It’s citrus season, my friends! And I’m celebrating with this (protein-powder free) Protein Orange Creamsicle Smoothie. My favorite retro ice cream treat is getting a full-on healthy makeover, cause who doesn’t want to eat dessert every day?
I don’t know about you but my hands-down favorite popsicle as a kid was an orange creamsicle. The kind that looked like an orange brick on the outside with a ribbon of vanilla ice cream hidden on the inside. The best of both the bright sherbet + rich-n-creamy ice cream worlds.
This decadent smoothie is just like that treat you remember from your childhood (but without all the nasty artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives). It tastes like a sweet ice cream milkshake, but has an ingredient list that is sure to make you smile. It’s naturally sweetened with a splash of orange juice, some banana slices, and a squeeze of honey. A bit of vanilla extract roots this glorified protein shake firmly in dessert territory. Morphing the humble Greek Yogurt into something that tastes every bit like vanilla ice cream.
It gets a significant boost in protein from none other than protein-powerhouse Greek yogurt (which is my go-to for real, whole food based protein without having to use a pricier powdered whey protein). Don’t get me wrong! I think protein powders are awesome when you need to get some quick and easy to digest protein into your body or to use as a supplement to a healthy diet. But the key word there is as a supplement – defined as “something that completes or enhances something else when added to it” – not as a replacement for real food.
But I realize not everybody likes the taste of a protein powder, or is even comfortable using them as a supplement. Plus you may not always have powdered protein on hand and it can’t be found as easily in every grocery store. But I hope you’ll find that this smoothie’s ingredients are pretty universally accessible and easy on the wallet too. All of these reasons are why I wanted to create a macro-balanced smoothie recipe that didn’t rely only on a powder for its protein content.
This healthy fruit smoothie offers the same (if not more) protein than your traditional eggs + bacon breakfast. This recipe boasts around 26 grams of protein per smoothie!
Which comes in handy when you’re just not feelin’ a savory hot meal that early on in the day. Sometimes a sweet, sippable, breakfast on-the-go is just what you need most on a busy morning.
Combining protein + fiber + fat in a meal can help you feel fuller for longer, which for me is a MUST if I’m going to make it to lunchtime without needing to break for a snack.
Speaking of fiber - did I mention there’s a secret vegetable hidden inside? Once blended, it becomes totally invisible and from first to last sip, is damn near undetectable. I dare you to try it and see if you even notice it’s in there at all. Any guesses on what it is…?
If you guessed CAULIFLOWER - then you guessed right! This frozen veggie helps thicken up this smoothie and bump up the fiber content.
I’m more of a sweet breakfast or snack person than a savory one, which means I tend to miss out on those 2-3 meal times as opportunities to get some more vegetables into my diet. And I know I’m not alone in striving to incorporate more veggies into my life. Smoothies are an awesome way to sneak a little more plant-based fiber & nutrients into your diet (without having to chow down on a big plate of veggies).
RELATED: Blueberry Avocado Spinach Smoothie
Seriously though…WHY on earth would I add cauliflower to my smoothie?
First of all, it’s pretty damn good for you. It’s a cruciferous vegetable that is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, antioxidants, and even omega-3 fatty acids.
And on its own, cauliflower is relatively flavorless and carries no bitter taste like some of its greener hued cruciferous cousins (like broccoli, kale, or cabbage). Making it one of the best vegetables to hide in a blended smoothie – lots of nutritious benefits without that strong vegetable taste. Riced cauliflower is even easier to add in because the small pieces will surely get pulverized in your blender, so you won’t have that dreaded moment where you suck up a chunk of raw vegetable into your straw.
I think of cauliflower as the chameleon of the vegetable world. It has an amazing knack for versatility. It can meld itself into almost anything you throw it into and takes on the flavor of whatever dish you want. Its neutral flavor profile and lack of color are what make cauliflower such an awesome substitute for potatoes or addition to creamy sauces.
If you’re still feeling hesitant, I totally understand. I was in that same boat earlier this year. I’ve been adding spinach and kale to my smoothies for years, since they’re so easy to blend and their taste is so easily disguised by sweet frozen fruit. But let me assure you that I’ve got a mean sweet tooth and am not the most adventurous eater, and even my taste buds haven’t thrown a fit over it. I have even added more than a full cup of frozen cauliflower to the blender and was shocked that it was NBD. At all.
Can I use non-fat Greek yogurt in this?
Greek yogurt comes in several varieties - whole milk (full fat) + 2% fat (lowfat) + 0% fat (nonfat). I understand that everyone has their different preferences about which variety tastes the best. And I get that each person also has a unique set of health circumstances dictating how much fat to incorporate into their diet.
But I have to say that the best tasting versions for this healthy smoothie recipe are the whole milk and 2% fat varieties. If for whatever reason you have to be on a very low fat diet, then please know that the 0% will work perfectly for consistency. It just won’t be quite as full-bodied of a taste or mimic the feel of an ice cream milkshake quite as well.
Also, certain vitamins (like Vitamin K) are fat soluble. Meaning that they need to be consumed with a fat source in order to be properly absorbed into the body. So if you’re adding in the cauliflower hoping for that nutrient boost effect, I definitely urge you to not shy away from including a little more fat content in this.
And finally, I use higher fat yogurt in my smoothies because fat keeps me feeling fuller for longer. I know I might sound like a broken record on that but for me it makes a HUGE difference to feel satisfied after a meal. Consider the satiety difference you feel after drinking a glass of milk versus a glass of juice. Same quantity of liquid, but two very different feelings after the glass has been drained.
So the choice really comes down to this – what do YOU want to put in your smoothie to feel your best? What does your body need? Once you have your answer, honor it by making the best choice for you and you alone.
RELATED: Chocolate Banana Milkshake
I’m watching my sugar intake – how could I make this into a low sugar smoothie?
I’ve got you covered – I’ve put modifications for a low sugar smoothie in the notes below but I’ll tell you how to customize it here too!
Omit the banana + double the amount of cauliflower + use liquid stevia drops in place of honey. Adjust the amount of stevia to taste, adding as much as you need to compensate for taking out the banana from the recipe. The doubled amount of cauliflower will make sure that you have enough frozen goods in your blender to make up the textural difference for omitting the banana too.
Please note that I don’t recommend taking out the orange juice if you can help it, since it adds a lot to the taste. But if absolutely necessary, you could use a whole orange instead and double the almond milk. Instead of being a full-on Orange Creamsicle Smoothie this will result in a creamy smoothie with a lighter citrus flavor.
How do I make sure my smoothie is thick and not watery?
Be sure to freeze your fruits and veggies ahead of time! There is no ice in this recipe, so without those frozen components your smoothie won’t have that signature slushie quality to it. And it won’t stay as cold for as long. Frozen fruits and veggies add a lot of body to smoothies and give them a thicker texture, without having to add any ice. While ice does help thicken up your smoothie in terms of texture, it can also compromise the taste by watering down the flavors.
Plus if you cut and freeze your veggies ahead of time it’ll make it easier to grab them out of the freezer and just chuck them straight into the blender. Saving you from having to peel an orange in those brain foggy morning hours. You know, that time period before your coffee kicks in and you can’t even put on matching shoes (let alone have to grapple with a round fruit + a sharp knife).
Have you hopped on the hidden-veggie-smoothie train yet or are you nervous about switching up your blender routine? Tell me in the comments below!
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Here’s a list of the tools + ingredients I used in this recipe:
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MORE HEALTHY SMOOTHIE RECIPES:
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Berry Green Smoothie (Meal Prep)
-
Purple Sweet Potato Smoothie
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Blueberry Avocado Spinach Smoothie
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Chocolate Banana Milkshake
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Protein Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
Ingredients
- ½ c orange juice
- ½ c almond milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ tbs honey*
- 1 c Greek yogurt**
- ½ c riced cauliflower frozen
- ½ navel orange frozen (peeled and chopped into 1” pieces)
- ½ banana frozen (peeled and chopped into slices)
Instructions
- BLEND ALL INGREDIENTS: For easiest blending layer in exact order of ingredient list. This just makes it easier on your blender to get momentum going and blend everything uniformly. Blend all ingredients until desired consistency has been reached, adjust sweetener to taste. Enjoy immediately.
Frances says
Do you measure the fruits and veggies for all your smoothies? I’ve never made smoothies. I just bought my blender and want to start.
Lauren Kenson says
Hi Frances,
Great question! I make smoothies so often that I don't usually measure my ingredients (except to use the scoop for the protein powder if I'm using that as an ingredient). Recipes are a great place to start getting comfortable with knowing how much fruits, veggies, greens and liquid to add to your blender to create smoothies with the right sweetness, flavors, and thickness that you love most. Hope this one helps you get going with your new smoothie habit, happy blending!
Best,
Lauren
Laura says
Made this am with a few slight modifications as I had a similar smoothie at a local organic food truck. Creamy and no cauli taste andhubby approved also!!! Thanks
Lauren Kenson says
Yay! So happy to hear that you got the coveted husband stamp-of-approval (and with a veggie-laden smoothie too!!)
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Laura - I absolutely LOVE hearing stories like these 🙂
-Lauren