7 Delicious Creamy Post-Workout Yogurt Recipes

Yogurt can provide you with the nutrients essential for muscle repair. Proper post-workout nutrition helps to heal the damage inflicted on muscle fibers during the workout session. Timing your meals correctly before and after your workout can help you maximize the benefits of your workout and to increase your stamina.

Yogurt is one of the best post-workout protein options that are not just healthy, but delicious and creamy when combined with the right ingredients. Here’s more on how exactly yogurt helps with post-workout muscle recovery.

Another thing to keep in mind is that not all yogurts are created equal – so learn to choose the healthy stuff. The best thing to do is to learn to make it yourself. Making yogurt at home is simple, easy, and cheap.

Once you have this mighty ingredient in hand, here are 7 delicious smoothie recipes for you to try out. The given recipes are only a guideline, use your common sense. All you need to do is toss in the ingredients mentioned and blend them to your desired consistency. Adjust the sweetness as desired.

The brand of yogurt, milk, or any other ingredient mentioned in the given recipes is not relevant, just make sure your ingredients are fresh and that your yogurt contains active cultures. Enjoy and stay strong!

Apple Cinnamon Smoothie

The cinnamon and nutmeg add a spicy punch to this yogurt smoothie made with apple and frozen bananas.

 Ingredients:

• 1 cup skim milk
• 1/2 cup non fat plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup oats
• 1 apple, peeled and cored
• 1 large frozen banana
• 1 t. vanilla
• 2 T. maple syrup
• 2 t. cinnamon
• 1/8 t. nutmeg
• 1/2-1 cup of ice

Method:

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a blender or Vitamix.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Pour the Apple Cinnamon Smoothie into one large glass or two smaller glasses.

Peanut Butter and Hazelnut Smoothie

You can substitute with some cocoa powder if you don’t have any cocoa nibs. flavour with artificial sweeteners if you want more sweetness.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon hazelnut spread,
• 2 tablespoons Peanut Butter
• 1 cup greek yogurt,
• 1 tablespoon chocolate nibs
• 1/2 frozen banana

Method:

1. Blend together the peanut butter powder, 1/2 cup greek yogurt, the frozen banana and 1 cup coconut milk. Pour into a glass and keep aside.
2. Blend together the hazelnut spread, the chocolate nibs, 1/2 cup greek yogurt, 1/2 cup coconut milk and 4 large ice cubes.
3. Pour this over the first mixture in your glass. Garnish with some chocolate granola.

Berry Beet Smoothie

Fun, colorful, and healthy. You can slice up bananas and freeze them to use in smoothies, especially those starting to turn black.

Ingredients:

For beet smoothie:

• one 15 oz can whole beets
• 2 cups frozen strawberries/raspberries
• 1 frozen banana
• 1/2 cup plain or vanilla greek yogurt
• 1/4-1/2 cup liquid (milk, water, almond milk, orange juice)

For strawberry smoothie:

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup plain or vanilla greek yogurt
• 1/4-1/2 cup liquid (milk, water, almond milk, orange juice)

Method:

1. For beet smoothie : Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add more liquid to help it blend if it’s too thick.
2. For berry smoothie: Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add more liquid to help it blend if it’s too thick.
3. To assemble: Layer the smoothies in glasses. If desired, blend the smoothie using a straw. Top each smoothie with a toothpick filled with leftover fruits.

Strawberry Papaya Yogurt Smoothie Recipe

You can use soy or almond milk along with yogurt for the added health benefits.

Ingredients:

• 3⁄4 cup papaya, peeled, seeded, and chopped
• 1⁄2 cup fresh strawberries
• 1⁄2 cup milk
• 1⁄2 cup plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 3 large ice cubes

Method:

1. Combine papaya, strawberries, milk, yogurt, and honey in a blender. Cover and blend until smooth.
2. Add the ice cubes and blend till the ice is crushed.
3. Pour into 2 tall glasses. Garnish with papaya or strawberry slices and mint, if desired.

Strawberry Banana Frozen Yogurt Smoothie

Try to use really fresh strawberries. The bananas can be frozen or fresh. You can consider adding a pinch of nutmeg if you like the flavour.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 2 heaping cups fresh strawberries, hulled and rinsed
• 1 firm banana, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
• 2 tsp honey or maple syrup
• ice cubes

Method:

1. Put all the ingredients into a blender jar and blend on the highest speed till smooth.
2. Serve immediately.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothies

You can just add some vanilla essence and cocoa powder with plain yogurt and milk instead of the more fancy ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 1 banana
• 1 cup Chocolate Milk
• 500 ml Vanilla Yogurt
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 8-10 ice cubes

Method:

1. In a blender combine all ingredients and blend until smooth.
2. Pour into chilled glasses and serve.

Fresh Cranberry Yogurt Drink

The frozen ingredients give a thicker smoothie texture than fresh fruits. Chia seeds and flax seeds are both healthy options, but add only one type at a time.

Ingredients:

• ¼ c. frozen cranberries
• 1 frozen banana, sliced
• ½ plain yogurt
• ½ c. apple juice
• 1 tsp. chia or flax seeds (optional)
• 1 tsp. honey, agave or maple syrup

Method:

1. Place all of the ingredients into a blender, and process until smooth and creamy.
2. Run the machine for an extra minute or two to break up the seeds if you are adding them.