Matcha Chia Pudding Green Smoothie

This thick & creamy Matcha Chia Pudding Green Smoothie is protein-packed and loaded with antioxidants, Vitamin A,  & Omega-3 fatty acids. The perfect pre-workout meal!

Not that this should be a shocker to anyone who has ever read a game day recipe post of mine, but I did not watch the Super Bowl on Sunday evening. Honestly, I could have cared less who won or lost. And if I had attended a party to watch the game (which I didn't), then I would have only been there for the snacks, my friends. ;)

But there is one thing about the Super Bowl that I do like hearing about and watching the next day, and that is the halftime show. The halftime show the past couple of years didn't really impress me much even though I have always been a big fan of both Justin Timberlake and Maroon 5. 

But when I heard that both Jennifer Lopez and Shakira would be performing at this year's show, I was actually kind of sad that I had cut the cord on cable last year and would have to wait to watch it until later on my laptop. 

I have been a longtime fan of both of these ladies for many years. WAY back in the day, JLo and Shakira were some of my favorites to hear played when I went out to the dance clubs with my friends. Their upbeat, high energy music pretty much made up half of the soundtrack for my early to late twenties. 

I heard all the buzz on social media after the halftime performance was over, but didn't get a chance to actually catch it until Monday morning. And can I just say wow?? I found their performance inspiring and motivating and just profoundly amazing. 





As a 42 year old mother of two who has just recently started to find her own stride both professionally and personally over the past year or so, it was so energizing to me to see what these two ladies (both older than me!) were accomplishing on that stage that night. 

So, what does JLo's and Shakira's halftime performance have to do with this green smoothie recipe I am sharing with you all today? Well, let me tell you all- After watching their performance online, I was pumped and ready to hit the gym that morning. 

I whipped up this protein-packed smoothie, cranked up the Jennifer Lopez station on Pandora, and knocked out an amazing workout. 





I won't get into all the naysayers I saw all over social media Sunday night and the next day. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. To each their own. 





But I will say this- if you are working towards making healthier, more empowering choices for yourself, ignore the naysayers, take your inspiration wherever you can find it, get a tight grasp on it, and run with it (and maybe even literally if you choose to. ;) ). 

Here are a few tips and tricks for making this green smoothie:

• For an extra boost of antioxidants, use iced green tea in this smoothie instead of the water. It has also been proven that drinking green tea before a workout can help increase fat burning in the short term.
• Not a fan of chia pudding? You can swap in 2/3 cup of nonfat plain or vanilla Greek yogurt & 1 tablespoon of chia seeds instead. 
• I like using baby spinach in my green smoothies because of its mild flavor, but other leafy greens like kale or swiss chard would work as well. Just know that their stronger flavor will be more noticeable in this smoothie.

Yield: Serves 1

Author: Carrie Robinson

Matcha Chia Pudding Green Smoothie

This thick & creamy Matcha Chia Pudding Green Smoothie is protein-packed and loaded with antioxidants, Vitamin A, & Omega-3 fatty acids. The perfect pre-workout meal!

prep time: 3 hours cook time: min total time: 3 hours & 5 min

ingredients:

• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 2/3 cup almond milk (can also swap in skim milk, coconut milk, or soy milk)
• 2 large handfuls of fresh baby spinach leaves, torn
• 1 cup of cold water
• 1 cup of crushed ice
• 2 tbsp Matcha powder
• Honey, to taste

instructions:

How to make Matcha Chia Pudding Green Smoothie

1. In small Mason jar, combine the chia seeds and almond milk. Screw the lid on tight and give it a good shake. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight. The mixture will thicken and create a chia seed pudding.
2. Place the torn spinach leaves and cold water in a blender. Puree until smooth. 
3. Now add in the cold water, crushed ice, Matcha powder, honey, and the prepared chia pudding. Blend until smooth and creamy. 
4. Enjoy immediately.

Created using The Recipes Generator

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