7 Healthy Protein Smoothies to Drink After a Workout
Happy Sunday friends!
Health and fitness have always been such a passion of mine. I grew up with parents who were incredible athletes, and they always had my brother and I be super active. We played sports literally every season and were always doing camps or summer teams during summer break.
Being instilled with the love for health and fitness, I feel like I really dove into it during and after college. I didn't know much about health or fitness before that, I really just ate whatever I wanted and played a lot of sports. Which at the time, was totally fine, but as I got older, I wanted to educate myself more on how to take care of your body.
A lot of people that follow me now probably don't know that I used to do online personal training. I worked my full time job, but I was active on the 'gram with a fitness account. I shared recipes (mostly pancakes and waffles lets face it) and workouts. I absolutely loved it at the time, but I realized after the couple of years that I did it that I really just wanted it to be a hobby, not something I did as a job.
I know theres a lot of information out there pertaining to health and fitness, and well, I wasn't really into that. I hate all the fad diets and all the marketing out there to really just get people to send their money. It really frustrated me that people would take advantage of others who just aren't educated on wellness.
I'm a true believer in you do what works for you. No body is the same, and we all have different likes, metabolisms, goals, and interests, too! What might work for someone isn't going to work for everyone. I used to be really into lifting and loved going to the gym. I wanted to get stronger and leaner, and well, I did. I did that for some time, but I've started switching up my workouts over the last few months. I haven't really been into lifting for a number of reasons. I've been listening to my body and just doing what I want to each day as they come. I do a lot of home workouts, I run on the weekends which I've been loving with this awesome summer we are having, I do yoga, and Mike and I go hiking when we can.
And while working out is just one facet of health, I truly think that food is more essential. You've all heard it, "food is fuel", and that couldn't be more correct! Depending on your goals and how active you are, you're going to need a certain about of nutrients. My favorite thing to have after I workout is a protein smoothie. Now don't get me wrong, you guys know I love my waffles and pancakes, but I just think protein smoothies are a lot easier and you can just pack a ton of nutrition into one blender! I love beverages in general (I have a weird thing where I need to have like three or four different drinks while I'm working so I can have "variety" idk why don't ask), and so smoothies are really just my go to, especially during the summer. They are quick and easy, and there are so many different recipes that you can make, so you don't get bored.
My personal favorite is the ever so popular chocolate, banana and peanut butter. I'm a big fan of chocolate smoothies in general, and this one has peanut butter, so you know I'm going to love it! When I make a smoothie, I like to jam pack it with nutrients. I always put in a protein powder to 1.) give a boost of protein after my workout to repair my muscles and 2.) to sweeten the smoothie up! I always put some sort of fruit in too, for carbs and for sweetness. I love putting some type of fat in, as well, so that it really keeps you full for long and you're not starving again just thirty minutes later. I also like to put some veggies in when I can. Nothing crazy, just some spinach or kale to give the smoothie a little micronutrient boost. You can get fancy and get some spirulina, but that's totally up to you and your fitness goals!
If you're like me, you like your smoothies thick, like you need a spoon. I don't know why, but it always taste better to me like I'm eating a make shift ice cream that really isn't ice cream haha Also, when you make your smoothies like that, you get to be cool and put fun toppings like chia seeds, coconut, granola, etc. My trick to making your smoothies thick? Use frozen fruit and use a minimal amount of liquid.
I guess now that I've been rambling on for so long, you probably just want the recipes. So, check out a full week's worth of smoothies I make all the time!
Minty Refresh
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
1 tsp spirulina
15 mint leaves
1/2 cup pineapple
1 green apple
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
Ice
Strawberry and Creme
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 cup strawberries
2 tsp chia seeds 1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
Ice
Mocha Latte 1 scoop chocolate protein
1 banana
1/2 cp cold coffee
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
Ice
Top with Cacoa chips
Chocolate, Peanut butter, Banana
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
1 banana
2 tsp peanut butter
1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
Ice
Top with granola
Tropical Bliss
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
1/2 cup pineapple
1/2 cup mango
1 cup spinach
1 tsp spirulina
2 TSP unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
Ice
Green Power
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
1 banana
1 green apple
1/2 cup kale
1/2 cup spinach
1/2 cucumber
2 celery stalks
1 tsp ginger
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 unsweetened almond milk Ice
Very Berry
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1/2 cup strawberries
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup raspberries
1/4 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
Ice
xx
-Han