Sometimes dragging your carcass out of bed on a hot summer morning is hard. Starting your day when the morning temperatures have already passed the 90 degree mark isn't always ideal. So why not indulge a little in a deliciously healthy smoothie?

 

I'm a fan of this smoothie because not only is it delicious and healthy, it is a great way to wake up and cool off. The other great thing about this recipe is that it is a great way to get protein. If you're a vegetarian, that can be tough sometimes, but this recipe offers an easy way to work what is usually a chalky protein powder into something that actually tastes good. This makes a single serving and I'd recommend eating it right way.

 

5 minutes

A blender

One frozen banana

1/4 to 1/4 cup of water or milk

One scoop of vanilla protein powder

One handful of spinach

 

Throw all of your ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth.

 

This kind of smoothie is known as a green smoothie because it contains vegetables as well as fruit. (And — imagine that — it's green in color.) Feel free to play with which vegetables and fruit you add. This is a basic recipe, but adding strawberries or blueberries is good, too. I'd recommend always starting out with a frozen banana. You can also substitute broccoli or cucumbers for spinach.