As much as we all try, there are mornings when it seems like the world is against us and breakfast is the last thing on our minds. It wasn’t until I discovered that smoothie recipes could not only contain my favorite fruit but also protein ingredients. Having protein in the morning is important to helping you feel full and fending off those cravings for a sweet or salty mid-morning snack.

But knowing where to start when making a smoothie can be tricky, especially when trying to figure out which smoothie flavors you will like best. When I first started to make smoothies, I was deadset on only having strawberries as they are my favorite fruit. But when ordering my smoothie from Wawa and I instead got blueberry pomegranate. I decided to give it a try and loved it! From there I started making my own smoothie recipes, and these are a great way to start!

1. Berry Banana Smoothie

Bananas are a great source of potassium but not always my favorite main flavor in a smoothie. When mixed with another fruit, it can be just what you are looking for during a busy morning. 

Ingredients:

1 medium ripe banana, cut into pieces

2 cups of berries (fresh or frozen) – blueberries, strawberries (quartered if fresh), or other berries

1/2 cup of crushed ice

2 cups of plain yogurt

1/4 cup of honey

Smoothie Making Tip:

• To make the beverage dairy-free, substitute the yogurt with coconut cream, or plant-based yogurt.
• A few slices of bananas add sweetness and help create a creamy texture.
• For a more tropical flavor, use pineapple, guava, mango, or passion fruit juice as your liquid base.
• For a creamier taste, use coconut milk, oat milk, or almond milk instead of orange juice.

2. Strawberry Peach Smoothie

While peaches are not my favorite fruit, mixing them with the sweetness from the strawberries and the citrus from the orange juice gives it a great taste. 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of ice cubes

1/2 cup of frozen strawberries

1/2 cup of frozen peaches

1/4 cup of freshly sliced banana

1/4 cup of plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt

3/4 cup orange juice

Smoothie Making Tip:

• If you’d like a sweeter smoothie, add in a few teaspoons of honey, agave syrup, or pure maple syrup.
• Boost the flavor with a little pure almond extract— a little goes a long way.
• Add a few drops of vanilla extract.
• Boost the protein power by adding a tablespoon of almond butter.

3. Strawberry Almond Oat Smoothie

If you are looking for a smoothie that is both delicious and full of nutrients, look no further than this smoothie recipe!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of uncooked old-fashioned rolled oats

2 cups of frozen strawberries

1 cup of plain yogurt (regular or Greek, any fat percentage)

1 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of your choice)

1/2 medium banana, fresh or frozen, sliced

1/4 tsp of pure almond extract

1-2 tsp honey (optional)

Smoothie Making Tip: 

• Start sweet by adding sweetened nut milk or yogurt.
• Boost the protein power by adding a tablespoon of almond butter.
• Include a small handful of baby spinach for an under-the-radar boost of greens.
• A few extra slices of bananas will add sweetness and help create a creamy texture.

4. Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Who doesn’t love anything that has peanut butter in it, plus it gives the smoothie recipes a terrific creamy texture. It’s also full of protein with no added sugar!

Ingredients:

1 cup of whole milk

1 medium ripe banana, cut into chunks and frozen

2 tbsp of unsweetened peanut butter

A few dashes of cinnamon

2 ice cubes

Smoothie Making Tip: 

• Add a few teaspoons of cocoa powder for a hint of chocolatey flavor.
• Add 3 tablespoons of nonfat dried milk powder for added protein and calcium.
• Use vanilla or strawberry yogurt for a sweeter smoothie. Alternatively, add up to 1 tablespoon of honey for added sweetness.
• Top the smoothie with a few teaspoons of cacao nibs or mini chocolate chips.

5. Strawberry Banana Smoothie

This was one of the first smoothie recipes I tried when I made my first smoothie at home. It’s really easy to make and if the flavor is not how you like it, there are many variations you can incorporate to make it taste great!

Ingredients:

2 cups of frozen strawberries

1 banana, cut into chunks and frozen

1 1/2 cups of milk

1/2 cup of plain yogurt or kefir

1/2 tsp of vanilla extract, optional

Smoothie Making Tips:

• Make this smoothie dairy-free by using dairy-free yogurt and non-dairy milk such as almond or oat milk.
• You can leave out the yogurt altogether.
• Add up to 2 tablespoons of peanut or almond butter. Combined with the strawberries, it tastes like a PB&J smoothie.
• Add a few extra tablespoons of yogurt for a tangy flavor

6. Peach Smoothie

Last but not least we have a straight peach smoothie. While still not my favorite fruit, the almond butter, and banana cut the sweetness to make this smoothie delicious!

Ingredients:

2 cups of frozen sliced peaches

1/2 fresh ripe banana

1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt

2 tbsp of almond butter

1/4 tsp of almond extract 

1 cup of almond milk

Smoothie Making Tips: 

• To make this smoothie vegan and dairy-free, use a non-dairy yogurt or swap the yogurt for more almond milk.
• Feel free to use your favorite nut milk, soy milk, or dairy milk.
• For extra sweetness, use vanilla yogurt or almond milk, or add up to 2 teaspoons of honey.
• Make this a green smoothie by adding up to 1 cup of packed baby spinach.
• Add up to a tablespoon of chia seeds, and up to 2 tablespoons of ground flax or protein powder to give the drink a nutritional boost. You may need to add up to 1/4 cup of additional almond milk.

What do you think of these smoothie recipes? Have you ever tried to make them homemade before? Let us know in the comments below!