A Matcha green tea smoothie is a creamy and delicious way to give yourself a morning of afternoon boost of energy and antioxidants!  

Happy Friday Friends!

Recently I was looking through some old Hungry Hobby recipes trying to decide which terrible photos I should tackle first in my quest of upgrading for you guys.  I came across His and Hers Green Tea Lattes, and it reminded me of the best part about blogging, the recorded memories.  The photos, as terrible as they were, immediately took me back to our first apartment, barely six months into the marriage.

I was reminded how we only sometimes had water and never had hot water because the pipes would break all the time.  How I was commuting 45 minutes downtown, and Mr. Hungry was working his tail off at a consulting firm. I could feel myself standing in that tiny kitchen making us our green tea lattes and cherishing every spare moment we had together.  While I don’t wish to go back to working at WIC, 45-minute commutes, or tiny apartments.  I was thankful for the little memory of the first six months of marriage.

As far as redoing the photos go, I didn’t feel like drinking a green tea latte, and as a rule, I refused to make food just for the blog.  This blog will always be a reflection of my real life, a natural extension of things I’m eating and drinking, or sometimes sweating on.  On the other hand, I have been enjoying my plain green tea recently when I head to Starbucks to disappear into my work mode for a few hours in the afternoon, #freerefills.  Sometimes, especially during a half off frap hour, I’ve entertained the idea of getting a green tea frappuccino.  Then I remember a grande has 60+ grams of pure sugar.  While I’m not afraid to indulge in a treat, I like to save my treats for things I couldn’t easily make a healthy just as the tasty version at home like full-fat ice cream and anything with caramel.

So this green tea smoothie or frap, whatever you want to call it is packed with all the good for you components of Matcha green tea such as:

• Antioxidants such as Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) thought to protect against various disease and cancers.
• Caffeine to improve cognitive thinking and keep you at peace with the world.
• L-theanine an amino acid that increases the activity of neurotransmitter GABA which is known to fight anxiety.  It also stimulates alpha brain waves and dopamine which allows you to feel energized without the jitters or anxiety.
• Catechin compounds have been studied for their possible protection of neurons, possibly protecting brain function in old age.  They also may boost the immune system by eliciting an anti bacterial, anti viral effect.
• Increased metabolic rate and mobilization of fat, a potential reduction in body fat, especially around the midsection although the studies are mixed on this one.

So if that isn’t enough reasons to give this smoothie a try, I don’t know what is!  Besides, you know you will want a delicious green smoothie to come Monday morning to kick start a healthy week, plan on this one!

Matcha Green Tea Smoothie (“Frap”)

Ingredients:

• 1.5tsp matcha powder(<–affiliate link)
• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• One frozen banana
• One handful spinach
• 1 serving protein powder (any will work, plant, whey, beef whatever you are into, I used Naked Nutrition<—affiliate link)
• 1 cup ice
• 1/8tsp xanthan gum or 1T chia seeds (optional, if you like your smoothie with a little more volume!)

Directions:

–  Blend all ingredients until smooth and enjoy!

Looking for more high protein smoothie recipes? Try one of these 13 Unique & Delicious High Protein Smoothies!