5 Healthy Smoothie Recipes for On-the-Go

No doubt you are a busy person. Between work, school, social obligations, relationships, the gym and anything else you might have going on in your life, you’re definitely busy. And with a jam-packed schedule, there are going to be times when a full, well prepared, balanced meal is out of the question. Enter smoothies. Smoothies can contain a good chunk of the nutrition found in a fork and knife kind of meal, but without the lengthy preparation and cook time. Plus, they’re deliciously portable. Whip yourself up a filling, nutritious smoothie and head out the door to carpe that diem. Throw in some greens, some fruit, a little protein powder, maybe even a little caffeine and you’re good to go. But the same old smoothie can get a little boring after a while. You could find yourself in a smoothie rut. Don’t worry. We’ve got your back. Here are five recipes for deliciously different smoothies that suit any taste. Toss it all in a blender, load up your favorite on-the-go mug and prepare to be satisfied. A few general principles: Cut hard ingredients into 1 inch pieces. Vary your choice of leafy greens. Try a variety of nut butters or add flax seed. Some herbs are great additions, especially parsley and cilantro. The added liquid could be either fruit or vegetable juice, or chilled green tea. Dates or agave nectar can be added for sweetness. Depending on your equipment, you might not need to peel fruits and vegetables. Don’t forget power-ups such as cinnamon or fresh ginger.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

The Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana smoothie is as filling as it gets. A smoothie packed with protein and peanut butter is going to keep you satisfied for a long time. According to a study published by Obesity: a Research Journal, participants who were fed muffins containing a fat source like peanut oil, canola oil or butter were left feeling fuller longer than participants who were given a fat free muffin. Incorporating a healthy fat may make your subsequent food intake more balanced. This makes a peanut butter smoothie great for early in the day when you know you’re not going to get the chance to eat for a while. Here’s what to blend together for a yummy smoothie with satiety that lasts:

• 1.5 cups of water, milk or almond milk
• 2 scoops of Natural Chocolate Performance Whey Protein powder
• 1 banana (frozen for a thicker consistency)
• 1 cup of spinach or kale
• 2 Tbsp. of peanut butter (or sunflower seed butter, if you have an allergy)
• 1 Tbsp. of unsweetened cocoa powder

Almond or cashew butter could be substituted for peanut butter.

Classic Strawberry Banana Smoothie

The flavor combination of strawberry and banana is a classic. Tart strawberries blended with smooth, creamy banana makes for a perfect morning smoothie or a great afternoon pick me up. A few scoops of Vanilla Bean Performance Whey Protein powder ties it all together. Blend these tasty ingredients and take a walk down strawberry banana memory lane:

• 1.5 cups of water, milk or almond milk
• 2 scoops of Vanilla Bean Performance Whey Protein powder
• 1 banana (frozen for a thicker consistency)
• 1 cup of frozen strawberries
• 1 cup of spinach or kale

The addition of coconut oil could increase the staying power of this recipe.

Morning Mocha Smoothie

Sometimes, you just need coffee. As it turns out, 54 percent of people over the age of 18 drink it every day. Wouldn’t it be great if you could get your morning jolt and a heap of protein all at once? With this smoothie, you totally can and it’s going to taste way better than any green-strawed, sugar-packed blended coffee. Toss all of this in a blender and get ready to feel wide awake to take on the day:

• 1.5 cups of ice
• 1 scoop of Mocha Ripped Whey Protein powder
• 1 tsp. of unsweetened cocoa powder
• .5 cup of milk or almond milk
• .25 cup of cold brewed coffee

Some folks like raspberry mocha, so try adding a handful of frozen raspberries for variety.

“We Swear This Isn’t a Milkshake” Smoothie

It used to be that there was nothing better than a milkshake. Then this smoothie came along and flipped everything on its head. Fast food milkshakes can sport 500 to sometimes even 1,000 calories each! Plus, they’re loaded with junk and, while they admittedly taste fantastic, they’re not doing you any good. This mock milkshake clocks in at around 370 calories and is loaded with protein. Protein that, according to a study from the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, could leave you feeling more satisfied, increase your fat burning capacity and reduce your subsequent caloric intake. This means you’re less likely to go crawling back for a milkshake refill. To create an almost spoonable smoothie, toss these ingredients in your blender and fire it up:

• .5 cups of water
• 1 tsp. of unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 Tbsp. of sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
• 2 scoops of Natural Chocolate Performance Whey Protein powder

Vanilla Latte Smoothie

Did we mention how great caffeine and milkshakes are? This smoothie is the guilt free version of both of those things. It’s quick, it’s tasty and with only three ingredients, it’s impossible to mess up. Don’t be thrown off by the addition of ice cream, either. There are plenty of healthy, natural options for low-fat ice cream out there that don’t contain a ton of nasty sweeteners. Check out soy ice cream options if you’re laying off the dairy. Blend these three simple ingredients together to get yourself going in the morning or perk yourself up in the afternoon:

• 1.5 cups of milk or almond milk
• 2 scoops of Vanilla Latte Ripped Whey Protein powder
• .5 cup of low-fat coffee flavored ice cream

Don’t get caught off guard when you’re hungry and crunched for time. Have a few of these ingredients on hand and a blender at the ready for the moments when your diet can be saved by a smoothie. Blending up one of these delicious, protein packed options can save you from the drive thru and keep you on track to meet your nutrition goals.