Chocolate and vanilla protein shakes are great, sure, but sometimes you want a flavor that falls outside the box. Check out these sweet takes on classic shake favorites to surprise your taste buds and fuel your hungry muscles every day!
1. Peach Cinnamon Protein Shake
Pour the flavors of fall into a jar with this delicious combination of cinnamon and peach. With a profile that's similar to that of a dessert-style crisp, it's no wonder that this sweet duo ranks among the favorite shakes of Myprotein athlete Chris Lavado. "This recipe is a welcome break from the classic chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors. Plus, the combination of protein-rich yogurt and micronutrient-rich spinach, coupled with the fast-acting carbs from fruit and cereal, provides that great pre-gym morning energy."
Banana Nut Shake
In a rush and looking for something quick to fuel your day? This morning shake might be just what the doctor ordered. "It's a great all-around shake that includes a good balance of proteins and fats," says fitness model Kirk Miller.
Combining the almond butter with the fast-release carbs in the bananas also makes this a perfect post-workout shake. Consume within 20-30 minutes of your workout.
3. Banana Cookies and Cream Protein Shake
Another favorite of Miller's, this shake packs a wallop of energy with a hearty dose of fruit, adds texture with oats, and packs a nutrient punch with spinach, yogurt, and protein powder. It makes for a nutrition-rich breakfast and also works as a great way to squeeze in another meal when you don't have the desire to cook. Just mix, blend, and sip.
Ingredients
- 2% milk 1/2 cup
- Myprotein Impact Whey, Cookies and Cream or Salted Caramel 2 scoops
- Ripe banana 1 cup
- Small container Banana Cream Greek yogurt (or plain) 1
- Spinach/spring mix 1 cup
- Quick oats or regular oats, dry 1/3 cup
- Plain creatine monohydrate 5 g (if desired)
- Crushed ice 3/4 cup (or 4 ice cubes)
Directions
- Blend all ingredients together and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
- Serving size: 1 shake
- Recipe yields: 1 serving
- Calories 742
- Fat 15 g
- Carbs 89 g
- Protein 66 g
4. Fruit Funk Smoothie
Bypass the tap and add some flair to your shake with coconut water. This favorite of fitness athlete Lewis Harrison is not only more flavourful than an H2O-based shake, but is also richer in potassium—an electrolyte that helps to maintain fluid balance in the body and is key to the rehydration process. Coconut water contains 470 milligrams of potassium per 8 ounces, or more than an average-sized banana. This makes it the perfect finish to that hardcore sweat session.
5. Strawberry Protein Shake
Myprotein Netherlands ambassador Lieke Hemelaer drinks this shake right after a training session or as a midday snack. To elevate the flavor of the low-fat, low-carb isolate, she adds her secret ingredient: real berries. "The real strawberries and almond milk give added sweetness and keep me full of energy," she says. "It's the perfect summer shake."
6. Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie
When it comes to classic combos, nothing tops the list quite like a PB&J—just ask Myprotein athlete Owen Harrison. Take that childhood favorite to the next level and ditch the Wonder Bread with this drinkable version. The combination of healthy fats and complex carbs in the form of oats will leave you feeling satisfied and satiated for the day ahead. The best part? No crust!
7. Lean Green Smoothie
"When I have an early-morning training session and am pushed for time, my lean green shake is perfect and so quick to whip up," says IFBB bikini pro Nina Ross. The combination of powerful antioxidants and minerals in combination with the protein isolate go down smooth, and according to Ross, are almost dessert-like in flavor.
"I love the taste," she says. "It reminds me of a green tea Frappuccino, only much healthier!"
Ingredients
- Myprotein Impact Whey Isolate, Vanilla 1 scoop
- Barley grass powder 1 tsp
- Wheatgrass powder 1 tsp
- Flaxseed powder 1 tsp
- Sugar-free vanilla flavoring 1/2 tsp
Directions
- Blend all of the ingredients with ice and water. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
- Serving size: 1 smoothie
- Recipe yields: 1 serving
- Calories 162
- Fat 3 g
- Carbs 7 g
- Protein 25 g
8. Chocolate Lovers Smoothie
Resist the temptation of falling face first into a chocolate cake, and indulge in the decadence of this chocolate-banana-peanut butter concoction instead. "I love that the macros are perfectly balanced for my post-training meal, and that they satisfy my sweet tooth," Ross says. Replenish your muscles after training and sip on this shake. Feel free to change it up as you see fit, swapping the peanut butter for almond butter at your leisure.
Ingredients
- Myprotein Impact Whey, Chocolate 1 scoop
- Banana 1/2
- Peanut butter 1 tbsp
- Chocolate flavoring 1 tsp
Directions
- Blend all of the ingredients with ice and water. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
- Serving size: 1 smoothie
- Recipe yields: 1 serving
- Calories 273
- Fat 10 g
- Carbs 21 g
- Protein 24 g
9. Banoffee Breakfast Bang
Ditch the morning Starbucks run and the lure of a Frappuccino, and indulge in this caffeinated protein drink instead. It's a favorite of bodybuilder and all-around king of aesthetics Simeon Panda. The combination of complex and quick-digesting carbs, as well as the caffeine jolt, make it a perfect pre-workout meal.
10. Watermelon Cooler
This simple, refreshing shake is a favorite of nutritionist and trainer Abby Pell. "It's a perfect hit of pure protein and simple, natural sugar," she says. "It's ideal for quenching your thirst after a hot summer workout."
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11. Chocolate Banana Smoothie
"I usually like to drink this in the morning within 30-60 minutes of working out," Myprotein athlete Charissa Littlejohn says of her chocolate-banana drink. "The protein is great for recovery, the oats digest slowly so you receive a steady release of sugar into the bloodstream, and the banana is a fast-acting carb that replenishes glycogen and helps your body recover faster." Add a dollop of nut butter for that extra creaminess and a serving of healthy fats!
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12. Chocolate Almond Delight
Have a late-night sweet tooth? You're not alone. Instead of reaching for something that will sabotage a day of clean eating, mix up this sweet shake. The cocoa powder will satisfy your craving for sweets, and the protein will promote growth and recovery. Looking to take things to the next level? "Top with sugar-free nondairy topping and cinnamon to make it taste more like a milkshake!" suggests Littlejohn.
Ingredients
- Myprotein Impact Whey (or casein protein) 1 scoop
- Unsweetened almond milk 1 cup
- Ice 1 cup
- Spinach 1 cup
- Cocoa powder 1 tsp
- Stevia (optional) 1 packet
Directions
- Mix all ingredients together in a blender. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
- Serving size: 1 smoothie
- Recipe yields: 1 serving
- Calories 141
- Fat 5 g
- Carbs 3 g
- Protein 22 g