You’ve made the decision to start exercising and lose weight. You know you should be eating healthier, but being on a diet is boring. You want quick results, but healthy food is expensive and bland. Nutritionally balanced shakes are the answer. Not only are they better for your health, but they’re also tasty. Protein shakes are an easy way to get in more protein without having to cook anything or starve yourself. Just mix a few ingredients together! With this guide, you’ll learn how to make protein shake recipes that taste good and help you reach your fitness goals faster than ever before.
Pumpkin Pie Protein Shake
Ingredients:
- 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
- 1 cup milk of choice (I use unsweetened almond milk)
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice mix (recipe below)
- 1 tsp pumpkin puree (canned pumpkin works well)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2-3 ice cubes (optional)
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. If you don’t have a high-powered blender, you can skip the ice cubes. Serve with a spoonful of whipped cream on top if desired.
Mint Chocolate Protein Shake
This mint chocolate protein shake is a delicious way to start your day. It’s made with a homemade protein powder that is sweetened naturally with dates and coconut sugar. The best part about this shake is that it only requires 4 ingredients! You can make this shake in less than 5 minutes too! We love using our Ninja blender for smoothies and shakes, but any blender will work.
Ingredients:
- 2 scoops of vanilla protein powder (we use this)
- 1 frozen banana
- 2-3 handfuls of spinach (optional)
- 1/4 cup water or milk of choice
Vanilla Cookies ‘n Cream Protein Shake
Ingredients:
- 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder (about 25 grams)
- 1/4 cup fat-free milk
- 3 tablespoons fat-free chocolate syrup (or Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Syrup)
- 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
Directions:
In a blender, mix all ingredients together until smooth. If you’re using a shaker bottle, simply shake well until combined.
Vanilla Frappuccino Protein Shake
The cold brew coffee in this shake gives it a chocolaty taste that you can adjust to your liking. You can also add ice cubes to make it more of a frappe.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup brewed cold brew coffee, chilled
- 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder or vegan protein powder (about 20 grams)
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract or 1 tsp vanilla bean paste (optional)
- 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk or other non-dairy milk (like coconut milk)
Optional additions: 2 tbsp peanut butter + 2 tbsp water; 1 cup ice cubes
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Protein Shake
Ingredients:
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (I use 4Life’s chocolate)
- 1/2 cup milk or almond milk
- 1/2 cup ice cubes
- 1 banana, sliced
- 1 tbsp peanut butter (or almond butter)
Directions:
Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. This recipe makes 1 serving.
Great to drink after a workout
Protein shakes are a great way to get more protein into your diet, and they’re especially helpful if you’re trying to lose weight. They can be a good meal replacement or a snack between meals, which is why many people drink them post-workout.
But there are so many different kinds of protein powder on the market, it can be hard to figure out which one is best for you. And what type of protein powder should you use in your next smoothie?
Here is some information on the different types of protein powder and how they might be best used:
- Whey Protein Powder – Whey protein has been shown to boost muscle growth and strength gains when consumed after exercise. It also helps reduce hunger cravings and maintain healthy blood sugar levels. This type of protein is found naturally in cow’s, but it can also be manufactured through various processes.
- Whey protein isolate is one of the purest forms available; it contains 90%+ protein and less than 1% fat and carbohydrate content per serving size (25 grams). Whey isolate has been shown to help increase lean muscle mass while decreasing body fat percentage after just 12 weeks of resistance training.
Nutritional Information
Here are some of our favorite protein shake recipes:
- Chocolate Peanut Butter
- 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
- 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter (or almond or cashew butter)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2-3 ice cubes
- Strawberry Banana Protein Shake
- 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
- 1/2 cup frozen strawberries (or any other frozen fruit)
- 1/2 medium banana (freshly sliced or frozen)
- 1/2 cup almond milk, coconut milk or water
- 4-5 ice cubes
Full until lunch time
Protein shakes can be a great way to get a healthy dose of protein in your diet. They’re also quick and easy to make, and will keep you full until lunch time. Here are our favorite protein shake recipes for weight loss:
- Low-calorie Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
This chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie is a great way to start your day. It’s packed with fiber, protein, potassium and vitamins A, B6 and C.
- Greek Yogurt Cinnamon Roll Protein Shake
This cinnamon roll protein shake is made with Greek yogurt rather than ice cream or whipped cream so it’s lower in calories. This recipe uses vanilla extract instead of artificial sweetener. You could also use natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup if desired.
Protein shake recipes
Protein shakes are an excellent way to get the protein you need in a delicious and easy way. They’re also easy to make at home and they can be a great meal replacement.The best part about these protein shake recipes? They’re all healthy!
Here are 5 of our favorite protein shake recipes:
- Banana Peanut Butter Protein Shake
- Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Protein Shake
- Vanilla Bean Coconut Chia Pudding Smoothie Bowl
- Blueberry Almond Butter Protein Smoothie Bowl
- Green Monster Smoothie Bowl with Berries and Greens
Conclusion
Whenever you look up a recipe, the first thing you should do is check the ingredients and see if you have all of them on hand. If not, simply switch out those items for similar ones that you have. For example, if you don’t have vanilla extract, brew a little extra coffee and use that instead. With this in mind, we’re sure that you’ll be able to make these recipes faster than ever before. Happy blending!