A thick and creamy Post Workout Chocolate Protein Smoothie that packs protein and carbs, while also adding in veggies, to help build muscle and optimize recovery!
This post is sponsored in partnership with Vital Proteins. All opinions expressed (as always) are my own. I only partner with brands I trust and personally recommend – thank you for your support in helping make Eat the Gains possible!
Make sure to check out the video to see how easy it comes together!
Smoothies in November?! I know where some of you are it might be freezing, but here in Austin the weather has actually been pretty amazing. Chilly in the morning, but then getting up to the 70s and sunny during the day. AKA one of the reasons why I moved here over 3 years ago.
But no matter where you are and what the temperature it, I can always get down on a smoothie. Especially when it’s a post workout chocolate protein smoothie that tastes like a chocolate milkshake.
I have actually been making this smoothie for a couple years now, but just recently tweaked it for the perfect combo (and added more veggies 🙂 ). It has the consistency of a chocolate milkshake and you would never guess it has veggies in it. It is packed with carbs from the sweet potato and cherries and also protein thanks to Vital Proteins.
I’m a huge fan of their unflavored collagen (I love adding it to pancakes and take it regularly for athletic performance and numerous other benefits), so when they came out with the chocolate flavored, I had to try it! It still sourced from grass fed and pasture raised cows and sweetened with just cocoa, coconut water, and blackberries – making it paleo and Whole30 approved!
Let’s talk about smoothies now. While I love smoothies and could have one everyday, I believe they have a time and a place depending on what you add to them and your lifestyle. Since they are liquid, they digest faster, which make them ideal for post workout – if you are serious about gaining muscle or optimizing your recovery, you want to replenish your glycogen stores with carbs and also protein soon after you workout (the sooner the better). Carbs are best absorbed and utilized around your workouts as well. You also want to keep fat lower as it takes longer to digest and will slow down the absorption process. This smoothie has:
carbs – sweet potato & cherries
protein – Vital Proteins dark chocolate & blackberry collagen peptides
veggies – kale, cauliflower, & sweet potato
antioxidants – cacao/chocolate & cinnamon
anti-inflammatories- cinnamon
electrolytes – sea salt
On the other hand, since smoothies are liquid, you can sometimes become hungry shortly after you have one as drinking your food is not as satiating as chewing your food. Honestly, it all depends on your body. If you find yourself having a smoothie everyday and then becoming hungry an hour later, it may be time to reevaluate.
You can also add some healthy fats to this to make it more filling! My favorite is avocado (adds a great creaminess), nut butter, coconut butter, hemp seeds, or even MCT oil.
Right now I am loving this smoothie and it is keeping me full for a handful of hours as I go about my day. With Michael and I buying a house and moving, this smoothie has been my go-to after workouts. I am usually running around doing errands and need something fast and on-the-go, and want something that will help me recover. And I mean it’s like I am drinking a milkshake!
Check out the video to see how easy they come together!
If you make this recipe or anything from Eat the Gains, make sure to post it and tag me so I can see all of your creations!!
#eatthegains and @eatthegains on Instagram!
Post Workout Chocolate Protein Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 small sweet potato baked, cut & peeled, and frozen* (135 grams)
- 3/4 cup frozen cauliflower rice (85 grams)
- 1/2 heaping cup frozen sweet cherries (80 grams)
- 1/2 cup packed kale (50 grams)
- 2 scoops Vital Protein Dark Chocolate & Blackberry Collagen Peptides
- 1 tablespoon cacao powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
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Place all ingredients into a Vitamix or a high powered blender. Blend until smoothie and creamy, about 1 minute.
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Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*to bake sweet potato, preheat oven to 400 degrees and bake from 30-40 minutes until soft and can be pierced with a knife.
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Is it okay to use sweet potatoes for protein shakes with just protein and milk? I love them as a carb but never knew you could blend them like this
Yes! That would work just fine as well. I would just blend it up in your blender. Blending them is great because when they are liquid they digest faster, so great for after your workout.