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To fuel your body while you get that heart rate up, we suggest a nutrient-rich healthy pre-workout smoothie. This recipe is packed with healthy fats and carbs to energize you. Don’t let the color scare you. This pre-workout shake tastes really good.

glass jar of green smoothie surrounded by fresh pineapple, banana, peach, coconut oil and spinach.

For me, drinking a daily smoothie isn’t a diet, it’s a lifestyle. It’s about taking care of your body and saying yes to plants every single day. In addition to fueling your body with tasty plant-based smoothies, it’s important to exercise daily. Walking, hiking, boot camp, chasing kids and biking are all great options.

I love to run, so that’s my go-to mode of exercise. It’s what clears my mind and burns off steam (if you know what I mean). I’ve even started a Rawkstar Running Club inside Rawk the Year and it’s been great. We’ve got some friendly competition to motivate us to get in at least 7.7 miles each week and we’re killing it so far.

Table of Contents
  1. Ingredients in Pre-Workout Smoothie
  2. How to Blend a Pre-Workout Smoothie
  3. Homemade Protein Shakes
  4. Plant-Based Protein Powder
  5. Pre-Workout Smoothie FAQs
  6. More Healthy Pre-Workout Recipes
  7. Healthy Pre-Workout Smoothie Recipe
labeled ingredients for a pre workout smoothie including banana, coconut oil, spinach, peaches, coconut water + water and pineapple.

Ingredients in Pre-Workout Smoothie

As an endurance runner, I don’t want super quick energy, I want constant, long-lasting energy that doesn’t take much work for my body to break down. The combination of greens and fruit delivers the nutrients you need to keep you fueled for a long run or a big workout.

  • Spinach: Leafy greens are powerhouse plants that provide nutrients and protein to any smoothie.
  • Coconut water + water: Coconut water acts like natural Gatorade providing hydrating electrolytes your body needs to replenish the energy lost working out.
  • Pineapple: Natural fight inflammation with pineapple, helping your muscles recover faster from a workout.
  • Peaches: Frozen peaches are picked at the height of freshness and flash-frozen to preserve as many nutrients as possible, making them irresistibly sweet and healthy.
  • Banana: Natural sweetness from bananas can help any smoothie become more palatable.
  • Coconut oil: If you are looking to shed a few lbs then healthy fat is actually your friend, not your enemy. It helps break down the natural sugars from fruit and actually keeps you full longer.

This is one of my favorite smoothie combinations. It’s lightly sweet, I don’t even notice the spinach, and I can definitely feel the energy boost that helps me run faster and lift better during a workout.

overhead photo of blender full of spinach next to a photo of fresh ingredients including peaches, coconut oil, bananas and spinach.

How to Blend a Pre-Workout Smoothie

I can’t stand a chunky smoothie. If I’m going to put the work into buying good ingredients to make something at home then I want it to taste great. Here’s how I blend my green smoothies for the best result, every time:

  1. Blend the spinach, coconut water and water until smooth. If you aren’t using a high-powered blender then stop and scrap down the sides as needed to get rid of all those leafy chunks.
  2. Then add the remaining ingredients and blend again until smooth. If you’re using frozen ingredients, let them sit out for about 15 minutes before blending to help soften them a bit.

Using this two-blend method you’ll actually save time and get a better smoothie as a result. I’ve been blending smoothies for 11 years now and this method hasn’t let me down yet!

green smoothie in glass jar surrounded by fresh produce.

Homemade Protein Shakes

It is seriously easy, and less expensive, to make shakes at home. Ditch the super expensive protein powder and pre-made shakes made with inflammatory dairy ingredients and try giving one a blend at home.

If you aren’t quite ready for a green one yet, that’s okay! Chocolate, caramel, cinnamon, vanilla and any fruit you want you can blend into a nourishing snack with ingredients you can actually pronounce.

I love a good protein shake and hate the fake sugar taste of store-bought ones, so I created several to fuel my workouts. They’ve taken on me on countless adventures and made me feel better at 39 than I did at 29!

green smoothie in glass jar with flower lid and metal straw next to blender container, phone with headphones plugged in, sweat towel and running shoes.

Plant-Based Protein Powder

Adding a scoop of a clean, plant-based protein powder can quickly boost the protein of your smoothie. homemade protein powder is my favorite because it is organic and only has three ingredients (hemp, chia and flax) which is the perfect blend of protein and healthy fats.

It can turn any smoothie, including the one below, into a meal replacement instead of just a snack. I use it when I really want to fill my body up and have sustainable energy.

glass jar full of green smoothie.

Pre-Workout Smoothie FAQs

Are smoothies good for pre-workout?

Yes! Depending on the kind you blend, they can give you quick energy for a fast workout or long-lasting energy to keep you fueled for a long run or high-intensity workout.

Which smoothie is best before a workout?

My go-to smoothie before a workout contains coconut water, fruit, spinach and coconut oil for a super fast snack that gives me the energy to maximize my workout without weighing me down.

What should I put in a pre-workout smoothie?

Coconut water is loaded with natural electrolytes, fruit provides a great energy boost, spinach and coconut oil provide protein and healthy fat and fiber to help your body break down the natural sugar into usable energy.

More Healthy Pre-Workout Recipes

Looking for more great pre-workout snacks? I’ve got tons of them on the blog because I love fitness and finding recipes that enhance my workout. You can access my favorite healthy workout snacks here. Or if you want three solid recommendations, check out these smoothies:

Please rate and review this recipe once you’ve blended it. I can’t wait to read how it turned out!

4.68 from 259 votes

Healthy Pre-Workout Smoothie

The best kinds of pre-workout smoothies are filled with protein, good carbs and healthy fats. The combination of greens, fruit and coconut oil deliver the nutrients you need to keep you fueled for a workout.
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Author: Jen Hansard
Course: Smoothie
Cuisine: Plant-Based
Serves: 1 smoothie

Ingredients  

  • 1 cup spinach
  • ½ cup coconut water
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup pineapple frozen
  • ½ cup peach frozen
  • ½ banana
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil

Instructions 

  • Blend the spinach, coconut water and water until smooth. 
  • Add the pineapple, peaches, banana and coconut oil and blend again. 
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Notes

  • Use frozen fruit to make a refreshingly cool smoothie.
  • Boost with your favorite plant-based protein powder for extra protein and healthy fats.
  • Swap spinach with the leafy green of your choice. 
  • For a smoothie with less natural sugar, swap out 1/2 banana for 1/4 avocado.

Nutrition

Calories: 272kcal, Carbohydrates: 38g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 167mg, Potassium: 862mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 25g, Vitamin A: 3150IU, Vitamin C: 59mg, Calcium: 79mg, Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe? Show me!Mention @SimpleGreenSmoothies or tag #SimpleGreenSmoothies!

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Rating




Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I love the taste of coconut and the addition of coconut oil. I used white peaches which gave a twist .

  2. 5 stars
    Absolutely loved today’s smoothie! The flavors worked well together, although I switched from the peaches to using loquats since I have a peach allergy. The addition of the coconut oil gave such a smooth feeling in the mouth, almost like it was silky smooth. This is a definite winner and I will make this one frequently.

  3. 5 stars
    I really enjoyed this smoothie! It was great for breakfast and just slightly sweet.

  4. 5 stars
    This is another smoothie I loved. I go for the pineapple, peaches, banana mix along with a hint of coconut. Any greens you put with that fruit mix is going to be great, I ‘ll be honest, I skipped the coconut oil and the 1/2cup of water and just used 1 full cup of cup coconut water. Still it was excellent. I have coconut oil but the bottle was not open yet and I didn’t want to opening just for this smoothie. When I am making things that use coconut oil I will use it in the smoothie at that time. I don’t want the oil to go bad. I like to use the oil when I make Hawaiian, and Indian dishes more towards the warmer weather. its still ccclld in Ohio near Lake Erie, I mean we have some warm days but its not near warm weather yet. Tomorrow they are calling for snow Tuesday and Wednesday it will be in the 60’s. We are going in the right direction but it is not the warmer weather yet. Can’t believe one more day of the challenge. I’ll be drinking this set of smoothies until the next challenge.

  5. 5 stars
    i made this smoothie as written except i used a nectarine instead of a peach. it was sweet and refreshing… despite the nectarine tasting poorly. (even if they were in season, it’s hard to get good produce anymore… .) then i added protein powder, along with wheat grass, kale, and spirulina powders. needless to say, it didn’t taste as seeet and refreshing! curiously, can the coconut oil be scooped in as a solid or does it need to be warmed? i didn’t used anything frozen and warmed mine…

  6. 4 stars
    This one had a good flavor. Kept me going through a long meeting followed by a nice long walk.

  7. 5 stars
    Enjoyed this smoothie. Didn’t make as much as other recipes but tasted light and fruity. Subbed avocado for banana and left out coconut oil because I didn’t have any, but still tasted great.

  8. 3 stars
    Substituted mixed frozen berries for the peaches. I liked the taste but I wonder if it was the coconut oil that made it SO FOAMY that I had to eat it with a spoon and tripled the quantity. Not a smoothie that you can drink on the go. ;(

  9. Very sweet that I like and good fuel for a work out it gave an extra boost

  10. 5 stars
    This is my favorite smoothie from the challenge to date. I enjoy the coconut and fruit flavors combination. I also appreciate learning about other healthy fats (coconut oil) that I can add to my smoothies. Definitely a keeper.