meal replacement smoothies

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I believe that any time is a great time for a smoothie, especially when you’re trying to turn it into a meal replacement smoothie. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, snack, post workout fuel, late night munchies, etc— you name it!

Our bodies have some vicious cravings (and also need) vitamins and minerals all day long. Leafy greens and fresh fruit in a blended smoothie always makes for a great option.

I use the meal replacement smoothie recipe below to power my day with whole foods and plant protein, and now you can, too!

Table of Contents
  1. Health Benefits of a Meal Replacement Smoothies
  2. How to Turn a Smoothie into a Meal
  3. Pick a Plant-Based Protein
  4. Pick a Healthy Fat
  5. Examples of Meal Replacement Add-Ins
  6. Meal Replacement Smoothie FAQs
  7. 15 More Meal Replacement Smoothie Recipes
  8. Meal Replacement Smoothie Recipe

Yet at certain times of day, our body needs different things to thrive. Let’s take actual meals, like breakfast, lunch and dinner. These meals are super important— and can be easily swapped for a green smoothie. You just have to know the right way to do it, which we talk about below.

Health Benefits of a Meal Replacement Smoothies

A smoothie can be a meal replacement if using the correct ingredients. I drink meal replacement smoothies for breakfast or lunch most days. Sometimes it’s because I’m in a hurry and just want to down something asap. Other times it’s because I’m trying to slim down (usually after vacation). Swapping a meal with a smoothie can benefit you in these ways:

  • You’ll be more energized thanks to all the fresh, raw ingredients
  • They’re super quick to make and drink
  • You’re hydrating your body
  • Less bloating than usual when eating a meal
  • It’ll help with weight loss

How to Turn a Smoothie into a Meal

meal replacement smoothie recipes to fuel your day

The key to replacing meals with smoothies is including healthy fats AND proteins. Healthy fats and proteins are the way to go if you want to power up with a green smoothie meal replacement. This combo will keep you feeling full and give you the energy you need to cruise right through ’til your next snack or meal. Below are our favorite options for smoothie meal replacement boosters:

Pick a Plant-Based Protein

Plant-based proteins keep your body full and give you tons of energy. They also help repair your muscles, which is perfect for that post-workout buzz. Oh, kale to the yeah!

Pick a Healthy Fat

Healthy fats protect your heart, keep your energy levels up, boost metabolism, and lower bad cholesterol levels. So please don’t skip the fats. They’re actually really, really good for you! And the ingredients below make your green smoothies extra creamy.

  • Avocado
  • Coconut oil or MCT oil
  • Almond butter or other homemade nut butter
  • Chia seeds (yep, here they are again! These babies are loaded with healthy fats and protein, making them a great everyday booster)
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Examples of Meal Replacement Add-Ins

Smoothies can be the perfect fast food by adding healthy fats and plant-based protein. Use one of these meal replacement booster combos in your next green smoothie. The boosts are measured to work with all 250+ of our smoothie recipes.

  • 2 tbs chia seeds + 2oz silken tofu
  • 2 tbs hemp hearts + ¼ avocado
  • 2 tbs plant-based protein powder + 1 tbs coconut oil
  • 1 tbs almond butter + 2 tbs rolled oats
  • 2 tbs chia seeds + 1 tbs coconut oil
plant protein options to turn your smoothie into a quick meal

Meal Replacement Smoothie FAQs

When is the best time to drink a meal replacement smoothie?

Any time is the right time for a smoothie! Personally, we love drinking ours in the morning for a great start to the day. But besides drinking a smoothie as breakfast, lots of rawkstars drink their smoothie for lunch or dinner, as an afternoon snack, or as a healthy dessert.

In case you’re planning on having your smoothie in the evening–most of our smoothies provide a great energy boost similar to a cup of coffee. So if you’re looking for a pre-bedtime green smoothie recipe, we’ve got you covered: Sleep Well Smoothie.

Is replacing a meal with a smoothie healthy?

The MOST important thing when blending any meal replacement smoothie recipe is to include healthy fats AND proteins. This combo will keep you feeling full and give you the energy you need to cruise right through ’til your next meal or snack. 

Do smoothies help you lose weight?

If you swap out a meal (or two) each day with a smoothie, there’s a good chance you’ll lose weight and also have more energy. This is due to the increased nutrition and decrease in overall calories. What’s even better than a smoothie is a green smoothie. When you add in leafy greens you’re adding fiber and phytonutrients… yet very few calories. My smoothies recipes are made with nutrient dense foods that curb cravings and keep you full longer.

I have a Plant-Based Cleanse that includes two smoothies a day, plus snacks and meals to help you lose weight, yet more importantly understand how to nourish your body so the weight falls off without ever feeling hungry.

15 More Meal Replacement Smoothie Recipes

meal replacement smoothies

Smoothies for Breakfast

Smoothies for Lunch

Smoothies for Dinner

Don’t forget to rate + review this recipe once you’ve made it. I want to know how yours turned out as well as if it filled you up!

blueberries on a smoothie for a meal
4.52 from 391 votes

Meal Replacement Smoothie

Healthy fats and proteins are the way to go if you want to power up with a meal replacement smoothie. This combo of juicy blueberries, almond butter and rolled oats is a must to keep you feeling full and fuel you 'til your next meal.
Print Pin Rate
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Author: Jen Hansard
Course: Smoothie
Cuisine: Gluten-Free, Plant-Based, Vegan
Serves: 1

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Blend kale and almond milk until smooth in a high speed blender.
  • Add remaining ingredients, and blend until smooth.
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Equipment

Video

Notes

  • Use a frozen fruit to make smoothie cold
  • Swap out almond milk for any non-dairy milk you prefer
  • Homemade protein powder is what I use for my meal replacement smoothies

Nutrition

Serving: 16oz, Calories: 343kcal, Carbohydrates: 50g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Sodium: 354mg, Potassium: 787mg, Fiber: 9g, Sugar: 21g, Vitamin A: 6803IU, Vitamin C: 89mg, Calcium: 478mg, Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe? Show me!Mention @SimpleGreenSmoothies or tag #SimpleGreenSmoothies!

Originally Posted September 1, 2021

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Comments

  1. Hi!

    I saw that you could add chia seeds and oats to the smoothie if you’re making it a quick meal on the go, could you possibly do chia seeds and some whole fat plain greek yogurt, just as an alternative??

    Reply

    1. Hi Sarah,

      Of course you can! When using your green smoothie as a meal replacement we suggest adding protein + healthy fats to ensure you’re fueling your body with a complete meal. Chia seeds and plain greek yogurt are two rawesome options. We personally don’t add dairy to our green smoothies, but it’s all about what works for you + your body.

      For more ideas, check out more of our meal replacement booster combos here…

      https://simplegreensmoothies.com/meal-replacement-smoothie

      Reply

  2. hi – I purchased your bookand regret not buying the hard-copy of your book. Barnes and Noble does not support PC’s or Macs for ebooks any longer.

    Reply

    1. Hi Debbie,

      Oh no! We’re so sorry to hear that. Are you no longer able to access your copy? If so, we suggest reaching out to their customer service department. Here is their contact information…

      Reply

  3. Just to be clear, the oats are raw right? You don’t cook them first. Sorry for the silly question , new to smoothies

    Reply

    1. Hi Pierre,

      That’s actually up to you! You can add dry oats, soaked oats, or even cooked oats to your smoothie. We usually
      recommend adding 2 tablespoons of dry oats or 1⁄4 cup of cooked oats to any green smoothie recipe. While cooked oats will take longer to prepare they create the creamiest smoothie, while you may find some grit when blending dry oats.

      Let us know what you decide!

      Reply

  4. Hi,
    I just made my first smoothie. I made it without the nut butter did I miss a key nutrient or something.

    Really enjoyed it, can’t believe I’m full after one glass.

    Reply

    1. Hi Gabrielle,

      We personally don’t count calories, so we don’t include them in our recipes at this time. You’ll find that when you consume more nourishing whole fruits and veggies, you will not only feel full longer, but you’ll also have lessened cravings for high-calorie, nutritionally empty foods. So in the end it balances out. But we know many people would like to have calorie info. Three great resources for tracking calories are Self Nutrition Data, and the phone apps: My Fitness Pal and Lose It.

      Reply

  6. What’s the difference between rolled oats and quick oats? Can I use either in the smoothie?

    Reply

    1. Hi Esbee,

      Great question! The difference between steel-cut, rolled, and quick oats is simply how much the oat groat has been processed. Rolled oats look like flat, irregularly round, slightly textured discs. When processed, the whole grains of oats are first steamed to make them soft and pliable, then pressed to flatten them. Quick oats, also known as instant oats are the most processed of the three oat varieties. They are pre-cooked, dried, and then rolled and pressed slightly thinner than rolled oats. You can use instant + rolled oats interchangeably, and have similar nutritional value.

      Hope this helps!

      Reply

    1. Hi Kevin,

      Thank for reaching out to us. Since we are not doctors or nutritionists, we suggest that any member of community with health concerns to speak to their healthcare provider to confirm that green smoothies and the natural sugars are okay for their eating plan. Here is a link to our favorite low sugar fruits.

      https://simplegreensmoothies.com/low-sugar-fruits

      Hope that helps.

      Reply

  9. is it better to make green smoothies with water or almond milk? What the benefit between the two as far as weight loss?

    Reply

    1. Hi Yvonne,

      We love blendin’ with both almond milk + water. Almond milk is a lactose-free, warm flavored liquid that will provide you with vitamin E, protein, and fiber. Since it is lactose free it is easily digestible, and its even low in fat and cholesterol free. If possible, find an unsweetened kind of almond milk to stay away from the high amounts of sugar. Its a great base for those fall months!

      Water is essential for your body, and its simply good for you. Use water in your smoothies when you are looking for an easy, cheap, and simple base for your smoothie.

      https://simplegreensmoothies.com/dairy-free-smoothies

      Reply

    1. Hi Frida,

      Of course! Just know, your green smoothie will give you a great energy boost, similar to a cup of coffee – In case you plan on enjoying your Meal Replacement Green Smoothie late at night. Want to make other green smoothie recipes the perfect meal replacement? Check out our favorite meal replacement booster combos here…

      https://simplegreensmoothies.com/meal-replacement-smoothie

      Reply

  12. Can I replace the expensive and harder to find almond butter, with the cheaper peanut butter?

    Reply

    1. Hi Ian,

      Of course! Peanut butter + almond butter occupy similar niches in a healthy diet, and can often substitute for the other in most recipes! We love nut butter made from almonds because it contains more vitamin E and iron than peanut butter, but we love both!

      Reply

  13. Hi, I am after ideas (that don’t contain banana), that I can make up and drink later when I get to work
    Thanks
    Leanne

    Reply

  15. hihi,

    I am new to smoothies. When you say 2 cups of kale, roughly how many grams is that? And I do not like almond butter, is there anything I can replaced with?

    Reply

    1. Hi Jaz,

      Thanks for blendin’ with us! 2 cups of leafy greens = 60g. Not a fan of almond butter, no worries! Swap in another nut or seed butter you enjoy more!

      Cheers 🙂

      Reply

  16. Hi there!
    I would like to try one of your green smoothie recipes to help my skin get clearer and healthier. Could you suggest something? I am allergic to nuts, but oils (coconut is ok) and nut butters. Seeds are ok.
    Help!

    Reply