One of the ways to keep the body energized is by practicing healthy eating habits. Healthy eating comes with an effective diet plan containing various vitamins, nutrients, and mineral-containing food for a healthy and well-energized body. Given all the essential nutrients needed to regulate body processes, proteins, in particular, play a vital role in cell repair and production, contributing to the human body’s growth and development functions.
When eating protein-rich foods like fruits and vegetables, consuming them as is can be a challenge for many. Therefore, various and much more exciting ways to consume enough protein are being done today. Sure, you have tried a smoothie before. Given all the innovations in the kitchen, smoothies may probably be one of the ‘not so common’ ways to consume protein-containing foods.
Finding energy-boosting protein smoothie ideas? Here are some recipes you can try.
Table of Contents
1. Banana Almond Protein Smoothie
A simple yet delicious recipe you can try and enjoy is the banana almond protein smoothie. Bananas and almonds are good sources of proteins. You can get about 1.6 grams of protein in each cup of banana. Similarly, with almonds, a quarter of a cup can provide up to 7 grams of protein. That said, this smoothie recipe can surely be a protein-rich one to try.
To prepare this delicious recipe, all you need is a frozen banana, almond butter, coconut water, plain Greek yogurt, whey protein powder, hemp seeds, and a cup of ice. Although the amount of each ingredient can vary depending on your liking, you may need at least half a cup of coconut powder and plain Greek yogurt to create a glass of this protein smoothie. You then can decide how much you’ll want to add for other ingredients.
Adding chia seeds can be great if you want extra thickness and protein. Moreover, you can take super greens drink powder along with whey protein powder for added vitamins and nutrients, achieving a healthier smoothie recipe.
2. Berry Protein Smoothie
Not all berries are excellent protein sources, but bring out raspberries and blackberries from the list, as these fruits are considered high in protein. Every cup of raspberries has 1.5 grams of protein, while blackberries can have a little more with 2 grams of protein per cup.
This berry smoothie is fast and easy to prepare. You need, of course, half a cup each of frozen raspberries and blackberries. Just make sure you properly clean them with a mixture of clean water and vinegar in a bowl to ensure they get a good wash. Once done, put in a blender and add ¾ cup of fat-free milk, a ripe banana, a scoop of plain or vanilla whey protein powder, and ice cubes.
As mentioned, you can add more of these ingredients according to your taste.
3. Strawberry Banana Smoothie
If you enjoy great protein-rich fruity combinations in a glass, a strawberry banana smoothie is a must-try. With strawberries having 0.7 grams of protein per 100 grams, combined with 1.1 grams of protein for every hundred grams of banana, these fruits can surely help you attain protein in your body.
To make the recipe even more protein-rich, other ingredients like ground flaxseed, spinach, and strawberry protein powder are added. Specifically, 100 grams of ground flaxseeds can provide an impressive 18 grams of protein. But in this recipe, you may only need about two tablespoons of flaxseeds, so about 1.3 grams of protein is added directly to your smoothie.
To prepare the strawberry banana smoothie, you will need to blend the following: a cup of milk or yogurt (if none, water is fine), two scoops of plain or strawberry-flavored whey protein powder, a banana, a cup of strawberries, a cup of spinach, two tablespoon of ground flaxseed, and ice cubes according to how much you want to add.
4. Pumpkin Walnut Smoothie
If you want to try other smoothie recipes besides fruits, a pumpkin walnut smoothie can be a great choice. Pumpkins, especially walnuts, are great protein sources. Pumpkins can have about 1.2 grams of protein in every cup. On the other hand, a cup of ground walnuts contains 12 grams of protein.
To successfully achieve this smoothie recipe, you need ¾ cup of pureed pumpkin, one tablespoon of ground walnuts, ½ cup of plain oats, a scoop or two of protein powder (plain or vanilla flavored), and a cup of water, milk, or yogurt. If needed, you can add more proteins with ground flaxseed and ice for added thickness.
Conclusion
Protein smoothies can be a fun alternative to regular protein intake options. The varying ingredients you can add and the ability to customize your drink. While the smoothie recipes included in the list are must-tries, you can always look for other combinations of fruits and vegetables to make a protein-rich, delicious, and healthy smoothie.
