I don’t know about you, but my weekends away from work are spend resting and recovering. It’s not uncommon for me to laze around in bed or in our backyard with a good book and realize it’s been hours since my last meal!

Thankfully, now that I’ve been making smoothies as both meal replacements and added fuel for a busy day, I don’t need to worry too much. The good thing about rewarding myself with a banana bliss protein-packed smoothie is that it’s full of beneficial ingredients that are excellent for health and wellness. (1)

Protein Boosts Your Metabolism and Promotes Satiety

Protein is the hero of this smoothie recipe, and it has mostly to do with the type of protein powder you use. A good rule of thumb is, the more hydrolyzed the whey, the faster it is absorbed in the body. Hydrowhey or whey protein isolates are my personal favorite because they have a high bioavailable score, which is good for my purposes. Less filtered whey such as casein and whey concentrate tend to contain more carbs and fats, but they are also thicker in consistency and can result in a milkshake-like consistency. So whatever whey protein you decide to use, keep those in mind.

The other essential ingredient in this smoothie is the almond butter. Almond butter provides your body with antioxidants, vitamin E, magnesium, copper, and monounsaturated fats which help lower bad cholesterol. A serving of almond butter also promotes cardiovascular health by increasing blood flow and oxygen.

Rich, Chocolate Flavor with High Quality Cacao Powder

Cacao powder is the next ingredient in this delicious smoothie recipe. Raw or unsweetened cacao powder is made by cold-pressing unroasted cocoa beans. It’s packed with protein and fat and is one of the best sources of antioxidants. It can also help you lose weight and improve your mood by boosting serotonin levels in the brain. Unlike processed chocolate, cacao powder still contains many of its beneficial nutrients, which is what we’re after.

To make this smoothie, you need to start by freezing your sliced bananas. I keep a freezer friendly container ready to go at all times. I dip into it from time to time to satiate my sweet tooth, so don’t feel bad if you find yourself doing the same. It’s a yummy, healthy snack on its own! Anyway, then you’ll then want to add the milk, whey protein, cacao powder, almond butter and a dash of cinnamon into the blender with some ice. Cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels and reduce heart disease, not to mention it’s a potent anti-inflammatory. I love cinnamon in smoothies because it really ties everything together, especially if there are bananas or anything nut-based in the recipe.

Now, all that’s left to do is enjoy your smoothie powerhouse. This is one of the more energy-dense smoothies due to the protein, carbs and fat content, and it’s also high in fiber so you won’t get hungry right away. I find that this is one of my favorite meal replacements when it comes to smoothies. Try it out and let me know what you think!