We all make smoothies but they can end up as sugar and carb bombs as we add just one more superfood. This recipe dials back the ingredients, for an easy-to-digest version with no added sugars and under 300 calories, making it a great meal or snack, depending on how you roll. Use up some of that quart of Greek yogurt hanging out in the back of your fridge!
There are so many ingredients and superfoods that blend well in a smoothie, and our goals with any given smoothie can vary for each of us. But after adding so many ingredients to the blender, a smoothie often ends up as a high-calorie, high-sugar vehicle for what we were hoping would be an easy way to get a protein-packed meal with other key nutrients, and easily fuel us for the day. With that in mind…
This 5 ingredient protein-packed smoothie is my go-to concoction for these reasons:
- Protein: clocks in at 36g (do your own research, but this is high for a meal, which can be a good thing)
- Phytonutrients (also known as antioxidants) that stave off disease
- Easy on the gut (at approximately 3g of fiber)
- 5 ingredients (easy to remember and also makes it easier on the gut)
- 0g added sugars (tastes sweet enough from fruit only)
- Almost 0% fat, leaving your healthy fats for a meal where you can enjoy the taste of them
- Tastes great! all the ingredients in the world are no good if our concoction doesn’t taste good!
What I also love about this smoothie is the clean, simple taste, based on the high concentration of blueberries, the Greek yogurt, and the tasteless collagen powder.
Note: you do get a dose of carbs from the 3 fruits (a good amount for one meal), but the fruit carbs are generally considered “good for you” carbs, especially the phytonutrient-rich ones I use here.
Plus, get emails weekly(ish) and when new recipes are published!
5 Ingredient Protein-Packed Smoothie
Kitchen Tools
- 1 blender
Ingredients
- 6 oz 0% milkfat Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp unflavored collagen peptides (or your protein powder of choice for vegetarian preparation)
- 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/2 cup frozen pomegranate kernals (a.k.a. arils)
- 4 chunks frozen pineapple
- 1/4 cup water
Optional topping ingredients
- 1 tbsp homemade granola (Low Sugar Olive Oil Granola)
- 1 tbsp freeze-dried raspberries (my favorite!)
- 1 tbsp goji berries (dried)
- 1 tbsp fresh berries
Method:
- Load the blender, starting with the 6 oz 0% milkfat Greek yogurt, followed by the 1/2 cup frozen blueberries, 1/2 cup frozen pomegranate kernals, 4 chunks frozen pineapple, then the 2 tbsp unflavored collagen peptides, and ending with the 1/4 cup water. If you like your smoothies spoonable, start without the water, and use the blender wand to get it blended. If you like them thick but drinkable, follow the recipe and if you like them thinner, try 1/3 c. water or more!
- Toppings for fun (if you go the spoonable or thick smoothie route): 1 tbsp homemade granola, 1 tbsp fresh berries, 1 tbsp goji berries, 1 tbsp freeze-dried raspberries – see notes
