sweetness.
If you’re looking to mix up your morning breakfast routine or break a snacking habit, I encourage you to give the Fab 4 smoothie a try. It’s been a game changer for me!
Pro tip: If you’re short on time in the mornings, make the smoothie the night before and store it in the fridge in a Yeti type stainless steel cup. It will keep the same consistency!
SHOP THE POST
- 1 Serving Vanilla Protein Powder
- 1 cup frozen cauliflower
- 1-2 tbsp Chia Seeds
- ½ lemon, juice of
- ⅓ cup raspberries (frozen or fresh)
- 1 tbsp coconut butter
- 1-2 cups unsweetened coconut or almond milk
- Place all ingredients in a high powered blender and blend to desired consistency. If you use fresh raspberries add a few ice cubes.
- Optional toppings: chia seeds, lemon zest, unsweetened coconut flakes
Photography: Poppie Studios
This looks delish! I, too, have read Body Love and have started incorporating Fab 4 smoothies into my breakfast a few times each week! I have never been a smoothie drinker but I’ve found several of Kelly’s recipes that I go back to time after time. I was a bit discouraged, however, after recent reports revealed some protein powders tested high in arsenic levels and other undesirable ingredients…which happened to include the brand I was using! 😬 I’ve come to the conclusion it is all about finding a brand you can trust. Bulletproof sounds like a solid option to try. Do you use thier chocolate protein powder as well or do you have a favorite “clean” chocolate protein powder that you’ve tried? Thanks for any advice! Can’t wait to try the raspberry smoothie!
Hi Cassady! I know exactly what article you are talking about. It is so discouraging! I also see a holistic nutritionist and she shared with me that the majority of protein powders on the market contain trace amounts of testosterone. Yikes! So far, Bulletproof, Primal Kitchen and Vital Proteins seem to be some of the cleanest. I’m still continuing this research and will definitely keep you posted if I find any others that might be better. Thank you so much for reading the blog and for giving my smoothie a try! You’ll have to let me know what you think. 🙂
Do you feel that the Tone It Up Collagen Protein is as clean as Bulletproof? I’d like to make sure I’m not ingesting toxins (or the fewest possible toxins) as possible.
Thank you
https://my.toneitup.com/products/marine-collagen
The frozen cauliflower is a genius idea. I’ve been doing Fab4 smoothies for breakfast for awhile, but I haven’t expanded my veggie horizons beyond pumpkin and spinach. I’m getting tired of the spinach, so I’m definitely going to try the cauliflower!
Hi Jenny! I first got the idea from food blogger, Lee from America. She’s a good one to follow for smoothie inspiration! I’ve also been incorporating zucchini into my smoothies as well. I love the thick and creamy texture the frozen zucchini and cauliflower give the smoothie. It’s similar to that of a frozen banana but without the sugar! I also lightly steam the cauliflower and zucchini before freezing them as it helps reduce bloating and is easier on digestion. I steam them using a steamer basket on the stove (or you can steam in the microwave) and then lay them all out on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Allow to cool then place in the freezer. Once they’re frozen, pop them off the cookie sheet then store in a bag or container. If you put them all in a bag and try and freeze immediately after steaming, they will all clump together!
Did you just count the cauliflower as “greens” in the Fab4?
Yes!
Hi! I have never thought to add frozen cauliflower to my protein shake and it sounds like a great way to get in another vegetable serving. Can you really not taste the cauliflower?
Hi Alison! I personally love cauliflower and do not notice the taste in my smoothies. However, I have had friends who do not like cauliflower say they can taste it a little bit. If you’re not crazy about cauliflower, start out with 1/2 cup instead of a whole cup!
I am not a fan of anything coconut do you have any suggestions on something else I can use?
Hi! I just made this recipe and it tastes great! I made 2 servings at once, but after blending it seemed to expand — a LOT! I had an entire blender full of the smoothie! Did this happen to you?
It could be the chia seeds! Those expand and turn gelatinous once they sit in liquid. I’m glad it still tasted good though! 🙂