By Berry Protein Smoothie (Vegan)
This 5 minute delicious berry protein smoothie needs 4 ingredients for a healthy breakfast. Use your favorite vegan protein powder to add up to 20 grams of plant-based protein per serving.
Even though it is the middle of winter and absolutely freezing outside, I am on a total smoothie kick! I love whipping up healthy and flavorful smoothies like this mango pineapple smoothie or this pear green smoothie to sip on while I work. Although I like to experiment with different flavor combinations, I thought I would go back to the basics and share this berry protein smoothie.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Just 5 minutes and 4 ingredients and you can whip up this delicious berry smoothie!
Berries are loaded with nutrients like fiber, potassium, and antioxidants. This smoothie makes it easy to incorporate more of them into your diet.
This smoothie is vegan, gluten free, egg-free, and dairy-free.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Berries: I like to use frozen mixed berries but you could use just one type of berry or a combination of frozen berries. My go-to berry blend has blueberries, blackberries, and red raspberries. However, you can use strawberries too!
Banana: Adds creaminess and some sweetness to this smoothie. Use a frozen banana if you want to make a thick smoothie.
Milk: Use any milk that you prefer. To make a vegan/dairy-free version of this smoothie, use an unsweetened plant-based milk like almond, soy, or oat. I like soy milk because it is much higher in protein than other plant-based milks.
Protein Powder: Use your favorite vanilla flavored vegan protein powder. I really like the vanilla protein powder from Ritual.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Flavor Variations
Chocolate & Berry: Use a chocolate protein powder instead of vanilla for a chocolate and berry treat. If you don’t have chocolate protein powder, you can also add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder before blending for some chocolate flavor.
Ginger & Berry: I love the combination of ginger and berry. Add 1/2 to 1 inch of fresh ginger root to your blender before pureeing for this option.
Greens & Berry: Get in a serving of greens in addition to fruit by adding 1-2 handfuls of fresh baby spinach or kale to your smoothie before blending. It will change the color of the smoothie, but the flavor will not be affected much by the addition of the greens.
Step by Step
Step One: Add all of your ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth.
Step Two: Add more milk while blending if needed. Pour into glass for serving.
Expert Tips
Adjust thickness: Use frozen fruit if you prefer a thicker smoothie consistency. Add more milk if your smoothie is too thick.
Add sweetness: Add an extra 1/2-1 tablespoon of maple syrup, agave or honey to add more sweetness. You can also toss a medjool date in before blending for additional sweetness.
Use your favorite milk: since I’m plant-based I like to use soy milk in my smoothies. However, you can use any milk (dairy, hemp, oat, almond) or yogurt (dairy, coconut, cashew, soy) that you like.
Health Benefits of Berries
Berries are an excellent source of antioxidants which are compounds that help prevent cell damage in the body. Preventing that cell damage can help lower your risk of chronic diseases like heart disease or cancer.
Potassium is important for blood pressure control and berries are loaded with it!
Berries are high in fiber. In fact, since they are so high in fiber – they are lower in digestible carbs so berries are a low-carb friendly food. Plus, many Americans are not getting enough fiber in their diet so including a handful of berries in your morning smoothie is a great way to reach that recommended daily fiber goal.
Recipe FAQs
You can use an extra 1/2 cup of yogurt, 1/2 avocado, or 1 cup frozen cauliflower rice instead. Since these options aren’t as sweet as a banana, you may want to add a little maple syrup or a date to your smoothie before blending for extra sweetness.
Yes, berry protein shakes can be a healthy way to incorporate fruit, protein, and fiber into your diet.
I prefer to use unsweetened, plain soy milk for smoothies. Soy milk is higher in protein than other plant-based milks. Use an unsweetened milk to lower to sugar content in your smoothie – I find that the fruit adds enough sweetness without the need for a sweetened milk.
More Recipes You’ll Love
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Berry Protein Smoothie
Ingredients
1 cup unsweetened, plain soy milk
1 banana
1 1/2 cups frozen mixed berries
1 scoop vegan vanilla protein powder
Instructions
Notes
Thick smoothie: Want to make an extra thick/frosty smoothie or a smoothie bowl? Use frozen banana.
Add some greens: Feel free to add even more nutrients to this smoothie by tossing in a handful of fresh spinach or kale before blending.
Don’t like bananas? You can use an extra 1/2 cup of yogurt, 1/2 avocado, or 1 cup frozen cauliflower rice instead. Since these options aren’t as sweet as a banana, you may want to add a little maple syrup or a date to your smoothie before blending for extra sweetness.
Nutrition
The post Berry Protein Smoothie (Vegan) appeared first on Dietitian Debbie Dishes.
