5 NATURAL PROTEIN-PACKED (NO PROTEIN POWDER) SMOOTHIES FOR POST WORKOUT!

1. Chocolate Cherry or Strawberry Smoothie  

Sweet and juicy cherries or strawberries blended with your favorite milk, cocoa powder can be counted as a classic combination for smoothies. It tastes and looks deceivingly decadent like a milkshake, but it's much healthier and naturally sweetened. 

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt

• 3/4 cup frozen strawberries

• 1 cup skim milk (or milk of choice)

• 1 tablespoon unsweetened dark cocoa powder

• 1/2 cup ice (only if using fresh berries)

Image Credit: Eating With Heart 

2. Avocado And Peanut Butter Smoothie 

This avocado peanut butter is packed with plant-based protein and heart-healthy fats rather than processed protein powder which is extremely harmful to your body if overconsumption. 

While avocados are a great source of vitamins C, E, K, and B-6, peanut butter contains about 25% protein, making it an excellent plant-based protein source.

This smoothie is the definition of “smooth like butter” and it sure is a “criminal undercover” because of all the hidden health benefits. 

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup peanut butter

• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder

• 1 1/2 cups milk

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 1/2 medium avocado

Image Credit: Joy To The Food 

3. Blueberry Kale Smoothie 

This smoothie is full of antioxidants from blueberries, which protect your body and reduce the risk of illnesses like heart disease, plus dark green Kale, protein-packed Greek Yogurt, and chia seeds make it the perfect nutritious smoothie for post workout without the need for processed protein powder. 

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk

• 1 cup chopped kale

• 1 sliced frozen banana

• 1 1/2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen) 

• 1 tablespoon honey

• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

Image Credit: Girl Inspired 

4. Spinach, Peanut Butter & Banana Smoothie

Peanut butter and banana is a classic combo that helps provide you with carbohydrates, potassium and magnesium. 

Since it is packed with protein from a banana and some peanut butter, this is filling, delicious, and nutritious without the existence of the protein powder but still able to lift your body up after a productive work-out. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain kefir

• 1 tablespoon peanut butter

• 1 cup spinach

• 1 frozen banana

• 1 tablespoon honey (Optional)

Image Credit: The Mindful Hapa 

5. Mango And Almond Smoothie 

With a bundle of natural healthy compounds and a natural source of protein, mango with almond milk is the best energy booster to whip up quickly for post-workout energy or a midday pick-me-up. 

Additionally, hemp seeds in this smoothie are not only a great source of protein but also magnesium, high fiber, and low salt to give you a hard boost. 

Ingredients

• 6 cups of almond milk

• 1.5 cups mangos

• 2 cups spinach

• 3 tablespoons hemp hearts

• 4 pitted dates

Image Credit: Coles 

Few tips for a better smoothie:

1. Avoid using under-ripe fruit, choose overripe fruit to serve as a natural sweetener for your smoothie.

2. Use frozen fruit if possible to prevent your smoothie from getting diluted. 

3. Frozen cherries and bananas work the best to thicken the smoothie. 

4. Almond milk, dairy milk, coconut milk, or even soy milk will work perfectly in smoothies. 

5. Add some extra protein and make it creamier by blending in some Greek yogurt, Peanut butter, Coconut Milk, Flax Seeds, Seaweed, Oats, Chia Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Almond Butter, Yogurt, Soy Milk, Hemp Seeds. (All are natural protein sources, say bye-bye to the yucky-yuck protein powder!) 

6. You can also sneak in some greens to any of your smoothies by adding either avocado, spinach, or kale.

Credit:

Taryn Pire (Pure Wow) 

Chelsey Amer, MS, RDN, CDN (Hum Nutrition) 

Leah Goggins (Eating Well)

Just FIT 

The Lemon Bowl 

Hungry Healthy Happy 

Radiant Confidence

Damn Delicious 

The Busy Baker 

Parsnips and Pastries 

Carmyy