5 of my favorite, go-to healthy breakfast smoothies to add to your morning meal rotation! These recipes are packed with protein, essential vitamins, and minerals, plus they will keep you full until lunch while helping support your weight loss and health goals!
Many say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It provides us with essential nutrients to help power our bodies and give us a boost of energy for the morning ahead. However, many people find it difficult to eat healthy in between work commitments and busy lifestyles. That’s why I’ve compiled this list of my five go-to breakfast smoothies. These smoothie recipes are healthy and delicious and provide an easy and nutritious breakfast option on the go!
These are all high-protein smoothie recipes with some healthy fats that will fuel and nourish your body while keeping you satiated and satisfied until your next meal. I keep all of these smoothie recipes on rotation in my own life. I find having some variety makes healthy eating more fun and more delicious – and when you can make healthy eating feel fun and delicious, it also becomes a lot more sustainable!
Is it Healthy to Have a Smoothie for Breakfast?
Yes! Smoothies are a great breakfast option for those who want to eat something healthy and filling but don’t have the time. Smoothies also give you energy from protein, fiber, and other nutrients that keep you going without weighing you down.
As long as you are using real, whole foods when making your smoothies, they will be considered healthy. You’ll want to stick to smoothies that are low in sugar and high in fiber, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. If you can avoid adding sweeteners, even natural ones like honey and fruit juice, you should. Also, be aware of hidden sweeteners in yogurt and protein powder. Sugar can make you feel hungry quicker due to a drop in insulin.
This article focuses on five different smoothie recipes with a variety of flavors and ingredients. Including a traditional green breakfast smoothie with spinach, banana with PB fit powder, and even a high protein mixed berry hemp smoothie!
Is it bad to drink a smoothie every morning?
Nope! You can enjoy a smoothie every morning without any guilt or worry about any negative impacts on your health. As I mentioned above, you just want to make sure that you’re using real, whole foods when making smoothies without added sugars.
The key to a healthy and successful breakfast smoothie habit is to make sure you are including plenty of nutrient-rich ingredients in each recipe!
Do Smoothies Really Provide Energy In the Morning?
Yes, a healthy, well-balanced smoothie can provide a real boost of energy in the a.m.! However, if you include sugary ingredients or too much fruit juice in your recipe, then that could have the opposite effect and leave you feeling tired and sluggish.
It all boils down to what ingredients you include in your smoothie. If you make a healthy, balanced smoothie with protein, fiber, and healthy fats, then it will definitely provide you with energy to start your day.
WATCH MY 5 HEALTHY SMOOTHIE RECIPES IN THIS VIDEO
Should You Use Protein Powder In Your Morning Smoothies
A lot of people ask me if I recommend adding protein powder to my breakfast smoothies, and here are my thoughts – real whole foods are always my first choice; that’s always your best option, BUT if you are looking for a convenient way to get more protein into your diet I believe that protein powders can be a great supplement.
You’ll see, I am using vanilla whey protein in each of these morning smoothie recipes. I love whey protein, it’s super-rich and creamy, and I’ve never met a plant-based protein that I enjoy as much (although I am open to your suggestions!). If you tolerate dairy, a good high-quality whey protein is my first choice – BUT you can of course sub in a plant-based protein as well (I recommend this one or this one).
5 Healthy Morning Breakfast Smoothies for a Boost of Energy
1. Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie
The first thing into the blender is two cups of frozen berries; I always recommend using frozen fruit when making smoothie or protein shakes because this will keep your shakes nice and thick and creamy without watering them down, 2 cups of almond milk or any milk you prefer, 2 servings of protein powder – I am using a vanilla whey protein – and then for the chocolate flavor, I’ll add in 2 tablespoons of cacao powder.
Blend it all up until it’s thick and creamy, and then I love to top this smoothie with raw cacao nibs – this adds a great crunch and texture – plus an extra boost of antioxidants!
This smoothie makes two servings and packs in 24 grams of protein, 11 grams of fiber with just 7 grams of sugar and is perfect for starting your day off with a boost of natural energy!
2. Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
I love pumpkin pie smoothies and sometimes have to remind myself that I don’t have to wait until October to enjoy it – and neither do you!
The first ingredient in the blender is 2 frozen bananas. If you don’t like bananas, you could swap in some frozen mango. Both will help to create a nice sweet, cream base – then I have 1 cup of pumpkin puree – which is rich in vitamin A, C, E and is also a great source of beta carotene, 2 tablespoons of almond butter for some healthy fat, two serving so vanilla protein powder, 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and then 1 cup of almond milk.
Blend it up, and you have a pumpkin pie smoothie that pretty much tastes like dessert for breakfast -but has 26 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber!
It is a bit higher in sugar than the others – so I really like to use this one as a post-workout meal, but it is a great starter smoothie recipe for mornings if you’re used to sweeter breakfast foods.
If you want to make a single serving, be sure to cut this recipe in half.
3. Hemp Berry Smoothie
This smoothie gets a good dose of protein from the hemp seeds, so we’ll only need half the amount of protein powder that I use in the other smoothie recipes.
So first into the blender goes 2 cups of frozen mixed berries. You can, of course, use all one type of berry as well; it all works, so do what you love! Then I have 1/4 cup of hemp seeds which are rich in protein and essential fatty acids, 1 serving of vanilla protein powder, and then 2 cups of unsweetened almond milk or any type of milk you prefer.
This protein-packed breakfast smoothie makes two servings and has 21 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, and 16 grams of healthy fats per serving!
Remember, healthy fats are great for your body and can really help you to stay satisfied after a meal. Plus, they provide an amazing boost of energy that helps keep you focused throughout the day.
If you grew up in the ’80s like I did, where we were told that fat is the enemy – remind yourself that is not the case. A good quality source of healthy fat is essential to a healthy diet that feels sustainable.
4. Peanut butter banana Smoothie
4. Peanut butter banana Smoothie
– such a classic and so easy to make! And you only need 4 ingredients.
So first into the blender; are 2 frozen bananas – which I recommend you always have in your freezer – not only are they great for smoothies, but they are also great when you are craving some nice cream, then I add 2 tablespoons organic peanut butter powder – which is essentially dehydrated peanuts, so you get lots of peanut butter flavor with quite a bit less fat and calories – THERE is nothing wrong with the fat and calories from peanut butter. You can easily and happily sub in two tablespoons of peanut butter if you prefer.
I just wanted to give you some fun options to play with! Then you could add one serving of chocolate protein powder if you have it, but since I’m making this all with vanilla as the base, I’ll add one serving of vanilla protein along with 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder.
Finish with 1 cup of milk and blend it all together. Rich, creamy, and just like a chocolate peanut butter cup but in smoothie form! It’s the perfect healthy smoothie for a full boost of morning energy.
5. Green Breakfast Smoothie
You can’t go wrong with a good old-fashioned green breakfast smoothie. Spinach is one of my favorite ingredients to add to any smoothie because it’s low calorie and high in fiber, as well as vitamins A, C, and K.
You’ll want to add one of those frozen bananas we talked about having on hand earlier to your blender, followed by a scoop of protein powder, almond butter, and hemp hearts for some healthy fats.
Top it off with a big, heaping handful of energy-boosting baby spinach greens and some unsweetened almond milk or your milk of choice.
This morning breakfast smoothie is packed with 30g of protein, 21g of healthy fats, antioxidants and makes for a great mid-day snack when you need an energy boost but don’t want something too heavy.
So there you have it! Five breakfast smoothie recipes for you to try out and find your favorite! I think it’s fun to switch them up every once in a while and change up the flavor profile or ingredients.
Remember, as long as you have a good source of protein, healthy fats, and fiber in your smoothies, they will always make for a satisfying and energizing breakfast!
Tips For Making the BEST Healthy Breakfast Smoothies
- You can add a handful of baby spinach or some frozen zucchini or cauliflower to all of the smoothies
- I’ve shared – if you want to up the veggie content, it’s such an easy way to get in some extra nutrients.
- If you want to have flavor variety but don’t want to invest in different flavored protein powder, always buy vanilla b/c you can turn vanilla in to any flavor that you want! All 5 smoothie recipes I shared today have their own delicious and diverse flavor using vanilla protein as the base!
- I use a high-speed blender when making my smoothies. Although any type of blender would work, and each smoothie makes 2 servings.
Healthy Morning Breakfast Smoothies FAQs
Is a smoothie an adequate morning meal replacement?
Yes! Smoothies are oftentimes better than traditional breakfast meals because they are nutrient-dense, satisfying, and energizing. They provide you with all of the nutrients you need to start your day off right – including protein, healthy fats, fiber, and vitamins and minerals!
Can I add greens to my smoothie?
Yes – adding greens is a great way to up your smoothie’s nutrient content and add some extra fiber. You can use any type of greens that you like, such as spinach, kale, or chard.
Can I make my smoothie ahead of time?
Yes! If you have a busy morning, you can easily make your smoothie ahead of time by meal prepping your smoothie. To do this, you will want to add all of your ingredients (minus your liquid) to a reusable freezer bag. Store in your freezer until you are ready to make it in the morning.
What’s the best blender for making smoothies?
Any type of blender will work, but high-speed blenders that include a tamper are usually better at ensuring that everything is blended smoothly and thoroughly without any chunks or pieces left behind. I recommend using a Vitamix or Blendtec blender.
Do I have to add protein powder to my smoothie?
No – you don’t have to add protein powder if you don’t want to. However, adding a scoop of protein powder is a great way to ensure that your smoothie is satisfying and provides you with all the nutrients and added energy you need for breakfast. You can use any type of protein powder that you like, such as whey, casein, plant-based, or collagen.
What are the healthiest things to put in a smoothie?
While fruit is healthy for you, it does contain a large amount of natural sugar. For this reason, I recommend adding a good source of protein, healthy fats, and fiber to your smoothies in order to make them more satisfying and nutrient-dense. This will help you to stay fuller longer and prevent any blood sugar spikes. Some of my favorite additions include chia seeds, hemp hearts, flaxseeds, avocado, nut butter, kale/greens.
What are some other good smoothie recipes?
I shared my top five favorite healthy breakfast smoothies in this post. But, I also have several other smoothie recipes that you can browse through to find your next favorite recipe!
- Green Smoothies 3-Ways (video)
- Chocolate Protein Shake
- Chocolate Almond Butter Smoothie
- Matcha Berry Protein Smoothie
- Cranberry Kale Smoothie
- Kale Banana Smoothie
- Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie
- Strawberry Banana Smoothie
