I have a real problem with hanger. Seriously, you guys, it’s baaaaaad. I spend my day searching out food then coffee then food, all in order to avoid the inevitable hanger beast.
You’d think that as a food blogger I’d be all about cooking meals for myself at home, but the truth is that I really only like to cook dinner.
I think it’s because I always eat breakfast and lunch by myself, so it seems like such a waste to spend the time and energy to make a meal just for little old me. Plus, dishes. Urghhhh.
In an effort to prolong time between meals, I’ve been making lots and lots of smoothies because 1) they are delicious; 2) they are sooo easy; and, 3) blender clean-up is a breeze.
Add some extra protein to that smoothie, and I’m happy as a clam for hours on end.
Because sharing is caring, I thought I’d make a fun list (with links to lots of recipes!) of ways you can bulk up your smoothies and stave of the hanger beast.
Here are 7 Delicious Ways to Add Protein to Your Smoothie!
1. Add Soft or Silken Tofu
Uhhh what? I know, I know… sounds weird, right? I’m not the world’s biggest fan of tofu, but adding silken tofu to a smoothie provides an ultra luxurious texture and bonus points for protein. I especially love this faux Vanilla milkshake recipe!
2. Add Silk® Soymilk
This one is kind of a given, right? You guys know how much I love Silk products, because I use them in recipes all the time.
I’m especially fond of their Light Vanilla Soymilk, which makes its way into my lattes, desserts, and, of course, smoothies.
This gorgeous recipe from Chef Savvy would be positively luscious with some Light Vanilla Soymilk! Love me some plant-powered protein!
3. Add Egg Whites
I’ve preached this one before, but if you still haven’t tried it then NOW is the time! Use pasteurized egg whites (you can find them in a carton) if you have safety concerns.
On days when I am struggling to get my act together, I stick with my easy-peasy 4-ingredient smoothie which I talked about in this post.
4. Add Dairy-Free Yogurt Alternative
Another one of my Silk favorites, dairy-free yogurt alternative is another awesome source of plant-powered protein and adds a wonderful tangy-creaminess to smoothies of all kinds.
Check out my Creamy Vegan Breakfast Smoothie for more inspiration:
5. Add Cottage Cheese
Nope, I’m not kidding. Cottage cheese is packed with protein, and develops a great texture when blended with fruit and other goodies. I found this nifty recipe on Or So She Says and can’t get enough of it lately!
6. Add Nuts (and nut products!)
If you have a high-powered blender you can toss some almonds, peanuts, or cashews right into the blender to make your own nut butter before adding in your smoothie ingredients. You can also buy pre-made nut butters to keep on hand for smoothie emergencies.
This Almond Joy Smoothie recipe utilizes almond butter as a source of creamy protein:
I’m also a little obsessed with this PB&J Smoothie idea from Fit Foodie Finds:
Of course, keeping a carton of Silk Vanilla Almondmilk in the fridge might be the easiest way to pour protein straight into your smoothies. I shared my favorite Pumpkin Spice Smoothie recipe in this post.
7. Add Greek Yogurt
Last, but not least, we have Greek-style strained yogurt. Everyone seems to love Greek yogurt for its thick, creamy texture and high protein content, both of which make it a natural ally to the smoothie.
Feast your eyes on this gorgeous 3-Ingredient Mango Smoothie recipe from Brunch Time Baker:
To die for, am I right?
Alright, that wraps up my list of delicious ways to add protein to your smoothies!
Special thanks to the wonderful people over at Silk who are gracious enough to sponsor The Wanderlust Kitchen!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Silk. The opinions and text are all mine.