Smooth, creamy and bursting with nutrition, protein smoothies are easy to make for a healthy breakfast option. Another nice thing about smoothies, you can customize them for your nutritional and taste preference. Whirl ingredients together in a blender at high speed and enjoy.
If you are in a rush, smoothies are easily transportable. Mine often end up being consumed in the car or at my desk. My favorite flavor is raspberry-banana, but you can use strawberries, mangos, blackberries, blueberries or a combination. Create your personal favorite flavor, then add supplements like acai, hemp, maca, raw cacao powder, superfruit blend or chia for extra nutritional power.
How to Build a Healthy Smoothie
As a follow on to my homemade almond milk post, here is my recipe for healthy smoothies. We drink these almost every morning for breakfast. I’m not one for big, heavy breakfasts and have found that if I stick with drinking my smoothies I feel good and my energy is high. Read on for ingredients and options.
Milk Options
My basic recipe starts with easy, homemade almond milk (recipe here). You can also use boxed almond milk, coconut, rice, soy, oat, hemp, or cow’s milk. Some boxed milks are kind of processed. Be sure to read labels and get unsweetened versions to avoid added sugars. One more idea, use your milk of choice and add a tablespoon of raw organic almond butter.
Protein Options
To the milk I add a scoop of protein powder. There are many available options on the market. We use Jay Robb brand and love the taste of the vanilla whey powder. They also make an egg white version and other flavors. Check out the details on Amazon by following the link above. You can buy it at most health food stores but Amazon has a great price.
Fruit and Fiber Options
Next, I add frozen berries and a small banana (great source of potassium). Mango is good too (especially with coconut milk). Then I add a one-two tablespoons of fiber powder. The American diet is low in fiber. It’s not always easy to get the recommended 25-35 grams per day, so I jump start my daily intake by adding granular fiber. It disappears into the smoothie and you’ll never know it’s there. I’ve used Target Up&Up brand clear soluble fiber in the past as well as Organic Clear Fiber from Renew Life. I like the Clear Fiber best because it is organic and it is not made from wheat.
Supplements for Extra Nutritional Power
Just the few ingredients I’ve listed make a healthy and satisfying smoothie. But if you want to take your smoothie one step further, try adding superfood supplements for extra nutritional power. In terms of brands, we buy mostly Navitas Naturals because of the high quality. Here is a list of possible power add-ons:
- Acai powder – The small, dark purple Amazonian berry (ah-SIGH-ee) that provides exceptional amounts of antioxidants, omega fats, protein and fiber, plus it’s an immunity and energy booster.
- Superfruit smoothie mix - This potent package provides a plentiful and diverse supply of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in each serving, a combination acai, pomegranate and goji berry all mixed together.
- Omega 3 fish oil – We use an ultra high potency brand (Dr. Lam) with a light lemon taste. It disappears into your smoothie and you’ll never know its there (some taste terrible). Store it in the freezer.
- Raw cacao powder – A top source of antioxidants, magnesium, iron along with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Chocolate that is good for you! This is particularly good with strawberries and coconut.
- Chia seeds or powder – Chia is a great source of healthy omega fats, protein, antioxidants and dietary fiber. It has a neutral flavor and because it absorbs water, it thickens liquids.
- Maca powder - Great for energy and balance, this ancient Peruvian superfood was highly prized by Incan warriors to increase stamina and combat fatigue.
These extras are not inexpensive, but we figure they are worth investing in because of the nutritional boost provided. Read more about them if you follow the Amazon links or on the Navitas Naturals site. Consider adding them to your smoothies and your diet.
If you are looking for a super way to start your day, try healthy smoothies. They work for a quick power lunch too.
Healthy Protein Smoothies
Servings: 1 (about 2 1/2 cups or 600 ml)
Ingredients
- 10-12 ounces (300-350 ml) of homemade almond milk (recipe here), or soy, rice, oat, cow, coconut or other milk
- 1 scoop protein powder (we use Jay Rob vanilla whey for 25 grams of protein per scoop)
- 1 small banana
- 1/2 cup (62 grams) of frozen berries or mango
- 1-2 tablespoons (10 grams) of fiber (optional)
- 1 teaspoon of omega 3 oil (optional)
- Superfood supplements as you choose (optional)
Directions
- Blend together at high speed in a blender and enjoy right away. If it’s too thick, add a little more almond milk
Helpful Links and Information
The difference between Wheat Dextrin and Psyllium Husk, article on eHow site.
Supplement Clinic.com site, a resource for the OM-3 oil. We store ours in the freezer.
Navitas Naturals site for the acai powder and other premium, organic functional foods
Making smoothies was why I originally bought my Vitamix blender. Order here and get free shipping.
Maca powder, from Navitas Naturals on Amazon, along with chia seeds, hemp powder, and acai powder
RenewLife site for more info on their clear organic fiber which is organic acacia fiber.
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
your blog is beautiful, i love your pictures and recipes sound delicious, they are well presented, makes me want to try them all !
Thank you and keep doing what you do =)
Love your blog. I too am a smoothie addict but I use Hemp Protein powder and almond milk, I have milk allergies, two bonuses are it already contains Omega 3 plus it is very high in fiber.
Good tip on the hemp protein powder Kim. Thanks!
I love nothing more than making smoothies at home. The kids and their mates love them as well.
can we use these ingredients for kids?
I also start almost every day with a smoothie. It’s funny, I used to be a big breakfast person but once I started this smoothie habit, I no longer crave solid foods for breakfast, even on the weekends.
It’s a great way to get a ton of nutrients FAST in the morning. I usually make 4 cups per morning, sip the first half in the car (which isn’t fun in the wintertime when it’s freezing outside, but i do it anyways
), and then sip the 2nd half throughout my morning or workday.
It’s nice because it fills me up just enough so I can get by with light healthy snacks and moderate sized meals throughout the day. A natural way to control your appetite and curb cravings.
these are beautiful, Sally. Isaac and I share a smoothie every morning. So yummy!
Greek yogurt is a great way to boost your protein, too, if you don’t want to buy the powder stuff (or you don’t like the flavor). I like peanut butter in my smoothies too but I know some people are opposed to it for it’s fat content.
I tried this recipe and ummm ummm good. Thanks
Hi Sally. This shake is great. I have been drinking it 2-3 times a week for several months now. It has made a difference in my energy and my hair and nails! So important to get enough protein and super-foods like acai. Thanks!
Lisa
Would adding soft tofu be a good option, and more natural, to boost the protein intake as well? Since tofu contains complete proteins, instead of inulin, for example.
Adding tofu is just another option for smoothies. As the protein powder I use provides 25 grams of whey protein, that works for me. You’d have to experiment and see what works best for you.
I would add chia seeds. Great source of fiber.
Hi Kate. Agreed! Chia seeds are an excellent addition. Because they thicken liquids so quickly, you could skip the banana or use maybe half a banana. I love to add chia seeds to steel cut oatmeal. That recipe is coming soon.
I am allergic to nuts and dairy what is a good alternative to add rice milk or coconut milk and what can I add for fiber
Hi Pam. So you are allergic to nuts and dairy, so no nut milks or cows milk. For smoothies, yes to alternative “milks”, like coconut or rice. What about hemp milk? Hemp is a seed, not a nut. Would that work? Oat milk? For fiber, you need to be eating lots of vegetables and leafy greens, and maybe adding fiber (as I do) to my smoothies. Are you allergic to all dairy? I have one client who is allergic to cows milk but not goat milk. You may want to be tested (if you have not been) for more information, so you can make better decisions.
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