The Best Smoothies To Drink After A Workout (Great For Recovery!) 

It’s vital to refuel your body after a tough workout. This will help the body restore glycogen levels, support muscle protein synthesis, revive energy levels, and help balance hormones. 

Want proof? Just ask any athlete. After interviewing several elite competitors about how they care for their bodies after games or training sessions, several noted they opt for smoothies as a quick way to replenish their bodies with protein, calories, and other nutrients. 

“There is no shame in having a shake as a quick solution,” professional volleyball player and Olympic Silver medalist Melissa Humana-Paredes told me previously in a Q&A. “That’s something I have between sessions all of the team. Sometimes after a training session, I’m exhausted and I can’t really even think about food. I need time before I can eat a meal, but I know I need protein. And a shake meets all my needs.” 

A classic combo for a reason, this delicious blend is the perfect sweet treat to reward yourself with after powering through an intense session. 

The chocolate grass-fed whey protein isolate+ from mindbodygreen gets its rich, decadent taste from the unique blend of organic cocoa, pink Himalayan salt, organic monk fruit, and organic cinnamon. Paired with the creamy, nutty taste of peanut butter, it’s next level. 

But enough about the taste, let’s talk performance: Thanks to the powder and peanut butter, this packs an intense protein punch (25 grams from the powder alone!). This includes enough of the essential amino acid leucine to ensure muscle protein synthesis (MPS), which is how you build lean muscle mass.* 

Combine that with the other ingredients, this smoothie delivers healthy fats, potassium, electrolytes, and loads of antioxidants—so you’re getting a well-rounded nutrition to keep your body going. 

A mixed berry smoothie is about as no-fuss (but delicious) as you can get. “Smoothies are my go-to meal when I want to get a lot of nutrients with minimal effort,” says our in-house registered dietitian Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN. “Here’s one that's actually filling, supports my muscles, and doesn't spike my blood sugar.”*

Not only does this blend contain antioxidant-rich berries, fiber-packed cauliflower and spinach, healthy fats from Greek yogurt, and 25 grams of protein from vanilla protein powder, but it also folds in the game-changing creatine. 

Creatine can help optimize performance, both athletic and cognitive.* “[Researc1h shows that] creatine can help anyone build muscle, get toned, and support their brain,” says Knudsen, noting that the mindbodygreen creatine+ also has taurine. “In addition, Taurine has some exciting research behind it for muscle health and recovery, as well as heart health2 and cognition3.* 

Getting in your greens is an essential part of keeping your body healthy—but for many athletes, balancing their veggie intake with their protein and carb consumption can be a challenge. Athletes need a lot of protein and carbohydrates (more so than your average person), and therefore they may not be able to eat the same volume of veggies.  

Smoothies can be a great way to pack in antioxidant- and fiber-rich vegetables, while also supercharging the body with protein. This uses mindbodygreen vanilla grass-fed whey protein isolate+ for bioavailable protein that the body can start using to help rebuild muscle.*