Butternut Squash Smoothie (DF/Ve/GF)

Hi friends!

What prompted this post is that lately I’ve heard some people are avoiding bananas and I think THEY are bananas (just kidding – listen to your body!) but I also have a friend who can’t have them so I decided to experiment with a recipe of my own.  You’ll notice that this isn’t as sweet as your traditional smoothie recipe so feel free to add some honey or maple syrup if you’re vegan.

Some info on bananas:

Bananas are mostly made up of carbohydrates but as the banana ripens, the starch in them is turns into sugar.  So therefore, unripe green bananas are high in starch and ripe yellow or speckled bananas contain mostly sugar and are absorbed by your body relatively quickly.  Pro tip: If you want to feel full longer after your smoothie and avoid the “sugar high”, you should add some fat to your smoothie to slow down the digestion process.  This could be coconut oil or some nut butter like almond or cashew.

Bananas also contain some important micro-nutrients such as Vitamin C, Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese, Copper and Fiber!  Fiber is an indigestible carb but it’s so important for your gut health and helps to make you feel full longer.

Having said that if you’re avoiding bananas for any reason, substitute it with some butternut squash!  It’s way lower in sugar, only 82~ calories per cup and also contains lots of your micro-nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Manganese, Potassium, Magnesium, Vitamin E, as well as a few B vitamins like B1, B2, B6, B1 & B9.  A GREAT alternative to get lots of punch in your smoothies.

Trust me, not all vegan protein powders are created equal. I used Garden of Life’s vegan vanilla protein powder, which you can find here.  This protein is vegan, GMO-free, gluten-free and organic. I was impressed when I first tried this protein for it’s smooth vanilla taste and loved that a lot of their ingredients are sprouted, which increases the absorbability of nutrients. It also contains probiotics, which is always a plus for your gut!  It’s definitely not fibrous and ‘pulpy’ like some vegan protein powders can be.

I’d love for you to give my recipe a try! Please tag me on Instagram or Facebook (@balancingandie) so I can see your lovely creations!  Click here to pin this recipe for future reference or subscribe to my blog to receive updates directly to your inbox.

 

 

 

Nutritional Disclaimer

This information is provided as an estimate  only and does not contain any of the optional ingredients in its calculation.  The below information may change with any substitution you make or variances in items used.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 400 ml
Servings Per Container 1

Amount Per Serving
Calories 227 Calories from Fat 22.5
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2.5g 4%
Saturated Fat .2g 1%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 161mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 35g 12%
Dietary Fiber 10g 40%
Sugars 13.5g
Protein 18.9g 38%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
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