I used to make fruit smoothies by tossing random things in a blender and hoping it tasted good 😅 then I started making a banana berry protein smoothie with the same ingredients every day and finally got the perfect ratio down!
Everything's weighed out in the recipe below so all you need to do is put your blender on a food scale, toss in the 7 ingredients, and blend! It takes about 5 minutes and makes 2 smoothies with over 20 grams of protein each.
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Okay, I know this is a baking blog but hear me out! I've been making this smoothie almost every single day this entire year and I love it so much! It's a refreshing, fruity recipe filled with protein and nutrients!
I almost didn't share this recipe on here, but I polled my Instagram audience to see if they'd want it and it turns out they were very interested! So, I measured everything out and am sharing this recipe and all my tips in this post!
Since I use Lifeway's kefir in these smoothies and I've been creating recipes (like peach ice cream and lemon cream cheese muffins) with them for years, I asked if they'd like to sponsor this one. They gladly accepted! You can find even more kefir smoothie recipes on their website.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's super easy to make! All you need is a blender and 5 minutes!
- It doesn't get old! I've been having it for lunch every day for months and I still look forward to it 😊
- It can save time and reduce decision fatigue! Have it for a meal every day and you'll never have to spend time figuring out what to eat.
- It's a delicious way to get in extra protein and other healthy nutrients!
Recipe Ingredients & Substitutions
You'll need these 7 ingredients to make fruity protein smoothies for 2:
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Kefir
Kefir adds protein, probiotics, other nutrients, and it's almost completely lactose-free! I've tried a variety of flavors of Lifeway's low fat kefir in this smoothie and have narrowed it down to my favorite 3! I rotate using their strawberry, blueberry, or mixed berry kefirs. They're all delicious on their own and tweak the flavor of this smoothie in different ways.
Substitution options: Feel free to use plain or any other kefir flavor you prefer! You can even use yogurt if you can't find kefir.
Pomegranate Juice
There are many health benefits of pomegranate juice as it has antioxidants and potassium! Just make sure you're using 100% pomegranate juice - no added sweeteners or anything like that. I stock up on the large bottles of POM at Costco.
Hemp Hearts
Hemp hearts are a great way to add extra protein and nutrients! I don't really notice the flavor or texture of them. I usually buy a big bag from Costco, but you can also buy shelled hemp seeds online. I've even made apple streusel muffins with them before!
Protein Powder
I've tried a few different protein powders and have found that Orgain's tastes the best and is easiest on my stomach. I like their regular vanilla protein powder the most! Their superfoods version made the smoothie taste too much like cinnamon in my opinion.
For an extra protein boost, I like to use Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder! See the step-by-step instructions below for an important tip on mixing it in.
Fruit
I mix in 1 slightly overripe banana and ¾ cup of strawberries and blueberries each. Feel free to use fresh or frozen fruit. I prefer using frozen berries to keep the smoothie cold, especially since I don't add ice cubes, so I buy bulk bags of frozen strawberries and blueberries. I've tried frozen mixed berries but I didn't like the raspberry seeds in the smoothie.
Variations
- Not a banana fan? You can leave it out and add a few more berries in its place. The texture may be a little different, but it'll still taste good!
- Feel free to add more or less protein powder. If so, you may also want to adjust the amount of pomegranate juice.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
Blender
When I started making these smoothies, I was using the Ninja blender that we got to replace my old one after it broke into a giant mess. Recently, though, the Ninja started making weird noises and breaking. After about 3 years, it was time for another new blender.
This time I turned to my Instagram audience to see what they recommended. Vitamix won by a landslide and many reviews said it's lasted 10+ years! Since Chris makes Nutty Pudding every week and I make these smoothies every day, we decided it'd be worth the investment, and it was! This smoothie is sooo much smoother which makes it even better!!
That said, if you have a high-speed blender, I definitely recommend using it for this recipe. If not, that's totally fine - it'll still be really good!
How to Make Protein Fruit Smoothies
Quick Recipe Video
Step by Step Instructions
Toss it in!
I put my blender on my food scale, tare it, and then add the ingredients by weight (grams) in order of liquid to solid: kefir, juice, hemp hearts, protein powder, banana, frozen berries.
Blend it up!
Gradually increase the blender to the highest speed, ensuring all ingredients get swirled around and blended together until smooth.
Want an extra protein boost?
I've been adding 4 scoops (40 grams) of collagen peptides powder for an additional 36 grams of protein (18g per smoothie). Be careful, though! If you blend it in with the rest of the ingredients, it gets frothy and increases the volume. The trick is to finish blending the rest of the ingredients, and then mix in the collagen powder at low speed.
Common Questions
This will vary depending on the ingredients you use, but mine have about 24 grams of protein per smoothie. If you make it with the collagen powder as well, you'll get about an extra 18 grams of protein in each smoothie!
This recipe makes 2 banana berry smoothies with protein.
This smoothie is best served immediately. However, you can toss it in the fridge for a few hours if you want to save it for later in the day.
📖 Recipe
Banana Berry Protein Smoothie Recipe
Equipment
- Food scale I recommend weighing all ingredients into the blender by grams
- Blender high-speed recommended
Ingredients
- ½ cup (120 g) Lifeway Lowfat Kefir I like strawberry, blueberry, and mixed berry, but you can use any kind!
- 1 cup (236 g) 100% pomegranate juice
- 2 tablespoons (30 g) hemp hearts
- 3 scoops (69 g) vanilla protein powder Orgain is my favorite!
- 1 medium (100 g) banana
- ¾ cup (160 g) frozen strawberries fresh works too
- ¾ cup (105 g) frozen blueberries fresh works too
- 4 scoops (40 g) collagen peptides powder optional for extra protein
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into the blender. If you're making it with the collagen powder, do not add it just yet.I add them in order of liquid to solid: kefir, pomegranate juice, hemp hearts, protein powder, banana, strawberries, and blueberries.
- Blend on high speed until very smooth.
- Optional collagen powder: mix this into the smoothie on low speed until combined.
- Pour into 2 cups and enjoy!
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Courtney Wessell says
I have made this recipe many times and I still look forward to it! I love it!
Kayla Burton says
YAY I'm so happy you're enjoying it as much as we do!! 😄 thanks, Courtney!
Chris says
This smoothie tastes incredible and even better: it gives me a ton of energy throughout the day!