This simple blueberry protein smoothie is packed with nutrients yet only has four ingredients. With no dairy or whey, it’s ideal for vegans or those with lactose intolerance. Refuel your body after exercise and help it to recover quickly with this easy yet delicious shake.
In this article – we share a simple blueberry and banana protein smoothie recipe that’s perfect straight after a workout.
I have to start with a confession… when it comes to blueberry protein shakes, I’m not usually a fan. They can be a bit grainy and tasteless – not the best qualities in a smoothie. To be honest, I’d take raspberries or blackberries over the blue variety every day of the week. Blueberry muffins just don’t do it for me.
But my boyfriend loves blueberries and I know they’re super-good for us, so I’ll sometimes include them in workout smoothies.
Plus, they help to create brightly coloured smoothies that look even more appetizing. This makes them perfect for smoothie bowls or other artistic food creations.
Health Benefits
The benefits of this particular smoothie include high antioxidant content, energy replenishment, and aiding workout recovery.
Blueberries are a low-sugar fruit which makes them a great ingredient in healthy smoothies. If you’re trying to lose weight, then a low-sugar approach is likely to help.
- Blueberries – an excellent source of antioxidants with USDA research showing that blueberries have the highest capacity for destroying free radicals among 60 fruit and veg tested.
- Banana – replenishes energy and electrolytes, as well as providing fibre and vitamin C.
- Protein powder – provides the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) necessary for muscular repair and growth.
- Almond milk – most kinds of almond milk are fortified with calcium, vitamin D, E, B2 (riboflavin), and B12.
How To Make the Best Blueberry Protein Smoothie
The secret to making the perfect blueberry smoothie is using frozen berries and almond milk. Plant milk ensures that the powder is fully combined into the smoothie, helping to avoid grainy bits. It also reduces the amount of protein powder that gets stuck to the side of the blender and wasted.
We like to use frozen berries in our smoothies for a number of reasons…
- They last longer – Fresh ones can go mushy if you don’t use them up quickly but frozen blueberries last for months.
- Colder smoothies taste better – Frozen berries make your smoothie colder and as a general rule, cold shakes taste better than room temperature ones.
- More nutritious – Research shows that frozen blueberries have higher levels of vitamin C than fresh ones (although this isn’t the case for all fruit and veg).
Ingredients & Instructions
Here’s how to make this delicious, high-protein smoothie…
Blueberry Protein Smoothie Recipe
An easy blueberry protein smoothie recipe made that dairy-free and vegan-friendly
Ingredients
- 10-15 blueberries
- 1 banana
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 120ml almond milk (1/2 cup)
Instructions
- Peel the banana and place in blender jug with the blueberries.
- Add the protein powder on top followed by almond milk.
- Shake vigorously so that all the powder is coated in milk.
- Blend until smoothie and enjoy!
Notes
Don't use whey protein or casein if you want to keep this recipe vegan and dairy-free.
Alternative Ingredient Ideas
If you don’t like vanilla protein powder, then there are lots of other flavours that would work. Butterscotch, chocolate, and strawberry protein powder would all be delicious with blueberries and bananas.
We prefer this smoothie with almond milk but you could also try oat, rice, or hazelnut milk instead.
If you want to make this recipe without banana, then swap it for mango, avocado, or pineapple.
Nutrition Info You Can Trust
Our in-house associate nutritionist holds a Master’s degree in Human Nutrition, a bachelors degree in Sports Science and English, and a Diploma in Personal Training. She has over 15 years of experience in the health and fitness industry, working with leading health clubs, equipment manufacturers, and one-to-one clients.
