How to Make a Protein and Vitamin Packed Fruit Smoothie

This article will explain how to make a healthy smoothie by adding protein powder and vitamins. The protein powder in this recipe also makes for a richer, creamier smoothie. If you don’t have time to make a smoothie in the morning, you can make this version the night before. The protein powder helps to keep the smoothie from melting or separating. Just pour it into a glass, cover with wrap and refrigerate it over night. It will be fresh tasting and ready to drink the next morning.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Whey Protein Powder
• Plain Unsweetened Yogurt
• Frozen Fruit
• Vitamin C and other daily vitamins
• Blender

1. Buy unflavored or vanilla protein powder. I like whey protein the best, it is made from yogurt. Add approximately 1 scoop per 6 oz of yogurt.

2. Add frozen fruit to your smoothie instead of fresh fruit and ice. The smoothie will come thicker with frozen fruit and it will stay colder longer. I use frozen peaches and strawberries.

3. Add your vitamins directly into the blender. If you have capsules, break them open and add the powder. I add a chewable vitamin C as well as a multivitamin to mine.

4. Add unsweetened plain yogurt with live cultures. If you don’t find it sweet enough, give it time, your taste buds will adjust to the lack of sugar after about a week.

5. If you like your smoothie just a little sweeter, make sure to use frozen strawberries, they are the best fruit for natural sweetening.

6. First blend the yogurt with the frozen fruit until smooth, then add the protein power and vitamins and blend just until mixed. Add more fruit, yogurt or protein powder to suit your taste.

Tips & Warnings

• Some blenders don’t work well on frozen fruit. You might need a high powered blender with a double sided blade, such as a Kitchen Aid or Oster.
• If your blender doesn’t blend the frozen fruit, leave it out in the blender to thaw for about 10 minutes before mixing.
• You can add a teaspoon of nuts, such as almonds for more flavor and extra protein.
• Don’t add bananas if you are going to make your smoothie the night before. The banana will brown in the refrigerator overnight.
• Don't use frozen blackberries and raspberries, they have a lot of seeds.

[AbbyNormal]

on 5/8/2008 Hogwash, DrLauren!

Also try soymilk, frozen fruit and whatever else you want to add. I do it with Source of Life and flax oil and tumeric and sometimes protein (protein in Source of Life).

[The-Machine]

on 5/8/2008 I've made this smoothie many times and have set it as a main staple in my high protein diet. I hit two of these a day, one for breakfast and one for lunch. But keep in mind, I eat 5 times a day. True enough, the fruit can loose some of it's nutrients after cutting, but it drains away in the juices, not magically disappears. So if the blended fruit is set in a suspended solution, nutrient sapping is minimal at best. Although I won't set a protein shake in the frig over night anyway.

[DrLauren]

on 4/8/2008 Its important to note that fruits are most nutritious when they are consumed as quickly after cutting as possible. A lot of the vitamins and minerals in fruit are lost if you don't eat them right away, so it makes no sense to make it then put it in the fridge for the following day.