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)

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 390 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 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 mins
Total: 5 mins
Author: Jen Hansard
Course: Smoothie
Cuisine: Gluten-Free, Plant-Based, Vegan
Serves: 1

Equipment

Ingredients  

Instructions 

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

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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About the Author

Jen Hansard

I went from exhausted mama to running across the Grand Canyon, riding & hiking to the top of the tallest waterfall in North America with my kids. How? I fell in love with the smoothies and plant-based meals you can find on my blog.

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Comments

    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-smoothies

      Hope that helps.

  3. 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/how-to-make-a-smoothie-without-milk

    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

  6. 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!

  7. 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

  9. 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 🙂

  10. 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

  11. Can I replace the oats with protein powder vega one and also replace the almond butter with PB2 powder?

    Reply

    1. Hi JV,

      Of course! It’s all about what works best for you!! And swapping in protein powder + PB2 makes this recipe still the perfect meal replacement green smoothie!

      Cheers 🙂

  13. Hi there!

    My husband and I are diving into green smoothies. I like the idea of the meal replacement smoothies. He however, is under the impression that all the sugar from the fruit (we followed your recipe as a guide.) is too much and we should avoid using fruit in the smoothies. How can I explain to him that the sugar in the fruit isn’t all bad and the health benefits from fruit.

    Thanks,
    Angel

    Reply

    1. Hi Angel,

      Worried about the sugar content of our green smoothies? Our smoothie recipes make about 4-5 cups (32oz – 40oz). Each smoothie has 3 cups of fruit in it, and it is recommended that an adult has 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit a day. When you drink 16oz of our green smoothie recipe you will be meeting, or just under your daily intake for fruit. If you feel like that is too much fruit, turn our Simple Green Smoothie Formula upside down + blend 2 cups of fruit in each smoothie with 3 cups of leafy greens. Hope that helps. 🙂

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

      https://simplegreensmoothies.com/

  14. Found your site through my hunt for decent nutrition while on a no-chewing diet; your recipes look fabulous! Ah, braces and bite spacers, how I can’t wait for you to be over with. My biggest challenge with the recipes is the sheer amount if travel, both domestic and international. Suggestions welcome!

    Reply

    1. Hi Heather,

      Oh no! We hope this time passes quickly for you! But we’re happy to hear you found us in this busy internet world! Travel + eating healthy can be tough, especially when you’re limited to liquids. Did you know Jadah travels everywhere with her blender? While a Blendtec like Jadah’s might be bulky if you’re trying to pack light, compact + stick blenders are perfect for blendin’ on the go. Here are a few of our favorites…

      Also, green smoothies will keep in the fridge for up to two days in an airtight container. So blend beforehand + take one on the road! We’ve heard from our SGS community that several members have had success pre-blending their smoothies, freezing, + then thawing when you’re ready to enjoy (even while camping!). Just know separation is normal, so give your green smoothie a quick shake before enjoying!

      Looking for more meal replacement ideas while braces + bite spacers on in place? Check out our post here…

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

      Hope these tips help!

  15. Have you ever tried to make your smoothies in larger batches and freeze in containers to eat during the week?

    Reply

    1. Hi Adam,

      Great question! You can definitely freeze your blended green smoothie (we suggest adding a small amount of lemon juice), + store in the freezer. When you’re ready to enjoy simply thaw in the fridge overnight. Separation is natural, so give your smoothie a quick shake before enjoying.

      Looking for other ways to save time in the morning? We love using our freezer to help prep our green smoothies. Learn more here…

      https://simplegreensmoothies.com/frozen-smoothie-packs