chocolate pb2 banana protein shake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Protein Shake Recipe

May 5, 2016

Whether you’ve finished an intense workout or just needing a quick high protein breakfast, this Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Protein Shake hits the spot.  A good rule of thumb for exercise recovery is to make sure you put back protein and carbohydrates within 15 to 30 minutes of the end of the workout because that’s when the body is doing a lot of the replacement work.

Glycogen, the stored form of carbohydrates, are being replaced in the muscles and amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, are rebuilding muscles so that you can repeat your workouts all over again the next day.  It’s an amazing system of give and take, but if there’s too much take and not enough give then the body breaks down, energy is lost and you can become less resistant to infections and inflammation.

Who doesn’t love peanut butter?  That would be no one.  We all like to think we’re getting tons of protein with every spoonful, but the truth is, there are so many more calories for the amount of protein we get that it’s not really a great protein choice at all (unless of course you’re trying to gain weight and then it is a really good thing).

Two tablespoons of peanut butter provide the same amount of protein as an ounce of string cheese for twice the calories.  A friend of mine introduced me to an awesome protein product called PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter (but any powdered peanut butter will work with this recipe).  It’s defatted and dehydrated peanut butter in powder form; perfect for protein shakes.  A quarter cup offers 10 grams of protein, 2 grams sugar and 3 grams fat.  That’s even more protein than the piece of string cheese I just mentioned for the same amount of calories and half the fat.  It can also be mixed with water to form a paste to resemble peanut butter and then used in recipes that call for peanut butter.  Very cool indeed.

I start with soy milk or low-fat milk, frozen banana chunks, ice, powdered peanut butter and a scoop of chocolate protein whey isolate powder for an even bigger protein boost.  The milk and banana provide the carbohydrate for that perfect recovery drink you’ll look forward to every day.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Protein Shake Recipe

Recipe from Karen Mangum
Makes 2 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup low-fat milk or light soy milk
  • 1/4 cup powdered peanut butter (I use PB2)
  • 1/4 cup chocolate whey isolate protein powder
  • 1 banana, sliced and frozen
  • 4-5 ice cubes

Directions

  1. Combine all ingredients in container of electric blender. Cover and process until smooth and creamy. Pour into a large cup and enjoy!

Nutritional Info Per Serving

Per serving: Calories 206; Carbohydrates 24 grams; Fat 3 grams; Protein 21 grams

See more recipes by Karen Magnum!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Protein Shake
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Karen Mangum, MS, RDN, LD a licensed, bariatric registered dietitian, is a seasoned recipe developer and healthy food blogger in addition to her work as a bariatric dietitian. Karen has been counseling bariatric patients for over 15 years and currently works for St. Luke’s Medical Center Bariatric Surgery Program in Boise, Idaho. She started her blog, Inside Karen’s Kitchen, as a way to preserve her family’s recipes and to share the bariatric recipes.

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Recipe Disclaimer: If you have specific dietary restrictions, allergies or a nutrition plan that you are following, make sure to read the ingredient list prior to consumption. All information on ObesityHelp.com is intended for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to be a replacement or substitute for consultation with a qualified medical professional. Please contact a medical professional with any questions and concerns.