The first thing I think of when I hear “protein shake” is an insanely muscular man downing a huge quantity of whey protein powder mixed with milk. This is NOT that kind of protein shake. Generally, I drink protein shakes as my breakfast or morning snack following a workout. Morning workouts are great because they get your body moving and boost your metabolism so that you burn calories all day long. The only problem with that is that morning workouts also make me SUPER hungry. And as everyone knows, when you are super hungry you are more likely to overindulge or reach for unhealthy snacks. Drinking a protein shake soon after my workout keeps me satisfied and away from junk food. I always choose a plant-based protein powder. There are so many to choose from, and they can be derived from a variety of different proteins (brown rice, pea, hemp). I suggest trying a few in different flavors to see which one you like best. Most companies offer single serve packets, so you can try them before you buy a big container. My two favorites are Perfect Fit (part of the Tone It Up nutrition program), and VegaOne. I tend to stick to chocolate and vanilla because they are the most versatile and the easiest to use in other recipes (e.g. protein pancakes, bars, etc.)
Now on to the recipe. I love this shake because it tastes like a dessert, but it’s super healthy. It’s so creamy and chocolatey, you will feel like you are drinking a milkshake. I added a ton of mix-ins to give it great flavor and and added nutritional boost: dates, cacao, banana, and almond milk. Added bonus if you add the walnuts on top! Make sure you check out the nutritional information at the bottom of the page: 17 grams of protein and only 3grams of fat! I like to make this at night when I’m preparing my lunch for work. I keep it in the fridge and when I get home from the gym around 6:30AM, it’s ready for me! Hope you enjoy it!
Active Time: 2 minutes Total Time: 2 minutes
Servings: 1
Ingredients: 1 small frozen banana 1 packet chocolate protein powder (I used Perfect Fit) 1 cup almond milk (I used Silk Original Light) 1 medjool date, pitted
1 tbsp cacao powder (or cocoa powder)
Optional: chopped walnuts, dairy-free chocolate chips, and shredded coconut, for topping.
Directions:
Place all ingredients into a high-powdered blender, such as a Ninja or Vitamix. Blend on medium-high until smooth. Top with chopped walnuts, chocolate chips, and coconut, if desired.
Nutrition Information per serving:
Calories: 316 Fat: 3g Carbs: 59g Protein: 17g Sodium: 193mg Sugar: 36g
*Nutrition information is based on the products I used personally in this recipe. Different products may yield slightly different information.
