Basic Protein Shake + Variations

On weekday mornings I am always in a rush because I work out in the morning before work. I’ve been doing the same routine for about a year now, so from the moment my alarm goes off at 5:00AM, I have my morning schedule locked down to the minute. I have to squeeze in my workout, shower, getting dressed, and breakfast all before I rush out the door to hit the road (read: traffic).

Given this mad dash to get out the door in the morning, I try to minimize my time making breakfast to as few minutes as possible.

I’ve already shared with you two of my favorite protein-packed breakfasts: Overnight Oats and Protein Pancakes. Another one of my go-to breakfasts, especially when I am crunched for time, is a protein shake.

It took me awhile before I found a protein powder and shake consistency/texture that I really enjoyed. I try to avoid dairy in my diet, so whey protein powders were never an option. My favorite protein powder is Jay Robb’s Egg White Protein Powder (which I use in my Chia Protein Bars). I love the Vanilla and Chocolate flavors. Both taste delicious (just like a milkshake), and they mix very well so there are no gritty bits or strange aftertastes like you can get with other powders.

I like my shakes thick, so I add lots of ice and half a frozen banana to get this consistency. The shake comes together in under 3 minutes, so it is perfect for a fast weekday breakfast or to enjoy after a workout to refuel.

If you guys have any other non-dairy protein powder recommendations, I would love to hear them! I am always looking for great-tasting protein powders with as short of an ingredient list as possible.

 

Basic Protein Shake

Ingredients

1 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

3-4 Ice Cubes

1/2 Frozen Banana

1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder

Instructions

Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth, about 30 seconds.

 

Variations

Peanut Butter Banana Protein Shake: Add 1 Tablespoon of all-natural peanut butter to the mixture.

Strawberry Banana Protein Shake: Add 4-5 frozen or fresh strawberries to the mixture.

Mocha Protein Shake: Substitute chocolate protein powder for the vanilla. Add 2 teaspoons of instant coffee to the mixture.