Preparing tasty vegan protein smoothies can be hit and miss. Sometimes they’re delicious, creamy, and packed with nutrients. But other times they’re lumpy, gritty, and taste downright awful. So, we’ve put together this guide to help you create tasty shakes and smoothies every single time…
In this article – we share our favourite high-protein vegan smoothies, plus tips for preparing healthy, and nutritious workout shakes at home.
- Why add protein to smoothies?
- Protein smoothie recipes
- Choosing the best powder product
- Protein smoothie tips & tricks
We’ve been making high protein smoothies for years and have tried almost every recipe method and supplement brand out there. Our in-house nutritionist wrote her Masters degree thesis on protein powder, so she knows a thing or two about which ones work best.
Protein shakes and smoothies are consistently popular with fitness fans and followers of plant-based diets, since they’re an excellent source of nutrients that support post-workout recovery and everyday macro intake. So, how can you get the best out of them and avoid the common pitfalls?
Why Add Protein To Shakes & Smoothies?
Taking protein after exercise helps the body to recover faster and supports muscle gain. It also indirectly supports weight loss as having more muscle mass leads to a higher metabolic rate, so you burn more calories both at rest and during exercise.
During exercise, muscle gets broken down and then rebuilds itself afterward (which is why rest is also important). When it rebuilds, it tends to overcompensate by building more than was there before – this is why exercise causes increased muscle.
Amino acids form the building blocks of muscle and these are found in protein. By consuming protein straight after exercise, you ensure a ready supply for muscles to rebuild and recover quickly.
But it’s not just exercisers that can benefit from protein-packed smoothies. People who don’t eat meat or dairy can sometimes find themselves deficient in some nutrients, including protein. So, sipping on a vegan protein shake can help you to nourish your body with the macros it needs.
Top Vegan Protein Smoothies
If you’re looking for a post-workout recovery drink or just want to boost your protein intake, these smoothies are ideal. They only contain 3-4 ingredients which means they’re really easy to prepare…
Banana & Almond Milk Protein Shake
This easy protein shake recipe is ideal for beginners since it has a neutral flavour that’ll appeal to everyone. It combines potassium-packed banana, protein powder, and almond milk into a delicious drink that’s perfect pre or post-workout.
Coffee & Banana Protein Smoothie
Caffeine is a popular sports supplement with proven benefits for focus and energy, but you can also just add normal coffee to your workout smoothie! Plus it tastes amazing, like a healthy iced capuccino in a shake!
Vanilla Almond Protein Smoothie
Vanilla is one of our favourite protein powder flavours since it goes with everything. You can combine it with an endless number of different fruits and it’ll work with almost all of them. This recipe pairs vanilla with almond milk for a simple, delicious recipe.
Simple Pineapple Protein Shake
Pineapple is high in vitamins and minerals so a healthy addition to any workout smoothie. In this recipe, we combine it with banana and protein powder for an easy smoothie that tastes incredible.
Blueberry & Banana Protein Smoothie
Blueberries are high in antioxidants so another nutritious option for workout smoothie ingredients. They blend perfectly with protein powder and banana to create a healthy recipe you can enjoy daily.
Choosing the Best Protein Powder
Here are some top tips for choosing the best protein powder for smoothies that are highly nutritious and super-smooth…
1 – Vegan Protein Options
Avoid whey and casein protein powders if you’re vegan or lactose-intolerant as they’re made from dairy sources.
2 – Read Reviews
Protein powder can be expensive so read online reviews to help you avoid making a bad purchase.
3 – Reputation Matters
Buy from a reputable supplier and be wary of Amazon sellers with long lead times. They may be shipping them from other countries with less stringent quality control, testing, and compliance measures than your own country. This can mean that the product doesn’t contain the volume of nutrients it claims and could even be contaminated with substances that are bad for your health.
4 – Vegan Protein Content
Look at the protein content of the powder before purchasing it. Plant-based powders like pea, soy, rice, and hemp contain varying amounts of protein.
The packaging will try to convince you that it’s packed full of protein but don’t take it at face value. Instead, look at the ingredients list – this is the information to pay attention to.
How many grams of protein are in a serving? How many grams of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) leucine, isoleucine, and valine does each scoopful contain? These are the most powerful ones for muscle repair and growth which makes them crucial for workout smoothies.
5 – Other Nutrients
Lots of protein powders also contain other healthy nutrients. In vegan powders, you may find fibre, vitamin B12, and iron which are all vital for optimal functioning of the body.
You might also like… this high-protein mango shake made with just 3 ingredients or this super-simple oat milk protein shake.
Protein Powder Smoothie Tips
Here are our top tips for creating super-smooth protein powder shakes at home…
- Put the fruit or veg in first – this way less powder sticks to the blender jug so you consume more and waste less.
- Cover the vegan protein powder with liquid – this stops it from sticking to the jug during the blending process.
- Give it a shake before blending – if any rogue powder has stuck to the side, the chunks of fruit and veg will dislodge it (but once you start blending the chucks disappear so it’s too late).
- Shake again halfway through – this moves any of the remaining fruit chunks out of their usual blending orbit, so they’re more likely to get smooshed by the blades. No-one likes banana chunks in the bottom of their smoothie!
