There's this huge misconception that you need to eat meat in order to get enough protein in your system. But the truth is, you can get plenty of protein from veggies, nuts, and even seeds. In fact, smoothies are a great way to pack on the protein without compromising. If you have recently turned vegetarian, vegan, or simply want to cut down on your meat consumption, these smoothies can be a great start. And not only are they packed with protein, they're all delicious!
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Fortunately, there are plenty of natural foods that are loaded with protein that you can add to your smoothies. I'm talking everything from spinach, to Greek yogurt, and even peanut butter. Yes, peanut butter! It's just a matter of getting creative in your smoothie ingredients in order to get the most out of each sip.
Here are a few high-protein smoothies that you will love. All of these are easy to make and, like any smoothie, require little prep. Plus they're perfect when you're looking for meat alternatives besides tofu or (gassy) beans. Trust us, all these licuados are just as healthy as they are delicious!
Try Jennifer Lopez’s favorite green smoothie.
People tend to forget that greens like spinach actually contain protein. This green smoothie that Jennifer Lopez swears by contains a cup of spinach, 1 banana, 1 cup of rice milk, 1 scoop of almond or sunflower butter (that’s also loaded with protein), and one scoop of protein powder of your choice.
This coconut smoothie makes for a delicious breakfast.
If you’re a fan of coconut, you’ll love this coconut smoothie. All you need is coconut milk and vanilla protein. I recommend adding chia seeds for that extra boost of protein and fiber.
Banana and oatmeal smoothies work wonders.
This banana and oatmeal smoothie is loaded with protein and fiber. You’ll need banana, Greek yogurt, soy or rice milk, whole grain rolled oats, and flax seeds.
This is perfect for the strawberry fans.
This strawberry and banana smoothie is not just simple; it's tasty, too. Add almond milk for the protein.
Avocado is loaded with protein.
My personal favorite is an avocado smoothie that contains almond milk, a cup of spinach, half an avocado, 1 ripe banana, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and flax seeds.
But a chocolate avocado smoothie is even better.
Just add almond milk, a cup of spinach, half an avocado, 1 ripe banana, and a chocolate flavored vegan-based protein powder.
Jessica Alba lost lots of weight with this.
The Honest Company founder and owner swears by this green smoothie recipe that’s loaded with protein. All you need is 2 cups of raw kale, 1/3 cup of raspberries, 1/3 cup of strawberries. 6 oz. organic Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla), and 1 tablespoon of raw honey or molasses. Did I mention it’s delicious?
Chiquis Rivera swears by this smoothie.
This citrus smoothie helped her slim down. It also contains a lot of fiber and protein, as it includes spinach, grapefruit, orange, strawberries, raspberries, chia seeds, and water. You can substitute water for a nut-based milk like almond milk for additional protein.
Try papaya in your smoothie.
The papaya in this smoothie is high in fiber, the lemon and ginger help with digestion, and the non-fat plain Greek yogurt gives you the protein you need.
Try a cinnamon smoothie.
If you’re a fan of cinnamon, you’ll love this protein-packed banana cinnamon smoothie. It makes for a great breakfast, too!
A coconut and honey smoothie is as tasty as it sounds.
This delicious drink is loaded with berries, Greek yogurt, coconut water, flax seeds, and more.
Try some acai.
This acai smoothie tastes deliciously tropical and is super simple to make. For more protein, I recommend adding chia and hemp seeds to the mix.
This is perfect for the almond butter fan.
If you’re a fan of almond butter, trying making a simple smoothie using just almond milk, 1 ripe banana, chia seeds, and a tablespoon of almond butter.
Get that kale in.
The great thing about this kale apple smoothie is not just that it’s loaded with protein but it’s also great for boosting your metabolism. Add apple, kale, fresh orange juice, fresh ginger, and lemon to almond milk.
Berries are usually not enough.
Berry smoothies are delicious but most fruits, especially berries tend to be low in protein so you definitely want to make sure you’re making it with a nut-based milk and adding protein-packed seeds like chia, flaxseeds, and hemp.
Load up on chia.
When in doubt, add lots of chia seeds to whatever smoothie you’re making. It’s high in both protein, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Hemp seed smoothies are amazing.
You can add the actual seeds to your beverage or you can buy a hemp-based protein powder to get that extra dose of protein.
Mango with spinach is just what the doctor called for.
Spinach is packed with protein but if you’re craving sweetness add a tropical fruit like mango to your drink. Use a nut based-milk for more protein.
Take your smoothie to the next level with peanut butter.
This peanut butter banana smoothie doesn’t just have protein but it also taste like dessert. You need vanilla Greek yogurt, 1 ripe banana, powdered cocoa, peanut butter, and vanilla extract or vanilla protein powder.
This green tea smoothie is insanely healthy.
It contains whey protein, coconut milk, pineapple, banana, grapefruit, and spinach.
A peanut butter and jelly smoothie feels more like dessert.
But if you have it with unsweetened almond milk and organic unsalted creamy peanut butter, you can still reap the health benefits. Instead of jelly or jam, blend it fresh berries and adds oats for additional protein.
This spinach and flax meal smoothie is life.
Flax meal, like flaxseeds contains loads of omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber. It also has slightly more protein than chia seeds.
Take your banana smoothie to another level.
To boost up the protein content, make it with unsweetened almond milk and add chia seeds.
Add even more protein to your banana smoothie.
If chia seeds and almond milk aren' enough, consider adding some oats too which are also very high in fiber.
Spike up your blueberry smoothie.
Add oatmeal, almond milk, oats, and banana.
Enjoy a delicious pumpkin smoothie.
Add an extra kick of spice with cinnamon and keep it protein-heavy with almond or cashew milk while adding oats as well.
Dragon fruit will give you an out-of-this-world smoothie.
Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, contains loads of vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants that help with everything from digestion, the immune system, anti-aging, cardiovascular health, and cancer prevention. You can find frozen packs at your local health foods store. Add oats and chia for protein.
It’s hard to believe a dark chocolate banana smoothie is actually good for you.
But dark chocolate is actually good for you. It helps lower high blood pressure and it’s also filled with antioxidants. Make sure to opt for a non-dairy milk that’s high in protein like almond or cashew milk and add some high-protein seeds like chia or flaxseeds.
Blueberry and coffee smoothies are particularly popular for breakfast.
But make sure it contains enough protein by adding oats and almond milk to it. Check out this delicious recipe!
Try a banana detox smoothie.
Add chocolate paste, a nut-based milk and high-protein seeds.
