Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
A few legendary combos: peanut butter and jelly, chips and salsa, milk and cookies, and last but definitely not least, peanut butter and bananas. I especially love the last two blended up in smoothie form, so today I’m sharing the recipe for my favorite Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie!
I’ve always loved smoothies and recommend them to clients often because they can be a super easy way to pack fruits, veggies and other nutrients in your diet. I have to admit though; the PB + banana combo has always been my go-to. Not the smoothies with berries and greens and all that fancy stuff. (Although I do enjoy those, too.)
Does that make me a bad dietitian? NO. Because both bananas and peanut butter have lots of nutrients to offer, too!
how healthy is banana and peanut butter?
As a dietitian I constantly hear people say that they avoid bananas because they are “full of sugar”. Well, guess what?
Bananas are a good source of potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, fiber and other beneficial nutrients. Bananas contain prebiotic fiber, which is great for gut health. Prebiotics feed the good bacteria (probiotics) in our gut to keep our microbiome healthy and thriving!
In addition, bananas are a good source of carbohydrates, which are especially important to consume after a high-intensity workout to restore the glycogen stores that were lost.
What about peanut butter? Peanut butter is a staple in my diet for many reasons. First and foremost, it’s delicious. It’s also a very affordable food, making it accessible to a wide variety of people.
In addition, peanut butter is full of heart-healthy fats and plant-based protein, both of which help to keep me full and satisfied long after I eat it! It also helps balance out blood sugar levels when consumed with a carbohydrate food, such as bananas.
When choosing any type of nut butter, check the ingredients list to make sure it doesn’t contain “partially hydrogenated oils” as this is another word for trans fats, which are bad for our health. Ideally, we want to choose nut butters that only contain nuts, and maybe a little bit of salt; any added sugars and oils are not necessary!
can i substitute almond butter in this recipe?
Absolutely! Any type of nut butter will work in this recipe.
You can use creamy or crunchy peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, or the delicious mixed nut butter from Trader Joe’s for all I care! (That stuff is bomb, by the way, if you’ve never had it.)
They will all taste equally delicious in this smoothie. 🙂
which protein powder is best?
You can use whichever type of protein powder you prefer in this recipe, including whey protein, plant-based protein, or even collagen peptides.
I typically prefer a whey protein isolate powder; however, I also like to use Further Food collagen sometimes for smoothies and/or overnight oats. (You can use my code WELLNESSFORTHEWIN for a small discount on Further Food products! #affiliate)
Fellow Registered Dietitian Angie of @eleatnutrition has some great blog posts on protein powder and the top brands that she recommend for both whey and plant-based powders.
Spoiler alert: protein powder supplements are not necessary in order to meet your protein needs. If you are being intentional about including good sources of protein at each meal and/or snack (especially meat-eaters), you are likely meeting your needs!
Okay, time for the recipe!
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1.5 bananas frozen, peeled
- 2 Tbsp nut butter peanut butter, almond butter, etc.
- 1 scoop protein powder vanilla
- 2 Tbsp old fashioned oats
- 1/3 cup Greek yogurt plain
- 3/4 cup milk unsweetened almond or regular milk (more as needed)
- 1/2 cup ice more as needed
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend on high for 1-2 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides as needed.
- Add additional ice and/or liquid until you reach your desired consistency.
Nutrition
Simple as that!
Can’t wait to hear what you all think of this Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie recipe! Please let me know if you give it a try in the comments. Share the love by pinning this recipe on Pinterest!
XO,
Shanna
I have also heard that chocolate milk is really good to have post-workout. Would this be too sugary if chocolate almond milk was used instead?
The reason that chocolate milk is a good post-workout option is because it contains a good combination of protein & carbohydrates (both great for refueling after strenuous activity!) That is what this smoothie provides as well (bananas = good carbs, protein powder/Greek yogurt, etc. = good protein), so you don’t necessarily need to use chocolate milk to get those benefits! However, you can totally use chocolate almond milk if that’s what you prefer. The sugar content will vary depending on the brand. There are several chocolate almond milk options that are unsweetened. I hope that helps!
What could I use instead of Greek Yogurt? I’m lactose intolerant.
You could use a plant-based/dairy-free yogurt instead if you prefer. Or you could even try avocado since it provides similar creamy texture. Otherwise you can just omit if needed!
Love a good smoothie! PB banana is my go to and I make this about once a week when I’m on a smoothie kick. Thanks for sharing!
Oh yay! I love hearing that!! Thank you for sharing! 🙂 PB Banana is my fav combo too. ; )
Great recipe. I do something similar, but I leave out the yogurt and the ice, and add a handful of nuts with some flaxseeds or chia seeds. Sometimes I also add a large handful of kale or spinach to get some of those greens.
Those are both great, nutritious additions! I often recommend adding spinach to smoothies to my clients who struggle to get veggies in otherwise!! Such a good strategy! 🙂
Hi Shanna! Thanks a lot for sharing this. Could you please also share the proportion of the PB and banana for one shake and is that good to take this smoothie everyday if I do work out at least 4 times per day? Thanks a lot!
Hi there! The nutrition information for one serving is included at the bottom of the recipe card. This smoothie is definitely something that can be included several times a week, however, variety is always best! So I would encourage you to consume a variety of other protein sources as well – not just protein powder – to meet your protein needs (mostly from whole foods), and get various fruits & veggies in your diet for the most benefit! You might rotate this smoothie with my healthy green smoothie recipe so you can get a wider variety of nutrients in! I hope that helps!
LOVED this!! I was out of almond milk, so I subbed in coconut milk. And I don’t have oatmeal at the moment, but will definitely add this in next time. SO DELISH, thanks for the recipe!
Aw, so glad you love it!!! Thank you for your review!
Thank you, will try it, sounds delish & definitely need it for after my workouts.
Yay, I hope you love it!!