So I definitely go through phases with how often I am making protein smoothies. Sometimes I will drink them everyday for breakfast and then other times I will go weeks without making one. Right now I have been drinking them a lot to save time in the morning! I have been working much more lately since our daughter just turned 7 months old, so I find myself running out of the house and needing breakfast on the go!
Over the years I’ve had different favorite recipes so I thought I’d share some them with you here! As I’ve mentioned before, although I have taken a few courses in nutrition, I am not a nutritionist. I simply use the knowledge I have acquired through the years to eat well and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Always consult your healthcare professional if you have specific dietary needs before trying these recipes!
Classic Strawberry Spinach Smoothie
3/4 cup frozen strawberries
Handful of spinach
1/2 cup almond milk
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
1/2 tsp. of flax seed oil
This is my go to recipe; you can’t even taste the spinach by the way!
Banana Nut Bread Smoothie
1 frozen banana
1 heaping tbsp. of almond or peanut butter
Sprinkle of cinnamon
½ cup of almond milk
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
This can also be made with chocolate protein powder and taste more like a milkshake! Also, frozen banana always makes it taste way better.
Tropical Treat
½ cup of frozen pineapple
½ banana
½ cup of mango
½ cup of orange juice
Okay this isn’t a protein smoothie, but it taste pretty amazing on a hot summer day.
Lactation Smoothie
See recipe here
Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie
½-frozen banana
½ cup of rolled oats (raw)
1 scoop of vanilla or cookies and cream protein powder
Generous sprinkle of cinnamon
1/2 tsp of coconut oil
1 tsp. of flax seeds
½ cup of almond milk
This smoothie is SOO filling, it definitely keeps me satisfied all morning
Blueberry Breakfast Smoothie
½ cup of frozen blueberries
½-frozen banana
Handful of spinach
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
1 tsp. of flaxseed oil or coconut oil
½ cup of almond milk
This is one of my husband’s favorites. Sometimes he includes raw oats if he is extra hungry.
Some tips for making good protein smoothies
- You can use fresh fruit but I find frozen fruit works best
- Use a Nutribullet or something similar and keep your main ingredients in an easily accessible area. I like to keep the protein powder and flax seeds on top of the fridge and everything else in the fridge door.
- Be aware…most of these smoothies are high in fiber! If you are sensitive to that you may want to add less of the flax seed or oats.
- Play around, try new combinations, and make it fun. Add as much liquid as you need to make it blend nicely. Sometimes I like to freeze my own fruit. When I see fruit is just starting to go bad I cut it up into chunks and put it in a freezer bag to use later.
- If you really want to save time you can freeze all the ingredients together in a Ziploc bag (e.g. strawberries, spinach, etc.) and then just add your protein powder and milk afterwards.
- I always pour mine into a mason jar and put on a plastic lid, (you can get the lids here on Amazon) this way it fits in my car cup holder. The Nutribullet is awesome but this is my one complaint about their cups since I am always driving to see my clients.
- I generally use vanilla or chocolate protein powder since it goes well with everything, you can buy some here! But you can always try with different flavors.
- I am also dairy free; so I use vegan protein powder. Feel free to substitute for whey protein and real milk!
