pear Archives • A Sweet Pea Chef

These refreshingly fruity High Protein Smoothies for Weight Loss will keep you stay full and energized while helping you reach your weight loss goals. With 5 easy recipes to choose from (all with 5 ingredients or less!), you’ll have no problem staying on track! Aren't protein smoothies like the best? They're easy, healthy, quick, and flavorful. <--- All good things right there. Plus you can make your smoothie flavors interesting and fun, like Blueberry Muffin, Pink Power, and Oatmeal Raisin Cookie. I mean, really. I'm also a big fan of how they can be enjoyed for a breakfast, meal, snack, pre- or post-workout meal, or even a dessert. Tell me what OTHER easy, healthy, quick, and flavorful recipe can do that. You just can't. So, today, I figured I'd share some of my new fave high protein fruit smoothie recipes that I've been enjoying. Because one thing is very true about smoothies: the flavor combos and possibilities are endless. We've got a PB&J, Fit + Slim, Chocolate + Coffee (yes, you read that right!), Green Machine and a decadent Vanilla Cupcake Smoothie going on here right now. And it makes me so happy. Never tried protein powder? Think of it this way: If you love fruit smoothies, but feel hungry after just like 30 minutes, a great way to turn a smoothie into a full meal is to add in protein powder. Typically a serving of protein powder will add 15-30 grams of protein to your fruit smoothie, making it a more filling, well-balanced meal. BUT not all protein powders are created equal and it can take some time and research to find what brand and/or flavor works best for you. There are characteristics to consider, like flavor, texture, quality/type of protein, cost, and so on. I remember my first time trying a protein powder about 7 years ago -- it was AWFUL. It tasted and smelled just like chemicals with absolutely no good flavor. I mixed it with water and it was chunky and clumpy and just gross. Bleh. Yes, even 7 years later, it still gives me the stink face it was THAT bad. But, I kept experimenting with different brands, flavors, and types of protein. Each of the recipes I've shared here today feature vanilla protein powder. My favorite brand is Naked Nutrition. Their protein powder has minimal ingredients and they offer a variety of proteins, like pea, egg white, and whey. I love how each of these high protein fruit smoothie recipes is a different color and completely different flavor -- that way it feels like you're changing up what you're eating even though your body still gets tons of nutrients and deliciousness. Plus different colors means different types of vitamins and minerals. Eat the rainbow, right? HOW TO MAKE A HIGH PROTEIN FRUIT SMOOTHIE Making a protein fruit smoothie recipe is pretty simple. It’s important to have a good quality protein powder in hand that is minimally processed, doesn’t have a ton of added sugar, and of course, has a good taste. I like Naked Nutrition as a protein powder because there are no artificial sweeteners and colors. And if you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I quit sugar, so a powder that has few ingredients is important to me. In a nutshell, I mix unsweetened almond milk, fruit, and a scoop of protein powder in my Vitamix blender. The result is a perfect consistency smoothie that is like a meal in a mason jar (my fave way to drink my smoothies)! BEST FRUITS FOR HIGH PROTEIN FRUIT SMOOTHIES The great thing about protein fruit smoothie recipes is that just about any fruit works. I like using frozen fruit in my smoothies because you can skip the step of adding ice. Try these fruits in your next smoothie: Bananas Mangoes Strawberries Blueberries Raspberries Pineapple Melon Veggies and other non "fruits" add a nutritional punch to shakes, too. Consider spinach, avocado, kale, and cucumber. CAN I MAKE HIGH PROTEIN FRUIT SMOOTHIES AHEAD? Smoothies can be made ahead and put in the freezer. In fact, I’ve got 7 Easy Make Ahead Smoothies that you can prep and store for up to 3 months. Pull them out of the freezer the night before and place in the fridge. In the morning, breakfast is served immediately! If you want to get more veggies and fruit into your day to day food intake, try prepping Smoothie Freezer Packs as a make ahead meal or snack, too. You can make one of these High Protein Fruit Smoothies and leave it in the fridge for up to 24 hours without all of the nutrition leaving the mix, but I enjoy them best right out of the blender! TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST HIGH PROTEIN FRUIT SMOOTHIES So, the best thing about smoothies is that they are packed with nutrition and easy to make. They are delicious, full of fiber, and a great way to boost weight loss. To make the best high protein fruit smoothies ever, keep these tips in mind: Use unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice) as your liquid because it is low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals, and also gives a good consistency Loading your blender in this order typically works best - liquid, not frozen veggies or fruits, greens if you are adding any, then the frozen fruits and veggies, and finally, the protein powder If you find your smoothie to be too sweet, add lemon juice If the taste is too bitter, add pineapple, orange, or banana Natural sweeteners like honey and pure maple syrup work great in smoothies Avocado can add creaminess to a smoothie, not to mention a load of nutrition The riper the banana, the sweeter the shake BEST PROTEIN POWDERS FOR HIGH PROTEIN FRUIT SMOOTHIES The options for protein powder are plenty. Look for brands that are minimally processed and without added sugars or artificial sweeteners. I like the Naked Nutrition brand because the ingredients are minimal, and because you have options for pea, whey, and egg protein, among others. Let’s look a little more closely at the options: Pea protein: It’s made from isolating protein from ground yellow split peas. It contains all of the essential amino acids but is low in methionine. However, you can make up for that by eating eggs, beef, poultry, brown rice, and more. Pea protein is rich in iron, but best consumed with citrus powders to get maximum benefits. It has been shown to help build muscle mass in those who resistance train and helps make you feel fuller. Whey protein: This protein is said to help you lose body fat, gain muscle, and increase your strength. Whey is protein isolated from whey (found in milk). It separates from milk when cheese is made. Whey is typically flavored and added to smoothies as a tasty nutritional boost. Whey is known to digest quickly. Egg protein: Egg proteins are usually made from egg whites, not the yolks. Second only to whey, eggs contain high amounts of leucine, the amino acid said to increase muscle strength. Its quality in protein powders is typically high and it digests well. Casein protein: Casein protein is found in milk, just like whey. It is thought to increase body composition when consumed by people who work on resistance training. It is digested and absorbed more slowly than whey protein, but in turn, allows more exposure of the muscles to amino acids. That all being said, you can certainly get naturally-occurring protein from chia seeds, flaxseeds, nut butter, spinach, and egg white, too! ARE HIGH PROTEIN FRUIT SMOOTHIES HEALTHY? Crave-worthy fruit smoothies are indeed healthy if you mix them right! Be sure to follow these pointers and you’ll end up with a good-for-you smoothie. Don’t add juice from the grocery store shelf to your smoothie. Choose liquids like coconut water and unsweetened almond milk like we did for the 5 High Protein Fruit Smoothies for Weight Loss found in this post. Other good choices are hemp milk and soy milk. Add healthy fats like Greek yogurt and avocado. That way, along with the fat, you’ll get extra protein from the yogurt and vitamins and antioxidants from the avocado. If you think you need a sweetener, add cinnamon or a dash of pure maple syrup. Don’t add artificial sweeteners. Don’t forget your greens. They add extra nutrients and blend in well with fruits like bananas and strawberries. HOW TO STORE SMOOTHIES Protein fruit smoothie recipes can be made the night before and stored the fridge for the next day. If the recipe contains banana, it’s best to add it the morning you plan to eat it. Otherwise, your smoothie will be an unappetizing brown color and just not look as fresh. The flavor and nutritional state will be the same, though. If you are using whey or casein protein powder, store your smoothie in a glass container. This is because the plastic is absorbent and may take on a funny smell if left sitting containing the mix. When premixing a protein fruit smoothie recipe, store it in an airtight glass container right after blending it. It will stay fresh for up to 24 hours but you will have to add a bit of frozen fruit to the mixture and reblend before drinking for it to taste its best. NON PROTEIN POWDER WAYS TO ADD PROTEIN Looking to add protein to your smoothie without adding powder? There is an easy solution for that; just add one of these yummy ingredients: Plain Greek yogurt Cottage cheese Unsweetened kefir Unsweetened soy milk Nut butter, such as almond or peanut butter Flax seeds Chia seeds Egg whites Oatmeal MORE HEALTHY SMOOTHIE RECIPES If you can’t get enough of these delicious meals in a jar that are so easy to make, yet so nutritious, try these! 7 Easy Make Ahead Smoothies for Fall Healthy Coffee Smoothie Kiwi and Kale Smoothie Pumpkin Cheesecake Protein Smoothie Blueberry Muffin Protein Smoothie Pink Power Protein Beet Smoothie Peach Protein Shake HIGH PROTEIN FRUIT SMOOTHIE RECIPES VIDEO 5 High Protein Fruit Smoothie Recipes For Weight Loss (5 Ingredients or Less!) These refreshingly fruity High Protein Smoothies for Weight Loss will keep you full and energized while helping you reach your weight loss goals. With 5 scrumptious recipes to choose from (all with 5 ingredients or less!), you’ll have no problem staying on track! PB&J Smoothie1 cup unsweetened almond milk1/2 cup frozen strawberries1 tbsp peanut butter1 scoop vanilla protein powderFit + Slim Smoothie1 cup unsweetened almond milk1 cup frozen blueberries1 scoop vanilla protein powderChocolate + Coffee Smoothie1 cup unsweetened almond milk1 frozen banana1 tbsp freeze-dried coffee, (or replace 1/4 cup milk with 1/4 cup strong chilled coffee)1/2 tbsp dark cocoa powder1 scoop vanilla protein powderGreen Machine Smoothie1 cup unsweetened almond milkfrozen banana1 cup baby spinach, (packed)1 tbsp peanut butter1 scoop vanilla protein powderVanilla Cupcake Smoothie1 cup unsweetened almond milk1/2 cup frozen mango1/2 cup frozen pineapple1 scoop vanilla protein powder PB&J SmoothieIn a kitchen blender, start by adding the unsweetened almond milk, frozen strawberries, peanut butter, and 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder.Now, blend everything until it’s very smooth.Fit + Slim SmoothieIn a kitchen blender, start by adding the unsweetened almond milk, frozen blueberries, and 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder.Now, blend everything until it’s very smooth.Chocolate + Coffee SmoothieIn a kitchen blender, start by adding the unsweetened almond milk, frozen banana, freeze-dried coffee, dark cocoa powder, and 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder.Now, blend everything until it’s very smooth.Green Machine SmoothieIn a kitchen blender, start by adding the unsweetened almond milk, frozen banana, baby spinach, and 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder.Now, blend everything until it’s very smooth.Vanilla Cupcake SmoothieIn a kitchen blender, start by adding the unsweetened almond milk, frozen mango, frozen pineapple, and 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder.Now, blend everything until it’s very smooth. *Nutrition information provided is for PB&J Smoothie *For any of these protein fruit smoothies, you can add a little raw honey to up the sweetness as needed. *You can also add ice if you’re not using frozen fruit in order to thicken the smoothies if you’d like. For full nutritional information of each recipe and to see how they are made, you can watch this video. This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.