Sports
May 4th 2021 ・ 4 min reading
There’s something about a protein smoothie that is just perfect for a post-workout snack, and one of the really great things about them is that making smoothies is super simple! Just throw a few ingredients into a blender (or use a hand-held stick blender), whizz, and you’re done. Simple as that. Tasty, high quality Chiquita bananas are one of the best ingredients to include in a post-workout smoothie – we’ll look in more detail below at why they’re the perfect workout smoothie companion.
Healthy smoothies recipes
You’ll find that making a smoothie is an easy and delicious way to get all this goodness after a workout (or before, why not?). We’ve got some great new recipes to get you started on smoothie making on our website – have a look below at these workout wonders!
Pre-Workout Banana & Mocha protein shake by Chiquita
Making a banana smoothie has never been more of a pleasure than with this version – the deep, velvety smooth taste of coffee and chocolate combined is just so satisfying and luxurious, you’ll be amazed that it’s also really healthy! This one’s just what you need to get you in the mood for your workout.
Workout banana & berries protein smoothie by Chiquita
Adding berries alongside a banana in your post-workout smoothie is a great way to add some zing and increase the health benefits for an extra-healthy post-workout boost. If you need to get up and go after your workout (who isn’t busy these days?) then making this refreshing banana smoothie will wake up your taste buds and your body!
Post-workout banana and Chocolate milk by Chiquita
This is a smoothie to really go bananas about, we promise! The combination of rich, sweet cocoa and the great taste of a Chiquita banana is a perfect match and the absolute best if you’re in the mood for making a banana smoothie. Chocolate milk is already a great family favorite, and adding a Chiquita banana just makes the texture even better – for an amazing summer treat, freeze the banana chunks before you blend them into your smoothie for a truly cool and delicious treat.
- 1 Chiquita banana
- 1 cup / 235 mL of unsweetened almond milk
- 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder
- 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar (Optional)
- 1 cup ice
Simply add all of the ingredients into a high-powered blender and blend until smooth. Then pour into a glass and enjoy!
Why a post-workout smoothie?
The best post-workout smoothies contain a mix of healthy protein and carbs – protein smoothies are just the best! When you’re ready to relax and cool down after your workout, it’s great to reach for something that’s going to help restore and replenish those fatigued muscles and help you to relax. Making a smoothie with a lovely Chiquita banana is a great idea, because not only does it contain important vitamins, minerals and fiber (as you’ll see below), a banana added to a smoothie gives it a richness and thickness without the calories and fat downsides of other options like heavy cream.
If you use skimmed or semi-skimmed milk when making smoothies, it’s a definite bonus for your healthy lifestyle – and when you add that banana magic, you’ll never be able to tell it’s not a full-fat version. It’s amazing!
Post-workout smoothies are good for you because your muscles use up their short-term supply of glycogen when you’re working out, so they’re looking for a way to replenish it. This means the best way to get useful carbs to your muscles is through an easily digestible, energy dense food rich in fiber that allows your body to steadily absorb healthy carbs, instead of a quick sugar high from something like candy. Making a banana smoothie fits this requirement very well, as we’ll see below.
Banana benefits
If you’re in the mood for making a smoothie, a Chiquita banana is a great base ingredient. –. Chiquita bananas are crammed full of vitamins and minerals that also make them the perfect choice for a healthy smoothie.
Bananas have good levels of B6, a busy little vitamin that helps to convert those important carbs into energy and metabolises protein and fat, as well as creating red blood cells.
It’s long been known that bananas contain excellent amounts of potassium, a mineral and electrolyte that the body really needs, partly to balance the large amount of sodium that is often found in the form of salt in pre-prepared foods. Potassium also allows nutrients to move into your body’s cells, helps your muscles to contract, and keeps your heartbeat regular.
Bananas also contain a respectable amount of magnesium, an important ‘macromineral’ that helps to improve muscle and nerve function, regulate blood pressure and support the immune system.
Bananas are particularly rich in pectin and resistant starch, particularly when they’re not fully ripe. This perfect pairing helps to reduce blood sugar spikes and plays an important role in ensuring that the natural sugars in a Chiquita banana that give it its great taste are provided slowly to the body.
As you can see, delicious, high-quality Chiquita bananas are the perfect ingredient for a healthy smoothie and fantastic either before or after your workout. So, don’t forget to grab a bunch next time you’re in the store!
