4 Summer Smoothies Inspired by Classics Combos from Love & Lemons

Celebrate summer with these recipes for smoothies based on classic combos like PB&J from the duo behind the award-winning blog Love & Lemons.

Husband and wife duo Jeanine and Jack are the creators of the two-time Saveur Award winning blog, Love & Lemons opens in a new tab. Cheerful, bright, and full of zest, Jeanine takes an elevated but accessible and fun approach to her recipes. Think tart cherry and mint sorbet and carrot quinoa oatmeal breakfast cookies. Their best-selling book, "The Love & Lemons Cookbook" was released in the spring of 2016. Whole Foods Market is partnering with Love & Lemons this summer to highlight new takes on seasonal staples and more.

Every so often, I get on these mean green daily smoothie kicks that in all honesty, can get a little too green over time. The kick starts with delicious well-balanced smoothies but as the days go on, I start cutting corners. I add too much liquid so that the blender will blend fast, leaving me with a watery smoothie. And speaking of water, that’s what I use when I run out of almond milk. I add ice in the name of “thickness” and I start skipping all ingredients that actually add flavor. What I (we) are left with to drink first thing in the morning is basically a Kale Icy. I know that sounds like it might be good and healthy, but it’s really not — we gulp down these leafy drinks and are hungry a few hours later.
 
But now that it’s summer, I’ve decided to re-up on my smoothie game — these new recipes are so delicious and they’re inspired by four of my favorite summer treats: blueberry muffins, peaches & cream, PB&J sandwiches and mint chip ice cream. In other words — smoothies worth waking up for! For this post, I’ve teamed up with Whole Foods Market to try out some new plant-based protein powders. 
 

First up: Blueberry Muffin Smoothie
This is next best thing to cake for breakfast! Its muffin-like flavor and thickness come from whole rolled oats. It’s sweetened with dates and a pinch of cinnamon. I used Whole Foods Market™ Plant-Based Fit Protein, which makes this a filling breakfast full of plant protein (pea protein, cranberry protein and hemp seed protein) as well as a little pick-me-up from the green coffee bean and green tea extracts that are in the powder. I also snuck a handful of spinach in this smoothie, which is pretty undetectable.
 
Peaches & Cream Pecan Smoothie
I love peaches more than any other fruit on the planet so this is by far my favorite smoothie. When I first made it, I tasted it and said, “This is ice cream!” It works with almond milk or coconut milk, and the pecans make it so rich and creamy. The Whole Foods Market™ Plant-Based Fit Protein adds a nice vanilla and cinnamon flavor along with its protein boost. I like to make this one really thick, and eat it with a spoon. Beyond breakfast, I’ll eat this for dessert any day.
 
While making these, I basically raided the Whole Foods Market supplement aisle to test out the protein powders that would best complement my summer smoothies. In the end I chose two favorites – both are both fantastic plant-based protein options that have great texture and complementary and/or neutral flavors. Whole Foods Market™ Plant-Based Fit Protein works especially well with in the Blueberry Muffin and Peaches & Cream Pecan smoothies. 365 Everyday Value® Pea Protein is great in these last two smoothies — Strawberry PB&J and Mint Chip – because its flavor is so neutral.
 
Strawberry PB&J Smoothie
Berries and peanut butter (or almond butter) is a go-to smoothie combo for me but I never get tired of it. It always reminds me of a PB&J sandwich and it always leaves me full until lunch. To thicken this smoothie, I used chia seeds and 365 Everyday Value® Pea Protein. I added a bit of spinach to this one as well – just enough to keep it pink. If you add too much spinach it will turn brown but it’s still delicious.
 

Mint Chip Smoothies
This one reminds me of summer as a kid because my sister would always order mint chocolate chip ice cream (I was a cookies and cream girl). To make this creamy, I used coconut milk frozen into ice cubes, dates, and 365 Everyday Value® Pea Protein. The smoothie's green color comes from a few handfuls of spinach and a good handful of mint. In lieu of chocolate, cacao nibs make this a feel-good breakfast treat.
 
Super Fun Summer Smoothies
Each makes 2 smoothies
 
INGREDIENTS
 
Blueberry Muffin Smoothie
1 ½ cups frozen blueberries
3 tablespoons whole rolled oats
3 soft Medjool dates
Handful of fresh spinach
½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon Whole Foods Market™ Plant-Based Fit Protein
6 ice cubes
¾ to 1 cup almond milk or light coconut milk, or as needed to blend
Optional garnishes: Fresh blueberries, oats, crushed almonds
 
Peaches & Cream Pecan Smoothie
2 peaches, sliced and frozen
2 heaping tablespoons pecans
2 soft Medjool dates
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1 to 2 tablespoons Whole Foods Market™ Plant-Based Fit Protein
¼ cup light canned coconut milk, or additional almond milk
¾ to 1 cup almond milk, or as needed to blend
Optional garnishes: Coconut cream, sliced fresh peaches, crushed pecans
 
Strawberry PB&J Smoothie
2 cups frozen strawberries, plus 2 fresh strawberries, sliced for garnish
Small handful of fresh spinach
1 tablespoon chia seeds
3 soft Medjool dates
2 tablespoons peanut or almond butter
2 to 3 tablespoons 365 Everyday Value® Pea Protein
1¼ cups almond milk, more as needed to blend
Optional garnishes: Sliced strawberry, drizzle of peanut butter, chia seeds
 
Mint Chip Smoothie
4 frozen coconut milk ice cubes
1½ cups frozen spinach leaves
¼ cup mint leaves, frozen
3 soft Medjool dates
1½ tablespoons cacao nibs
3 tablespoons 365 Everyday Value® Pea Protein
1 to 1½ cups almond milk, or as needed to blend
Optional garnishes: Coconut cream, mint leaves, cacao nibs
 
INSTRUCTIONS
For each smoothie: Blend ingredients in a blender. Use the blender's baton (if you have one) to help. Add more almond milk as needed. The key to a thick smoothie is to add enough liquid to move your blender blade, but not too much to make the smoothie thin and watery.
 
NOTES
For all smoothies: You can either buy fresh produce and freeze it, or you can buy frozen produce.

 

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