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This smoothie is packed with nutrients. It’s great as a quick morning breakfast that will give you lasting energy.

Smoothies can be a great way to get a lot of fruits and vegetables packed into one drink, but depending on the ingredients it may not be filling enough.

In other words, if your smoothie is made only or mostly of fruits and vegetables you might be hungry before your next meal.

That’s the reason I love to add some form of protein to my smoothies (and my kids smoothies). Including things like flaxseeds and chia seeds into our smoothies will usually hold us over until snack or lunchtime.

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Do you have to grind flaxseeds and chia seeds before eating them?

To get the most nutrients out of flaxseeds it’s best to grind them first. But, you don’t have to grind chia seeds first for maximum nutrients.

Many times I just add my flaxseeds directly into my Vitamix blender along with all the other ingredients without grinding them first (as you can see in the photo below).

But, if you want to make sure the flaxseeds are evenly incorporated throughout your smoothie it might be best to grind them separately first, then add them into your blender along with the other ingredients you plan to blend.

When I grind flaxseeds I use my Vitamix blender. Even though it’s not a “Dry Grains Container” it grinds my flaxseeds fine enough in my opinion.

Though, I’m not recommending you use your Vitamix “Wet Container” for this. Only do so if you feel comfortable. I wouldn’t want to be the cause of others ruining their Vitamix blenders.

But if you do plan to grind a lot of grains to make flour then it might be best to get a separate Vitamix dry grains container. I noticed that the wet and dry containers are often sold together, however, when I purchased mine it only came with the wet container.

My last tip is to grind your flaxseeds right before you plan to use them for the best nutritional benefits. The quality can depreciate rapidly once they are ground and exposed to air.

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Benefits Of Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are a great source of protein. In fact, they have been used in the past by athletes to give them longer endurance. Though tiny, they are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, antioxidants and other nutrients.

Flaxseed Benefits

Flaxseeds share many of the same benefits as chia seeds. They’re also high in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and antioxidants. Other great benefits of flaxseeds are ALA fats and B vitamins that help your skin and hair stay healthy.

What You May Love About This Smoothie

When you don’t have time to prepare a meal for breakfast, snack or lunch then this smoothie is a great option.

This Blueberry Pineapple Protein Smoothie is an excellent way to include fruits, veggies and a healthy vegan source of protein to a quick blended drink.

If you have kids who are picky eaters when it comes to vegetables, it’s a great way to sneak those veggies in without them knowing or complaining. I know this first hand!

Smoothies are one of the main ways I get my kids to eat their leafy greens.

And as I already mentioned, adding flaxseeds and/or chia seeds will help to keep you filled until your next meal.

Smoothies are also one of the main ways I consume more leafy green vegetables or veggies in general. I don’t normally eat many salads because it’s tough for me to find healthy dressings with a taste I truly enjoy.

I hope you enjoy this Blueberry Pineapple Protein Smoothie if you try it out!

What’s your favorite way to add protein to your smoothies? Share your comments!