Health shakes can provide you with protein, vitamins, and other essential nutrients your body needs – as opposed to fat and empty calories found in a typical milkshake. So if you’re looking to cool down this summer with a delicious treat, power up your milkshake and turn it into a health shake with these five delicious (and easy!) recipes.
5 health shake recipes you need to try
Health shake recipe #1: Greenie health shake
This health shake tastes like a fruity umbrella drink you sip by the pool on vacation, but provides lots of potassium and vitamin A from the pineapple and mango. Spinach makes this a true nutritional recipe by adding vitamin A and iron. Have it for breakfast or after a strength-training workout.
- ½ cup frozen mango cubes
- ½ cup packed baby spinach leavers
- ½ cup frozen pineapple chunks
- 2 tablespoons shredded, unsweetened coconut
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (whey, vegan, soy – your choice)
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut or almond-coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon natural honey
Place all the ingredients in a blender and whir until smooth. Makes one large serving.
Health shake recipe #2: Chocolate peanut-butter milkshake
A milkshake making it onto a list of healthy drinks? When it includes the right ingredients, it sure can! This health shake will satisfy your craving for something scrumptious and creamy while providing you with plenty of protein.
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (whey, vegan, soy – your choice)
- 1 small banana – preferably frozen
- ½ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon organic, natural peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon agave nectar
- 15 dark chocolate chips, preferably 70 percent cacao or greater
Place all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Makes one serving.
Health shake recipe #3: Morning buzz health shake
Healthy drinks that include coffee are perfect for a morning on the run. Coffee sometimes gets bad press, but it can be included in nutritional recipes. It contains antioxidants that may protect you from heart disease and consuming the caffeinated liquid may help reduce the likelihood of developing diabetes.
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- ½ banana – preferably frozen
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (whey, vegan, or soy)
- ¼ cup cold coffee
- ½ cup ice cubes
Blend all the ingredients together until smooth. Makes one serving.
Health shake recipe #4: Recovery power cherry health shake
Tart cherries may reduce muscle soreness after a tough endurance workout. Plus, they taste delicious in a health shake. A study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports in 2010 found that tart cherry juice was a viable way to aid recovery from strenuous exercise – largely due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
- ½ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- ½ cup tart cherry juice
- 1 banana – preferably frozen
- 1 teaspoon flax seeds
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (whey, vegan, or soy)
- ½ cup ice (if your banana isn’t frozen)
Whir up in a blender and enjoy. One serving.
Health shake recipe # 5: Antioxidant powerhouse health shake
Nutritional recipes for health shakes often include vegetables like leafy greens, but how about an avocado? In this recipe, the alligator pear makes the healthy drink creamy and provides important nutrients such as vitamin E and folate. Antioxidants abound from the blueberries, cayenne, and spinach, making this powerhouse health shake a perfect meal replacement or detoxifying drink.
- ½ cup cubed frozen mango
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 ½ cup unsweetened coconut water
- 1 cup baby spinach leaves
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ avocado
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
Blend all the ingredients together and serve. Makes one serving.