Green Pea Citrus Smoothie {vegan}

Fresh, fruity frozen green pea citrus smoothie! It is a nourishing, convenient, naturally vegan, and satisfying option made with mango and citrus.

Did I grab your attention with my title post? Good! Because I am confident that I can convince you of the satisfying and nourishing possibilities of adding humble, yet mighty, green peas to your smoothie.

Add Frozen Green Peas to Your Smoothies

Now about my smoothie. It finally happened: I added peas to my smoothie. You have, quite likely, added all kinds of vegetables to your smoothies, including kale, carrots, spinach, cucumbers and pumpkin, so nix the squeamishness.

Frozen peas are inexpensive, convenient, naturally sweet, and loaded with the nutrition you need to power through your day and your workouts.

Health Benefits of Frozen Green Peas

Specifically, green peas are:

• Very high in dietary fiber (4 grams per 2/3 cup)
• High in protein (about twice the amount of protein found in most vegetables–5 grams per 2/3 cup)
• High in folate (this is the B vitamin that helps make red blood cells and aids in the prevention of neural tube defects).
• Very high in vitamin C (great for a strong immune system and beautiful skin)
• Low calorie (65 to 70 calories per 2/3 cup) and fat free
• Decent amount of calcium (helps with muscle contractions), iron (helps carry oxygen all over our bodies) and vitamin A (promotes a nourishing defense system: skin, stomach, intestines, and respiratory tracts)

Not Too Many Peas, Please

Given the myriad benefits of frozen green peas, why have I not added them to smoothies sooner?hy haven’t I added peas to my smoothies sooner???

Here’s one reason: if you, like me, are a zealot when adding vegetables to smoothies, you won’t be happy. Trust me when I say you want to ere on the side of caution, not abandon, when adding green peas. On my first trial, I added a full cup of peas. Heaven help me. I attempted many forms of salvage before accepting that it was a lost cause.

A scant 1/4 cupwas the ideal amount for me, adding a sweet, spring freshness that is a satisfying departure from my usual green smoothies.

Combine the Peas with Citrus

You can experiment with your own fruit combinations to complement the peas, but I strongly advise adding citrus of some kind (juice or whole fruit).

I used lime and orange (technically tangelos, which were on sale and out of this world), but lemon or grapefruit would be great, too.

Now pardon me, but I am feeling the need for another smoothie.

What Unusual Ingredients Do You add to Your Smoothies?

Happy blending!