Green Goddess: The Protein Smoothie That Actually Tastes Like Dessert
Green Goddess: The Protein Smoothie That Actually Tastes Like Dessert
Spinach, avocado and banana sound like a health-food cliché — until chocolate protein turns the whole thing rich and creamy instead of grassy. This one leans further into indulgent than most green smoothies dare to, at roughly 30g of protein and a genuinely useful dose of healthy fat from real avocado. One honest note up front: it won't stay vivid green once the chocolate goes in — more on that below.
Green Goddess — spinach, avocado and banana made rich with chocolate protein.
Most green smoothies are built around the idea that virtuous has to mean thin, watery, and slightly grassy. This one isn't. Half a real avocado does the work most recipes ask a banana alone to do — it makes the texture genuinely thick, almost like a milkshake, and it's where most of this drink's calories and fat legitimately come from.
Spinach disappears completely once it's blended with something this creamy — you get the nutrients without tasting a leaf of it. Coconut water keeps the whole thing pourable rather than spoonable, and a full scoop of ISO Bang hydrolyzed whey protein isolate takes it to around 30g of protein.
One thing worth knowing before you blend: with chocolate protein in the mix, this drink turns a deep forest-green rather than the bright emerald you might expect from the name. The flavour is the point here — chocolate, banana and avocado is a genuinely well-established combination, closer to a chocolate avocado pudding than a green juice — but if a vivid green photo is what you're after, see the colour-forward variation below.
Avocado's fat is what separates this from a thin fruit-and-veg juice — fat carries flavour and creates real, lasting fullness in a way sugar alone can't. Spinach adds volume and micronutrients at almost no calorie cost, and the isolate turns the whole thing from a snack into something with 30g of protein behind it.
Why you'll love this green protein smoothie
- Genuinely creamy. Real avocado, not banana alone, is what gives this its milkshake-like body.
- 30g of protein. 25g from the scoop, with the rest from the avocado, banana and coconut water.
- Tastes like dessert, not a juice. Chocolate, banana and avocado is a real, established flavour combination.
- A full serving of greens. A cup of spinach disappears completely into the texture and flavour.
- Genuinely filling. Fat plus protein plus fibre is what actually keeps hunger away for hours.
- Clean label. Made with ISO Bang — no fillers, no proprietary blends, banned-substance tested.
What the avocado and spinach are actually doing
Avocado is doing more than adding creaminess
Avocado is one of the few fruits that's genuinely rich in fat rather than sugar — which is exactly why half of one adds 160 calories and nearly 15g of fat to this drink on its own. That's not a flaw; it's the reason the texture works and the reason this keeps you full far longer than a fruit-only smoothie. If you want the recipe lighter, the avocado is the one ingredient worth trimming first — see the variation below.
Why you can't taste the spinach
Raw spinach has a mild, slightly mineral flavour that all but disappears once it's blended with something rich — the fat from the avocado and the sweetness from banana and chocolate protein completely mask it. This is the easiest way to add a real serving of leafy greens to your day without eating a salad.
A frozen banana thickens this drink and keeps it cold without watering it down with ice. Fresh spinach, on the other hand, blends far more smoothly than frozen — frozen spinach tends to leave small fibrous flecks even in a strong blender. Keep the banana in the freezer and the spinach fresh.
Ingredients
Five ingredients. The avocado is the only one that needs to be ripe.
- Trident Nutra ISO Bang — Chocolate Cinnamon1 scoop (30g)
- Fresh spinach1 cup
- Avocado½, ripe
- Banana½, ideally frozen
- Unsweetened coconut water1 cup
Which ISO Bang flavour should you use?
Chocolate Cinnamon is the recommendation — chocolate, banana and avocado is a genuinely popular, well-established pairing, closer to a chocolate pudding than a green juice. The trade-off is honest: it pulls the colour toward a deep forest-brown rather than bright green, so this is a "tastes better than it photographs" recipe.
If you want to keep the vivid green colour for a photo or just prefer a lighter flavour, Mixed Berry is the alternative — it won't taste as rich, but it won't fight the green colour the way chocolate does either.
How to make a green goddess protein smoothie
- Add the coconut water first. Liquid before powder and greens, so nothing packs down under the blades.
- Add the spinach. Blend for 15–20 seconds on its own first if your blender isn't especially powerful — this breaks the leaves down before the thicker ingredients go in.
- Add the avocado, banana and protein. Scoop the avocado straight from its skin.
- Blend for 45–60 seconds, until completely smooth with no green flecks and no fibrous bits from the spinach stems.
- Pour and serve immediately. Avocado-based smoothies thicken quickly, so this one is best drunk fresh.
Drop the avocado to a quarter instead of a half. That brings it to roughly 288 calories and 9g of fat — still creamy, just less rich — while the protein and greens stay exactly the same.
Nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 368 kcal |
| Protein | 30 g |
| Carbohydrates | 32 g |
| Fat | 16 g |
| Sugar | 14 g |
For the lighter version with a quarter avocado: roughly 288 calories, 28g protein and 9g fat.
Pro tips & tasty variations
- Want it vivid green? Use Mixed Berry instead of chocolate, and add a squeeze of lime — the colour stays bright and the flavour turns fresh rather than dessert-like.
- Add cacao nibs. A tablespoon on top adds crunch and reinforces the chocolate-avocado direction.
- Swap coconut water for milk. Dairy or a higher-protein plant milk adds a few more grams of protein and a thicker finish.
- Add ice for a slush. A few cubes blended in makes this closer to a smoothie bowl you'd eat with a spoon.
- Stack your creatine. Trident Nutra Creatine is unflavoured and dissolves straight in — an easy daily add.
- Ripeness matters. An underripe avocado is firm and slightly bitter; wait until it yields gently to pressure for the best texture.
How to store your green goddess smoothie
Best fresh — avocado-based smoothies oxidise and thicken within a couple of hours, the same way a cut avocado browns. A squeeze of lime slows this noticeably if you need to prep ahead. Keep it sealed and cold, drink within 24 hours, and expect to loosen it with a splash of coconut water before drinking.
Frequently asked questions
Why isn't my smoothie bright green?
Chocolate protein turns the drink a deep forest-brown rather than vivid green — that's expected, not a mistake. If you want a genuinely bright green result, use Mixed Berry instead and add a squeeze of lime.
How much protein is in this smoothie?
Around 30g per serving. 25g comes from one scoop of ISO Bang hydrolyzed whey protein isolate, with the rest from the avocado, banana and coconut water.
Can I actually taste the spinach?
Barely, if at all. Spinach has a mild flavour that's easily masked by the avocado's richness and the banana and chocolate's sweetness. It adds nutrients and volume without changing the taste much.
Why is this smoothie higher in calories than others on the blog?
The avocado. Half of one is around 160 calories and nearly 15g of fat on its own, which is what makes the texture so creamy. Use a quarter avocado instead for a lighter version at roughly 288 calories.
Should I use frozen spinach?
Fresh is better here. Frozen spinach tends to leave small fibrous flecks even in a strong blender, while fresh spinach blends completely smooth. Freeze the banana instead if you want the drink colder and thicker.
Is this shake suitable for vegetarians and vegans?
It's vegetarian. It isn't vegan, because ISO Bang is a whey protein isolate and whey comes from milk. Isolate is very low in lactose compared with whey concentrate, which is why many people who find regular protein heavy get on better with it.
When is the best time to drink it?
The fat and protein combination makes this genuinely filling, so it works well as a breakfast or a meal replacement. It's also a good option post-workout when you want more than just protein alone.
Fuel it with clean protein
No fillers. No proprietary blends. Just 25g of hydrolyzed whey protein isolate per scoop at 103 calories — banned-substance tested, so your smoothie is as clean as it is delicious.
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