I drink a lot of smoothies. They are a quick and easy way to get some nutrient goodness in when you are short on time. Need some new smoothie ideas? Here are 35 of my most favorite dairy free smoothie recipes to get you inspired.I have to say since I got my high speed blender, making smoothies has been so much more fun. You can blend up just about anything in that thing. I love the creamy texture that it gives. You just can’t get that in a regular blender.

Just like with the rest of the foods that I eat, I like to keep my smoothies full of nutrient dense ingredients and whole foods. Before I get to the recipes, let’s chat a bit about what i like to put in my smoothies.

My favorite base for smoothies is homemade coconut milk. It’s a breeze to whip up at home. See recipe HERE. I also like to add a bit of protein to my smoothies, but I’m not a big fan of protein powders. Check out my post on 3 Ugly Truths about Protein Powders. Our bodies are not designed to utilize highly processed protein that has been separated from whole foods. So what do I use instead?

Gelatin:

Gelatin contains a whopping 7 grams of protein per tablespoon. It has also been shown to improve the elasticity of your skin, the quality of your sleep, and to heal the digestive tract. Consuming gelatin is beneficial to your bones, nails and hair. It has also been used to heal food allergies and intolerances. I wrote about the amazing benefits of gelatin a while ago. Check it out HERE.

I recommend only using gelatin from grass fed cows. Vital Proteins makes the highest quality that I have found. Regular gelatin is for making gelatin snacks and desserts that require heating. If you want to add gelatin to your smoothies, use the collagen peptide as it dissolves easily in cold liquids and does not gel. It is completely flavorless. You won’t even notice it is there.

Hemp Seeds:

I also use hemp seeds in my smoothies. One tablespoon of hemp seeds contains 152 milligrams of potassium, 2.3 grams of carbohydrates, 1.6 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein along with 13 percent your daily need for iron of and about 8 percent of your daily vitamin A.

I usually add 1 TBS of the green can gelatin hydrolysate and 2 TBS of hemp seeds. That gives about 14 grams of protein.

A word about green smoothies:

I know that green smoothies are very popular these days. Did you know that consuming raw kale can affect your thyroid? Kale is a goitrogenic vegetable which means that when it is eaten raw, it can inhibit thyroid function. Chris Kresser talked about this in The Thyroid Sessions a while back. You can reduce the goitrogenic properties of foods by cooking them. Other goitrogenic veggies include: Brussels Sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, turnips, mustard greens, kohlrabi, and bok choy.

This may be a new concept to you, but I actually add cooked kale to my smoothies. I often have a bit of leftover kale from dinner. Try it. It’s really good. I even add cooked kale to my guacamole. Check out my Kale Guacamole recipe.

And don’t forget the fat:

Your body needs good quality fats to absorb and assimilate nutrients. Vitamin A, D, E, and K are all fat soluble. I like to add a tablespoon of coconut oil or coconut butter to my smoothies. Really adds to the creamy texture. (where to buy good quality coconut oil)

Now on to the recipes: