As an avid drinker of my beloved protein shakes, I couldn’t imagine a morning where I didn’t go straight to that cabinet and blender, but I also know that drinking that same flavors day in and day out can become monotonous. Plus, if you’re not a protein shake lover, it’s probably because you’ve never found a way to enjoy them. Whichever the case, try out one or all of these ways to reinvent an old favorite or find a new one.
For reference, I’m a great guzzler of chocolate protein shakes, so most of my combinations are centered around a cocoa base; they’ll also work in other flavors.
1. Try a Different Base
Usually, water is the go-to instructions for mixing a protein shake; but one of the easiest ways to change the final flavor is to change the first step! Try swapping out all or half of your liquid content to play with your recipe.
→ Make it Green!
Use a mixture of half of a greens smoothie and half water like the Naked brand Green Machine for an apple, kiwi, leafy infusion in your drink. The flavor of this is strange, but it’s just enough of an addition that it’s worth a try! Want to avoiding buying Green Machine? Make one at home! The mixture is basically whatever water + greens + flavor enhancements that work best for you. Try this: eight oz. water, two cups Kale and Spinach each, one cup broccoli and parsley each, an apple (cored and cut up), a kiwi, and some pineapple juice or chunks. If you find you like the basic taste of a green juice with your protein shake, dedicate some meals to experimenting with a combination of leafy greens and fruits that compliment it all exactly as you like.
→ Coconut Milk!
Personally, I’ve always made my shakes with water, but many use coconut milk as their go-to base for flavor, nutritional additions, or for a shift in texture. Coconut milk, when I’ve used it, ended up resulting in a thicker shake in the end.
→ Make it Juicy!
Get adventurous with fruit juices and try changing half (or less) or your water volume with them for a new flavor twist. Use half orange juice to make an orangesicle-vanilla shake.
2. Play with Texture
When working with the usual mix of water and ice, it’s easy to fall into the routine of this much water and that much ice for the typical, drinkable mixture; but if you’re getting bored texture is one of the easiest things to change up.
→ Add More Ice!
Try doubling the amount of ice to build your shake to a thicker, more spoonable than sippable mixture and eat it out of a bowl like ice cream.
→ Make it a Chunky Monkey!
If you like adding fruit to your shake, instead of adding the fruit along with the powder, water, and ice blend those together first and then add the fruit and blend just slightly or just mix them in to leave chewable chunks as a way to play with the texture of the shake.
→ Frozen Over Fresh!
If you use fruit (or you use it now after getting to #4 on this list!) swap out frozen fruit instead of fresh fruit for a thicker shake as well.
3. Top It
Maybe you’re protein shake is delicious, perfectly balanced in texture and base; but still something is missing? You needy the metaphorical cherry on top! Putting just a bit of something on top can give you the Instagram worthy and stomach pleasing shake you’ve been hoping for.
→ Slice or Dice!
Save a portion of fruit or nuts to cut up and add on top. Even just a few pieces can give you a little something different a couple sips in that perks up an old favorite.
→ Drizzle it!
Drizzling on a topping distributes a new flavor a lot better than just a few chunks, but without the volume of mixing something in. Try a drizzle of melted peanut, almond or sunflower butter with a banana chocolate shake or for a more daring take, drizzle on a flavored balsamic oil for a really intense and unique flavor.
→ Sprinkle it!
Try adding a sprinkle of cinnamon on top of a banana shake or a dash of coconut shreds. It’s just enough to add a bit more flavor. Another personal favorite is Hemp Hearts. They add texture and flavor when sprinkled on the top of your shake.
4. Add-ins!
Just like a Dairy Queen blizzard, a protein shake is drastically different with some add-ins! Think fruit, veggies, nuts, whatever your heart (and dietary plan) desires!
→ Natural Sweetness!
Fruit has natural sugar, so they’ll add sweetness to your shake. Keep in mind that sugar content though if you’re eating these shakes for a specific dietary concern or goal.
→ Leaves?!
Herbs are one of the more surprising add-ins. It seems odd at least to be throwing leaves into the blender on top of a pile of strawberries, but don’t fear the powerful, and typically less expensive, add in option. Try basil and strawberries or mint alone in a chocolate shake.
→ All the Flavor, None of the Calories!
Flavor Extracts are the best of all the worlds. Flavor, but without the calories or the juggling of ingredients. Extracts take up very little space and last for a long time, so the investment is solid. Try a (TINY) amount of peppermint extract for a cocoa-mint blend or almond and coconut for an Almond Joy.
When making all these recipes, keep in mind whatever your goals are. If you’re drinking protein shakes for the convenience and nothing else, explore to your heart’s content; but if you’re doing protein shakes for weight loss or as a part of a dietary plan for anything else, these recipes will change the calorie content and makeup of your shake so don’t forget to add whatever you put into that blender also needs to go into your meal planning or intake tracking. If you are watching your calorie count, don’t shy away from these ideas, just practice moderation or op for the low calorie changes: more ice for a thicker shake, toppings (when in control), or extracts offer minimal calorie increase while still adding something new into your glass.
Other than that, get out the blender and start mixing it up!
