How to Find the Best Protein Powder for Fruit Smoothies

📌 Overview and Key Takeaways

This is a Dietitian’s guide on how to find the best protein powder for fruit smoothies.

Discover why some protein powders taste better in fruit smoothies than others.

Last Updated
Jan 23, 2026

Author and Medical Reviewer

Written by Kayla Kamen, MS, RD

Kayla Kamen is a Registered Dietitian with a MS in Nutrition.

Medically reviewed by Jennifer Fossett, PA-C

Jennifer Fossett is a Physician Assistant with a BA in Nutritional Sciences.

Protein Powder for Fruit Smoothies

Why Should You Add Protein Powder to Your Fruit Smoothie?

Fruit smoothies are a great way to get vitamins, minerals, and nutrients like fiber in your diet.

They are also easy to make, delicious, and highly customizable!

The only thing that fruit smoothies do not always have going for them is their nutrition content.

Most fruit smoothies are high in simple carbohydrates (sugar) and low in healthy fats and protein.

Although the occurring sugars in fruits are perfectly healthy, clinical guidelines and nutritional science suggests that you should eat nutritionally balanced meals whenever possible (N Engl J Med, 2023).

Balanced meals – those that provide appropriate proportions of macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats), micronutrients, fiber, and water – are associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases, improved metabolic health, and better overall nutrition.

One of the reasons why eating balanced meals is so important has to do with the glycemic index (GI).

The GI is a rating system for foods containing carbohydrates that measures how a food affects your blood sugar (glucose) levels.

Foods are classified as low, medium, or high glycemic and ranked on a scale of 0–100.

The lower the GI of a specific food, the less it affects your blood sugar levels.

Foods or meals that are high in simple carbohydrates, especially simple, sugary carbohydrates like fruits, have a high glycemic index.

This means that they tend spike your blood sugar, which can lead to an increased risk of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease (N Engl J Med, 2021).

Foods or meals that are high in protein, on the other hand, have a low glycemic index.

So, adding protein powder to your smoothie can lower the glycemic index, preventing blood sugar spikes.

Another reason to add protein to your fruit smoothie is to increase satiety.

Protein is the most satiating (filling) macronutrient, meaning it keeps you feeling full for longer than fats and carbs.

This, in turn, decreases cravings and helps prevent overeating, which is a key if you are trying to achieve or maintain a healthy body weight.

Greek yogurt, silken tofu, nut butter, and protein powder are all popular high protein smoothie add-ins.

Protein powder, especially unflavored protein powder, is a particularly good add-in because it has the least impact on taste and texture.

How Do I Make a Fruit Smoothie with Protein Powder?

Making a fruit smoothie with protein powder is easy.

All you have to do is blend 1 serving of protein powder with 1-2 cups of milk or water and 1 cup of your favorite fruit(s), fresh or frozen.

If you are using fresh fruit, I recommend adding a handful of ice cubes to improve the consistency.

Keep in mind that adding protein powder may change the flavor, sweetness, or consistency of your fruit smoothie.

If you like your smoothie as it is, I therefore recommend using unflavored protein powder.

Finally, if you find that adding protein powder gives your smoothie a chalky aftertaste, add more healthy fats (avocado, nut butter, etc.).

What Is the Best Protein Powder for Fruit Smoothies?

Many protein powders do not make fruit smoothies taste better.

In fact, many protein powders will ruin a fruit smoothie because they are made with:

• Protein concentrates/isolates, which have a chalky aftertaste because they have been stripped of everything but the protein
• Artificial sweeteners or stevia, which activate bitter taste receptors in addition to sweet receptors (Int J Mol Sci, 2019)
• Made with flavorings, which taste more like chemicals than real food

This is where Drink Wholesome stands out!

Unlike 99% of protein supplements, our Protein Powders are:

• Made with whole food protein sources like egg whites and almonds
• Sweetened pure monk fruit (sweet like sugar)
• Flavored with real foods (not flavorings)

Our Ingredients

egg whites

coconut

vanilla

monk fruit

NOT Our Ingredients

• acacia gum

• acesulfame potassium

• artificial flavors

• carrageenan

• erythritol

• guar gum

• inulin

• maltodextrin

• 'natural' flavors

• silica

• soy lecithin

• sucralose

• xanthan gum

• xylitol

Order Samples to taste the difference.

Sources

1. New England Journal of Medicine (N Engl J Med). Nutrition Support for Adults in Hospital Settings. 2023.
2. New England Journal of Medicine (N Engl J Med). Cardiovascular Outcomes with Ertugliflozin in Type 2 Diabetes. 2021.
3. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Int J Mol Sci). Decoding the Bitterness of Artificial Sweeteners. 2019.

Editorial Guidelines

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This article was written by a Registered Dietitian and reviewed by a Physician Assistant. We rely on peer-reviewed research and trusted medical sources, and regularly update our content to ensure accuracy and clarity.