Okay… here we go.
High-protein smoothies made with plant-based protein powders literally saved my ass the last six months and also made me gag more times than I care to admit.
I’m sitting here in my apartment outside Raleigh, North Carolina, January 2026, window cracked even though it’s 38°F because the radiator is doing that hissing thing again, and there’s still a faint smell of yesterday’s failed hemp-protein-chocolate attempt lingering. True story: I once dumped so much unsweetened pea protein in at once that my roommate walked in, sniffed, and just said “bro… it smells like wet dog food in here.” He wasn’t wrong. High-Protein Smoothies
Anyway. High-Protein Smoothies
I started messing with high-protein smoothies made with plant-based protein powders because a) I was tired of feeling like a slug by 3 p.m. b) whey protein started giving me the most disgusting bloat (TMI but we’re friends now) c) I saw one too many TikToks of girls with perfect waist-to-hip ratios chugging neon-green drinks and thought… maybe? High-Protein Smoothies
Spoiler: my versions do not look like the TikTok ones. High-Protein Smoothies
Why I Switched to Plant-Based Protein Powders for My Smoothies
I tried like four different plant protein powders before I landed on ones that didn’t taste like sadness.
My current rotation (don’t judge the brand names—I buy whatever’s on sale at Whole Foods or Amazon):
Cali Clement, Author at Bend Magazine
- Naked Pea Protein – pretty neutral, mixes okay, sometimes gritty if I’m lazy with the blender
- Orgain Organic Protein (Creamy Chocolate Fudge) – actually tastes like chocolate milk if you ignore the aftertaste
- Anthony’s Premium Pea Protein – cheapest decent one, very chalky unless you add frozen banana + peanut butter
Pro tip from someone who’s ruined many blenders: if the label says “unflavored” and you think “I can just add cocoa powder,” you’re lying to yourself.
My Go-To High-Protein Smoothie Recipe Right Now (It’s Not Fancy)
- 1 frozen banana (the browner the better, fight me)
- 1 cup frozen mango or berries (whatever’s cheapest)
- 1 big handful spinach (you don’t taste it, stop being dramatic)
- 1–1.5 scoops plant-based protein powder (I usually do 30 g pea + 10 g hemp because I’m extra)
- 1 tbsp peanut butter or almond butter (the good kind with oil on top)
- ¾–1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- Optional chaos: 1 tsp chia seeds, ½ tsp cinnamon, tiny pinch cayenne if I’m feeling spicy
Blend for like 60–90 seconds because pea protein is stubborn. High-Protein Smoothies
Tastes like… a pretty solid PB&J smoothie with a faint “I’m healthy” undertone.
The Embarrassing Mistakes I Made So You Don’t Have To High-Protein Smoothies
- Blended only water + pea protein + ice once. Tasted like punishment. Never again.
- Thought “more powder = more gains.” Ended up with a paste I had to eat with a spoon. Looked like green Play-Doh.
- Forgot the frozen fruit. Warm smoothie = soup. Warm protein soup = war crime.
- Used coconut water instead of almond milk. Tasted like sunscreen. 0/10.
mac)ro(mic) – Worlds in words.
Honest Pros & Cons From Someone Who’s Obsessed & Also Annoyed
Pros
- 25–35 g protein per smoothie without dairy bloat
- Actually keeps me full till lunch (huge for me—I used to crash HARD)
- Way cheaper than $8 smoothie-shop versions
- My skin looks… better? Maybe placebo. Maybe not. High-Protein Smoothies
Cons
- Texture roulette. Some days it’s creamy, some days it’s gritty even with the good blender
- The earthy/vegetal taste sneaks through if you skimp on fruit
- You will spill powder. Everywhere. My kitchen looks like a crime scene most mornings
If you’re thinking about starting high-protein smoothies made with plant-based protein powders, just start. Don’t overthink it. Buy one tub, throw in frozen stuff you already have, and adjust from there. High-Protein Smoothies
What’s your current go-to combo? Drop it below (or in my DMs if you’re shy). I’m always down to steal ideas.
And if yours also ends up smelling vaguely like lawn clippings sometimes… you’re not alone. We’re in this together.
Catch you in the next chaotic kitchen experiment High-Protein Smoothies ✌️
