Whether you’re constantly on the go or just looking to spice up your diet, smoothies generally make great meal replacements. When it comes to base ingredients, in addition to avocado and tofu, I often recommend including yogurt as a smoothie thickener. This holds especially true for Greek-style yogurt as it is exceptionally rich in high-quality protein, relatively low in sugar, and an excellent source of health-promoting probiotics. Problem is, a lot of people can’t stand the taste of it.

I’ve heard this sentiment echoed from countless clients, friends and family members.

Since my husband happens to be one these people, and could use some additional probiotic-rich foods in his diet, I’ve been determined to create the perfect smoothie blend that masks the taste of Greek yogurt without a whole lot of added sugar and artificial ingredients. I recently concocted a blend that my husband loves, which I’ve appropriately coined “The Purple Cookie High-Protein Smoothie,” since it actually tastes like a liquid cookie. Here’s the full recipe!

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What You Need

  • 6-8 ounces (3/4-1 cup) of plain strained (Greek-style) yogurt (ideally 0% non-fat)
  • A small portion of water or your preferred milk, add as needed to get the blender moving
  • 1/2 cup of rolled (“old-fashioned”) oats (pre-blended or processed into a powder consistency)
  • 1-2 tablespoons of almond butter (peanut butter or soy butter are also excellent choices)
  • 1-2 handfuls of spinach or kale
  • 1 cup of blueberries and strawberries (combined or some other combination of berries)
  • 1/2-1 of a banana
  • 1 teaspoon of chia seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg, or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon of honey, optional (if you just have to have it)

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How To Prepare

Combine and blend all the ingredients for at least 5-10 seconds until they liquefy and are fully circulating. There should be no solid ingredients present. Depending on the power of your blender, it may take up to 90 seconds to fully blend your smoothie (see the how-to video below).

Add ice as needed if you prefer the taste of a cold smoothie or if you prefer it to be on the thicker side. But, don’t add too much, as you don’t want to ‘water down’ the flavor. Another option is to pre-freeze and/or purchase frozen versions of any vegetables and fruits you use.

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And there you have it—The Purple Cookie High-Protein Smoothie! I swear this smoothie tastes just like an oatmeal cookie.

This particular recipe makes 2-3 servings. In addition to the whopping dose of high-quality protein and probiotics it supplies, this smoothie is also packed full of good carbs, healthy fats, natural fibers, and an abundance of health-promoting micronutrients.

RECIPE: Oatmeal Raisin Protein Cookies