10 Energy Smoothie Recipes to Keep You Powered Up
Ready to power through the day? The energy smoothie recipes below were created by an RDN to keep you full and focused.
I love to make smoothies for a quick breakfast. What can I put in my smoothie for energy throughout the day? The most important foods to focus on are complex carbohydrates, like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. The best carbs offer fiber, protein and healthy fats, too. Break out the blender to make these high energy smoothie recipes at home!
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Peanut Butter Banana
For a long-lasting boost of energy, mix peanut butter, banana, milk of any kind, protein powder, flax seeds and agave nectar in whatever proportions taste best to you. The PB, protein powder and flax seeds provide healthy fats and protein, giving you a sustained boost, while banana provides fiber and a burst of carbohydrate energy. Read up on all of the other amazing ways bananas can improve your health.
Berry Blast
Combine strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, kefir or yogurt, chia seeds and ice for a nutrient-dense treat. Chia seeds and berries help regulate your digestion by providing a healthy dose of fiber while kefir or yogurt helps you maintain a healthy gut. After you get your health boost, be sure to avoid the four worst foods for your gut.
Tropical Twist
Blend mango, kiwi, pineapple, protein powder and orange juice for a great energizer! The vibrant colors of these tropical fruits mean they are loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants helping you feel your best. If you want to branch out from the standard whey protein powder, give our 15 high-protein smoothie recipes a shot.
Zesty Citrus
While these healthy lemon recipes are great for dinner, try whirling together orange, lemon zest, cranberries, hemp hearts and yogurt for a quick afternoon pick-me-up. Hemp hearts are packed with nutrition—full of protein, omega-3s and minerals like phosphorus, calcium and magnesium. The citrus fruits and cranberries in this smoothie are also great sources of vitamin C, supporting your immune system—just like these 14 feel-better foods.
Banana Cocoa Powder
Feel like you’re indulging with a smoothie that blends together cocoa powder, banana, chocolate protein powder, flax seeds, chia seeds and milk. The flax and chia seeds are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids to help reduce inflammation, blood pressure and heart rate. Want to get in more omega-3s? Try these foods. Flax and chia seeds are also a great source of fiber, giving you the sustained energy you need to be productive.
Green Goodness
Get closer to your veggie quota for the day with a green smoothie made from spinach, avocado, apple, raspberries, a little bit of kale, spirulina and kefir. Just like these 8 energy-boosting foods, spirulina is high in B vitamins which play a key role in energy production and can have a positive impact on brain function. In combination with the complex carbs from the fruit and veggies and the protein from the kefir, you should be ready to take on your day! You can find spirulina at your local health food store, or buy it online here. ($19)
Breakfast Boost
Get all the flavors you love at breakfast in a delicious concoction of oats, strawberries, your favorite milk (vanilla cashew if you’re looking to try something new!), chia seeds, honey and almond butter. If you’re not a big breakfast person, this smoothie is a great go-to for the energy you need to get the day started. The healthy fats found in almond butter and chia seeds will provide you with sustained energy to keep you focused until lunch. Here are 5 more healthy fats to try.
Hidden Vegetables
Sneak some veggies in by blending cooked beets, parsley, carrots, hemp hearts, vanilla protein powder, strawberries and agave nectar together. Both parsley and carrots are a great source of vitamin C, a key player in immune function, wound healing and healthy bones and teeth. Here are 13 more vitamin C-packed foods that aren’t oranges.
Mellow Melon
A refreshing smoothie made with honeydew, cantaloupe, protein powder, banana, cucumber and orange juice will be sure to wake you up! Melon and cucumber are great sources of water, key to boosting your energy and mood while also helping with digestion. Keep healthy with our list of the top 10 hydrating foods.
Ginger Sweet Potato
Boost your immune system with an antioxidant-heavy smoothie of turmeric, ginger, lemon juice, carrot, silken tofu, cooked sweet potato, kefir and honey. Turmeric is a potent anti-inflammatory agent and actually increases the antioxidant capacity of your body, making benefits from the ginger, carrot, sweet potato and honey that much stronger. Fan of turmeric? Here’s how much you should consume each day.
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