Name: Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Protein Smoothie
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 banana; 1 cup soy milk (or another higher protein non-dairy milk); 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder; 2 tablespoons all-natural peanut butter (or almond butter); 2 tablespoons hemp seeds; 4 ice cubes

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You don't need protein powder to make a high protein smoothie. This Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie is high protein from whole food ingredients only and will keep you full for hours.

There are so many plant-based options in order to make a filling protein smoothie, without having to rely on expensive protein powders.

I'm also not a big fan of the flavor of most protein powders. They usually just end up making my smoothie taste chalky. If you have a non-chalky tasting vegan protein brand you like, let me know in the comments!

I am able to still reach my protein needs without one so I don't think they're absolutely necessary, but if you struggle to get in enough calories or you're short on time, I can see the appeal.

Here are some of my favorite protein sources for smoothies:

Nut butters - any kind of all-natural nut butter but typically almond butter and peanut butter are highest in regards to protein

Hemp seeds - out of the seeds, hemp has the highest protein (3.2g/tbsp)

Chia seeds - another good protein source but less protein compared to hemp seeds (1.7g/tbsp)

Flax seeds - not a lot of protein so I would recommend adding at least 2 tbsps if using (1.3g/tbsp)

Rolled oats - these provide not only extra protein (2.7g/.25 cup), but some extra fiber for that satiating effect

White beans - yes, even white beans which have a very mild taste, can be added to smoothies (4.6g/.25 cup)

As you can see, there are tons of options! The choice of milk will also play a factor too. I prefer soy milk because it contains a comparable amount of protein to cow's milk.

Other flavor variations

I'm a big fan of the classic chocolate and peanut butter combo but you can make a high protein, whole foods smoothie with lots of different flavor profiles! I still recommend using soy milk and bananas as the base, then pick your protein, and add in your flavors.

Here are some ideas:

Chocolate Cherry - cocoa powder and frozen cherries

Berry Beet - frozen beets and berries (I have a recipe for this on my Instagram feed)

Tropical - frozen pineapple and kiwi

Mixed Berry - use blackberries and strawberries for a sweet treat

Really, the possibilities are endless for a filling and satiating smoothie. And trust me when I say filling—I was full for hours afterwards!

And if you're looking for more high protein meals check out this Tofu Baked Vegan Pasta or this One-Pot Coconut Lentil Curry.

Easy, healthy, plant-fueled meals are my specialty. You can find all the tools you need to be successful on a plant-based diet with the Health My Lifestyle Meal Planner. It takes all the guesswork out of what to eat! Click here to check out it.

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