6 Staple Smoothies That Anyone Will Love

Smoothies are a delicious and simple way to pack in all of the healthy nutrients that your body needs. The best smoothies contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, complex carbs, protein, and healthy fats. When made correctly, 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, smoothies make it easy to add in nutritional supplements such as your whey protein powder or post workout BCAA. Whether it be as a meal replacement, snack, or dessert, below we have 6 staple smoothies that anyone will love.

Strawberry banana smoothie

The strawberry banana smoothie is a classic for a reason: tart strawberries blended with smooth, creamy banana makes for a perfect morning smoothie or a great afternoon pick me up.

To make this delicious staple smoothie, blend together the following ingredients:

• 1 and ½ cups of water, milk or almond milk
• 1 banana (frozen for a thicker consistency)
• 1 cup of frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

Optional: add in 2 scoops of Vanilla Bean Performance Whey Protein powder for an extra source of protein!

Classic green smoothie

Green smoothies are the classic healthy smoothie choice because they are filled with veggies and greens that are among the top nutrient-dense ingredients you can add to a smoothie or any meal. You can add spinach, kale, collards, chard, or really any green veggie that you want!

Sometimes people are hesitant about trying a green smoothie – a creamy green liquid isn’t the most visually appealing food choice. When done right, however, green smoothies can be sweet and refreshing.

To make a classic green smoothie, blend together:

• 1 and ½ cups of water, milk or almond milk
• 1 cup greens (baby spinach, kale, collards, chard, etc.)
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• ½ cup frozen berries
• Honey or maple syrup, to taste

Post-workout recovery green smoothie

After a tough kickboxing class or an intense lifting session, you’re bound to be dripping in sweat and looking for something to quench your thirst. What better way to replenish the nutrients your body needs for recovery than with a refreshing green smoothie? This smoothie adds the protein, healthy carbs, and electrolytes you need post-workout to recover fast.

To make it, blend together:

• 1 and ½ cups of water, milk or almond milk
• 1 cup greens (baby spinach, kale, collards, chard, etc.)
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• ½ cup frozen berries
• 1 scoop PI BCAA PLUS Post-Workout

Berry smoothie

Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries – with so many different types of berries to choose from, the possibilities for this staple smoothie recipe are endless! Plus, berries are rich in antioxidants, which offer multiple health benefits such as protection against cardiovascular disease, decreased risk for developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and a bright, glowing complexion (just to name a few!).

To make this staple smoothie, blend together:

• 1 and ½ cups of water, milk or almond milk
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup frozen mixed berries
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• Honey or maple syrup, to taste

Mocha smoothie

Coffee is a staple to the morning routine of many people. In fact, 54 percent of people over the age of 18 drink it every day. Which is why a mocha smoothie recipe made it to our list of staple smoothies. This smoothie combines a healthy dose of caffeine and protein to help you feel wide awake and ready to take on the day.

To make it, blend together the following ingredients:

• 1 and ½ cups of ice
• ½ cup of milk or almond milk
• ½ cup of cold brewed coffee
• 1 scoop of Mocha Ripped Whey Protein powder
• 1 tsp. of unsweetened cocoa powder

For a twist to this staple smoothie recipe, try adding a handful of frozen raspberries to create a raspberry mocha smoothie.

Chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie

Chocolate and peanut butter is a classic combination in many desserts and candies. While they certainly taste delicious, these treats are often high in calories, sugar, and the bad kinds of fats. To get your chocolate and peanut butter fix in a healthy way, try the Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana smoothie. It makes the perfect dessert after any meal or even a midday treat.

Here’s what to blend together for this staple smoothie:

• 1 and ½ cups of water, milk or almond milk
• 1 frozen banana
• 2 Tbsp. of peanut butter (or sunflower seed butter, if you have an allergy)
• 1 Tbsp. of unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

Add in 2 scoops of Natural Chocolate Performance Whey Protein powder if you’re looking for a smoothie that keeps you feeling full!

A few general principles

Use a good blender

If you love smoothies and make them often, it would be wise to invest in a good blender. Even though some blenders can be a little pricey, they are worth it to not have to chew your smoothie! Vitamix, Blendtec, and the Nutri Ninja are highly recommended brands.

Be creative with your mix-ins

While we have outlined the classic smoothie recipes, there are endless possibilities to what you can mix into your smoothies to make them even better. Vary your choice of leafy greens. Some herbs, such as parsley and cilantro, are great additions to the green smoothies. The added liquid could be either fruit or vegetable juice, or chilled green tea. Dates or agave nectar can be added for sweetness. And don’t forget power-ups such as cinnamon or fresh ginger.