I’ve got the creamiest, dreamiest ice cream cake style protein shake to share with y’all today! It’s been on repeat over here and packs a whopping 44g of protein with less than 300 calories. Perfect way to start the day or add in some mega protein at lunch!
I also have a ton of hacks that have been game changing for me when it comes to adding more PROTEIN to my diet. It’s something I’ve focused on for about a year now but especially so in the last several months that I’ve been on this fitness & nutrition program – the FASTer Way (more on that HERE!!)
Banana Cake Batter Protein Shake
Ingredients
- 1/2 banana frozen, in slices (for best thick texture!)
- handful ice
- 1/8 tsp almond extract (optional but adds a great buttercream flavor)
- 1.5 scoops cake batter protein or your favorite vanilla flavored protein powder
- 1 cup fairlife skim milk any milk works!
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients in order to a blender and blend until super smooth and thick and creamy! At least 45 seconds or so (it sort of thickens up as you go)
- ENJOY!
Notes
I’ve been on a mission for about a year now to prioritize protein in my diet, but especially since the start of 2024 since I’ve been on my fitness & nutrition program. It has been an absolute game changer in so many ways.
- I feel fuller longer
- I have less cravings for sugar
- I have less desire for snacks (because I’m full and satisfied for longer!)
- I have zero desire to eat after dinner, unless I’ve made some incredible dessert that smells amazing haha!
- I feel STRONGER and like my workouts are more effective in growing my muscles
- I have great sustained energy
I aim for over 100g of protein daily (closer to 150 if I can) and have found a few little tricks and hacks that have made it much more effortless over the last several months!
HIGH PROTEIN HACKS
- VERSATILE PROTEIN PREP
- I love prepping big batches of protein at the beginning of the week, or even mid-week to last us for a few days. I’ll keep the flavors simple so that I can use the same protein in several ways by adding a sauce or other seasonings when serving in a meal. This also cuts down on cooking time / prep during the week at dinner time and makes lunches SO easy!
- EXAMPLES:
- ground beef and ground bison blend –> taco bowls, enchilada bake, taco salads, chili, pasta with meat sauce, lasagna skillet, tacos, etc
- baked chicken thighs –> greek salads, wraps, teriyaki bowls with rice and veggies, sandwiches, buffalo chicken bowls, etc
- shredded salsa chicken –> BBQ chicken stuffed sweet potatoes, burrito bowls, taco salads, lettuce wraps, quesadillas, baked tacos, etc
- ADDING IN PROTEIN POWDER
- My favorite drinks and eats to add protein powders to:
- hot or iced coffee
- smoothies and shakes
- overnight oats
- yogurt bowls
- one scoop typically packs around 20g of dietary protein which is a huge jump, especially when you can make it taste super yummy! LOVE taking an iced coffee with protein or a protein shake with me on the go to stay full and fueled between meals while we’re out and about.
- My favorite drinks and eats to add protein powders to:
- PACKAGED PROTEIN FAVS
- I have a couple of protein bars I’ll grab from time to time: Built Bars are my current favorite for the macros and candy bar flavor with pretty simple ingredients.
- Meat sticks like Chomps are another favorite for grab & go!
- Individually sized greek yogurts
- Occasionally I will grab a FairLife protein drink and take that with me in the car!
- TOP HACK: find a pre-cooked grilled chicken breast that you like. ButcherBox has a great one that comes with cooked chicken in whole breast form that you can slice up as you like – makes for really easy sandwiches, wraps, meat to snack on, pasta, you name it.
- PROTEIN PICKS ON THE GO
- I love having “set high protein picks” that I know I can choose from menus at the few drive through / “fast food” places we stop by. Here are a few of my top picks!
- CHIPOTLE: chicken or steak salad with guac (lower carb), or a burrito bowl (higher carb)
- STARBUCKS: kale & mushroom egg bites (lower carb), reduced fat turkey bacon breakfast sandwich (higher carb)
- CHICK FIL A: “Cool Wrap” with an extra side of grilled nuggets (higher carb), nuggets only (lower carb)
- PRO TIP @ ANYWHERE: Don’t be shy – most restaurants will add extra protein to anything you order if you just ask nicely and pay a few dollars extra! Both my husband and I do this often for salads, sandwiches, burrito bowls, etc and it helps so much!
That’s all for now – I sure hope this helps you on YOUR lifelong journey to the best version of YOU! Cheering you on! xo
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