Vanilla Orange Protein Smoothie

This vanilla orange protein smoothie is bursting with juicy flavour and has 27 grams of plant protein per glass—easy to make with just 5 healthy ingredients in 5 minutes. Vegan, gluten free, nut free, soy free.

Why You’ll Love This Smoothie

• Has 27 grams of plant protein
• Boosts collagen production
• High in antioxidants

This vanilla orange protein smoothie is a delicious breakfast or post-workout snack high in protein! It’s made with just 5 simple ingredients in a blender.

Oranges are an amazingly healthy fruit to include in smoothies. They are high in vitamin C and other antioxidants, which strengthen your immune system. It’s important to consume enough antioxidants because they help to lower oxidative stress in the body, lowering the risk of developing chronic diseases over time. The vitamin C in oranges also helps to boost your skins own collagen production!

The base of this smoothie is made with banana which is a fruit full of nutrients and fibre. The fibre in bananas act as a prebiotic in the gut, helping maintain a healthy balance and encouraging good gut bacteria to flourish. A healthy gut flora is important in order to prevent bloating that can occur after eating.

Ingredients Needed

These are the ingredients you will need to make this vanilla orange protein smoothie.

Vanilla extract: Boosts the vanilla taste of the smoothie.

Protein powder: Any favourite vegan vanilla protein powder.

Orange: Key ingredient to achieve the fresh orange flavour.

Frozen bananas: Creates the thick, creamy base of the smoothie and adds sweetness.

Oat milk: The liquid that brings all of the other ingredients together to blend smoothly and adds a creamy consistency.

For ingredient amounts and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Benefits

Hydrating

Staying properly hydrated is a basic requirement for optimal health. By incorporating daily smoothies you can maintain your ideal hydration level more easily. Start each morning with a smoothie for easy hydration!

High fibre

Easily get more fibre in your every day diet! In addition to being generally healthy, getting enough fibre can be extremely helpful for weight loss as it helps keep you feeling full for longer, without adding calories. Fibre also helps improve our gut health.

Nutrient dense

Vegan smoothies are a great way to get more nutrient rich foods in each day. By blending them into a single meal, it’s super quick, easy and fun! Choose ingredients like dark leafy greens, berries, nuts, seeds and fruits to make your smoothies nutrient rich.

Variations

Protein powder substitutions

If you don’t have vanilla protein powder you can use a plain, unflavoured powder instead. Just increase the vanilla extract to 1 full tsp. For a totally powder-free version use a cup of vanilla vegan greek yogurt instead.

Adjust the consistency

If you prefer a thicker consistency you can try the recipe using a bit less liquid than what is suggested. If you want a thinner consistency, try adding a bit of extra liquid to the recipe.

Switch base ingredients

If you don’t like bananas then try something else as the base! Mango usually substitutes banana well. If you’re allergic to or simply dislike a suggested ingredient then try to find something with a similar texture that you enjoy the flavour of. There is no wrong way to make a smoothie, and you can always omit any ingredients you don’t have on hand.

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to blender.

• Start blending at low speed for 5-10 seconds. Increase to high speed and blend for 1-2 minutes. Use the blender tamper to push ingredients down towards the blades.

• Pour into a glass and serve your vanilla orange protein smoothie.

Prep & Blending

Add ingredients in the correct order

Always add liquid ingredients to your blender first. Then add powders, nut butters, nuts and seeds. Then add fresh greens and fresh fruit. Finally add your solid ingredients like frozen fruit. If using a small blender container with a twist on lid, reverse the order so that when you turn the container over to blend the frozen ingredients are farthest away from the blades.

Use a tamper

Push ingredients down towards the blades while blending using the tamper that comes with your blender. This helps to avoid thick smoothies from getting stuck, so you don’t have to stop blending and scrape down the sides of the container.

Don’t over blend

Try to blend your smoothie for less than a couple of minutes. If blended for too long, even thick smoothies will become thin. This is because the heat generated by the blades and motor of the blender heat up your ingredients while they are being blended.

Use a high power blender

For smoothies that have a perfectly smooth and creamy texture use a high powered blender such as a Vitamix. It can break down any ingredients to much finer particles than standard blenders, and more nutrients are released. A high speed blender also reduces the time you need to blend your recipe, which helps keep it nice and cold.

Chill your glass

By placing your smoothie glass in the freezer for a few moments you can help your smoothie stay cool for longer. This way it won’t start melting instantly while you are eating it. This is especially helpful if you’re in a hot climate. Pop it into the freezer while you are prepping and blending, then take it out when it’s time to pour your finished smoothie!

FAQ’s

Can I use orange juice instead of oranges?

If you wish to use orange juice instead of fresh oranges use 2 cups of juice instead of the oat milk. Avoid adding both the orange juice and oat milk, because the smoothie will be too thin and not an enjoyable texture. Keep in mind if you use orange juice the result will be slightly less creamy than with oat milk.

Can I lose weight with smoothies?

Smoothies are an excellent weight loss food! This is because they are generally lower calorie and higher in fibre and nutrients. Due to high water content, the large volume of a smoothie helps your stomach to feel satiated. And the fibre keeps you feeling full for longer, without feeling weighed down or tired like a huge meal would.

Can smoothies be refrigerated?

Smoothies are best enjoyed immediately after blending, while they are freshest. However you can refrigerate most smoothies for 1-2 days in an airtight container such as a jar.

Can I make smoothies without a high speed blender?

Yes, you can still make smoothies with a regular blender. It might take more patience depending on the recipe, but it can work. Turn off the blender to scrape down the sides of the container, and secure the lid before continuing to blend. Repeat as needed. Alternatively you can add a small amount of additional liquid to the recipe, which should help.

How can I increase the protein?

If you wish for your smoothie to have a higher protein content, you can simply add (more) protein powder to the recipe. Plain unsweetened plant based protein will work in any smoothie. Alternatively you can try adding hemp seeds or even silken tofu.

Related

Vegan Orange Creamsicle Smoothie (No Banana)

Chocolate Orange Protein Smoothie

Vanilla Mango Protein Smoothie

Vanilla Chai Protein Smoothie

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