What I love about smoothies is that you really can disguise A LOT of nutrients into a smoothie in way you just can’t really do with a lot of other foods. Sure salads are delish (I’m also a big fan) but you’d be hard pressed to get the same nutritional value from a salad. You have to eat like dozens of salads a day, and ain’t nobody got time for that!

We’re so lucky to have so many amazing health food products available at our fingertips, but with protein powders, collagen powders, and you name it: it’s overwhelming at best, and even more tricky how do we know what we’re consuming is actually good for us??

This post is in no way sponsored by Progressive, but I have been using their products for years now, and I have to say I’m impressed. Time and time again, I come back to same things, but I also lovvvvvvve that they are always coming out with new things to try too.

Anyone who follows me on Instagram knows I’m wildly obsessed with the Progressive VegeGreens (we will get to those shortly), but I was super excited to try some of their new items too.

Like the Complete Collagen (both flavored and unflavored), and their Harmonized Vegan Protein Powder (that is fortified with lots of good stuff but more interestingly: probiotics).

You can imagine my excitement when Progressive decided to send me a few things for consideration in the mail. Not going to lie it was a really happy blogger mail day for me: it felt like it was birthday or Christmas.

I know I know I’m probably the only weirdo who gets THIS excited about health food products, but alas here we are.

I’ve been using the new Progressive items for a few weeks now so I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on my thoughts on them, but I also figured I’d share with you a super easy recipe I’ve been making quite regularly.

Also I JUST recently discovered Oat Milk and it is SOOOOO good.

I love that 1 cup of Oat Milk provides 50% of your B Vitamins for the day, and for those of us who don’t always take in enough meat this is a huge win for stabilizing your mood, preventing migraines (yup that’s a thing), red cell production, metabolizing fats, and maintaining balanced energy/stress levels etc.

PURPLE POWER SMOOTHIE RECIPE

---

* makes one serving feel free to adjust for additional servings.

Ingredients

1/4 cup unsweetened Oat Milk (or enough to cover your blender blade)

1 scoop Harmonized Fermented Vegan Protein Powder

1 Scoop Pineapple Coconut VegeGreens (the Citrus one also works in this recipe)

Optional: Tropical Breeze Complete Collagen

Frozen Berry Mix (I love the one with cherries + blackberries)

water (as necessary to blend)

Directions

Starting with the oat milk, and berries blend until combined. Then add in the powders and water as necessary. And enjoy!

 

---

 

PROGRESSIVE PRODUCT REVIEWS

---

 

I honestly hate to be that jerk that says everything was amazing, but it actually was! I also really love that Progressive is a Canadian Company.

Harmonized Fermented Vegan Protein

Why Fermentation? 
It’s a natural metabolic process that has been used for millennia. When it comes to plant proteins, it can make a big difference in digestion.
Fermentation breaks down the “anti-nutrient” found in grains, nuts, seeds and legumes called Phytic Acid. It’s a form of stored phosphorus in plants that protects them against–you guessed it–digestion!
For some, this anti-nutrient (and others) can spell digestive troubles like gas, bloating and indigestion. Fermentation helps by breaking down the barriers so your gut can work in peace.

Δ I’ve tried many vegan protein powders in my day, and I have to say I never really liked them, but this one I really do like!

Δ It blends super easy on it’s own which can be annoying for some protein powders like I already had a work out you shouldn’t need a second workout to blend your shake! I like the flavor better than most vegan proteins and I’ve tried a few.

Δ I like the idea that you’re kind of killing two birds with one stone having the protein being fermented because you’re getting a good dose of probiotics. And I was surprised I didn’t have any bloating with the protein because that’s one of the reasons I’ve avoided vegan proteins in the past.

VegeGreens

VegeGreens Multi features a complete array of over 90 foundational nutrients, including the entire spectrum of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and support nutrients in our MultiVitamins, along with the land, sea and cruciferous vegetables, green food concentrates, plant oils, phytonutrients, herbs & extracts and botanicals in VegeGreens.

My boyfriend and I actually started taking Vegegreens after I noticed a significant lack of veggies in his diet. See my boyfriend is the type to routinely eat the same things over and over which is great because you can pretty much bank on what he wants to eat, but anyone who knows anything about our bodies knows we need a wide variety of foods from a wide variety of nutritional sources (variety really is the spice of life). When you’re as routine based as he is, it’s really easy for veggies to fall to wayside meaning it’s really important that he supplement, and supplement with some easy. Cue Vegegreens. We really REALLY love the Pineapple Coconut, and clearly so do many others because it one that sells out quick. But honestly we love them all, and have purchased all the flavors. I’d say if you can’t get your hands on the Pineapple the Citrus is a close second.  Here’s what I love about the VegeGreens.

Δ There is no excuse for not getting your vitamins or eating your veggies! It’s so easy.

Δ VegeGreens are great on their own or in a smoothie. I also love blending the Collegan and the VegeGreens for a quick little pick me up, or mid-afternoon slump snack.

Δ There’s no way I could get all these nutrients into a meal, so I love that I can feel good about nourishing my body with something that is so easy.

Δ They taste great! You’d think drinking liquid veggies would taste like dirt, but it’s actually delicious and I look forward to it.

Δ Gives me a great energy boost. Great either before or after a workout.

Complete Collagen

Collagen is an essential part of a healthy, active body. As a key structural protein, it provides the building blocks you need to stay strong while you’re busy living life to the fullest. While “active” may look different for everyone, we all need the same support. Use Complete Collagen™ to mend and repair so you can run, bend, lift and stretch with ease.

There are SO many benefits to taking collagen, some of which are for vanity reasons, as Collagen helps to support hair, skin and nail health. I’ve been taking Collagen for several months now and I did take a small break because I kept forgetting to pick up more at the store, but I really noticed a difference. Even thought the impact of consuming Collagen on beauty is really difficult to measure I do take comfort in knowing that I’m doing something to support my body, and bones, so I say if it doesn’t do harm than why not?? I also do love the extra protein.

Δ The unflavored is great in coffee! I love the added boost of protein for my morning coffee.

Δ I take comfort in knowing that I’m doing something to support my hair, skin, nail health and even muscles and bones.

The one negative thing I would say is that, while Complete Collagen does dissolve just as good as most of it’s competitors, but I still would suggest to develop an easier to dissolve powder for the unflavored. I wont name names, but there are some Collagen Powders that do dissolve much better, BUT those are not as readily available for purchase in my area, so I would suck it up  for convenience (because they are doing the exact same thing), buuuuuut it could be better is all I’m saying.

Overall I was super impressed with my progressive products, and this smoothie recipe is kind of my new go-to.

Have you tried any of these products?? What are your thoughts?

Hope you enjoyed today’s post

xx

Kayla