10 Banana Smoothies to Keep You Running

a bunch of ripe yellow bananas

Smoothies: Best Energy Snack Before Running and Workouts?

Preparing well before exercise, a sporting event or even a day out playing is essential to get the most out of yourself. Eating the wrong foods before a workout can leave you not feeling in the mood, lethargic and generally lazy. A heavy meal may make you bloated, and a too much meat can take a long time to digest.

People respond differently to different foods, but if you find that you are sometime feeling sluggish during a run or a workout, then it is essential that you look at how you fuel yourself beforehand.


For an extra boost, then add banana to your smoothie. Bananas are also easy to digest, and can actually be eaten during a low intensity workout. Many endurance runners eat bananas during the race, while running. Bananas also contain plentiful reserves of potassium which helps to maintain healthy nerve and muscle function.

Adding yogurt to your smoothie increases your magnesium intake, which is essential to activate the enzymes involved in the metabolism of both protein and carbohydrate.

The key to finding the best pre and post workout snacks is to experiment. Take note of how you feel during your workouts, and after too. Fueling yourself properly can help to increase your performance immediately. Check out our smoothie recipes for ideas.

Smoothies are possibly the best way to eat to fuel your muscles, and bananas are an excellent source of energy for athletes because they can be digested while still exercising. They provide hydration and are easily digested. If made with milk they provide additional protein, whereas fruits provide natural sugars to fuel your muscles and boost glycogen reserves.

As the banana smoothie is the staple home made energy drink for so many people, here we provide 10 banana smoothies for you to enjoy. If you find that you lack energy when jogging or running then bananas could be the solution.


Bananas also contain a good source of soluble fiber, vitamin C, potassium, manganese, and vitamin B6. Vitamin C also aids tissue repair post exercise. Potassium regulates water and neuromuscular function. Vitamin B6 is needed for processing amino acids. Bananas are excellent for athletes.

1. Banana Ice Cream Smoothie

OK, not the healthiest start to our banana smoothie collection, but a tasty one!

  • 1/4 cup of orange juice
  • 4 ripe bananas
  • 2 tablespoons of Maple syrup
  • 3 tablespoons of yogurt
  • 3 heaped tablespoons of vanilla ice cream

Chop the bananas first, and blend well to ensure smooth. You can try honey instead of Maple syrup, and any flavor ice cream you like!

2. Banana and Apple Smoothie

  • 1 large chopped ripe banana
  • 1 chopped apple
  • 1/2 cup of fresh orange juice
  • 1/4 cup of milk (use low fat if you are dieting, full fat if bulking up).

3. Berry and Banana Smoothie

  • 1 ripe banana chopped
  • 1/2 pot of probiotic yogurt
  • 1/2 cup of raspberries
  • 1/2 cup of blueberries
  • 1 cup of strawberries
  • 1/2 cup of fresh orange juice

This is a great way to get a vitamin boost from your smoothie!

4. Banana and Blackberry Smoothie

A great smoothie to drink before heading out for a long Autumnal run.

  • 2 chopped ripe bananas
  • 3/4 cup of Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon of honey
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 2 cups of fresh blackberries

5. Banana and Strawberry Iced Smoothie

A great refreshing summer smoothie.

  • 1 large ripe banana, chopped
  • 1 cup of fresh strawberries
  • 5 ice cubes

This will need extra blending time. A good, thick summer smoothie.

6. Banana Breakfast Smoothie

A list of banana smoothies would not be complete without a breakfast smoothie.

  • 1 large ripe banana
  • 1 pot of Greek yogurt with honey
  • 1 cup of milk
  • handful of crushed oats

The crushed oats mean that this smoothie contains a good portion of slow release energy to keep you going throughout the morning.

7. Banana Breakfast Smoothie 2

This probably could do with a better name! Suggestions welcome

  • 2 ripe chopped bananas
  • 2 peaches
  • 8oz sliced pineapple (or tinned)
  • 1/3 cup of chopped mango
  • handful of crushed oats
  • 1 cup of milk

Another tasty breakfast smoothie with a fruitier flavor.

8. Banana and Egg Smoothie


Remember Rocky downing raw eggs for breakfast before heading out for an early morning run? Well, this smoothie gives you the same egg protein, but without the eggy texture.

  • 1 ripe chopped banana
  • 1 cup of mixed berries (or any available berries)
  • 1 raw egg
  • 1 tablespoon of honey
  • pot of yogurt
  • 5 ice cubes

9. Chocolate Banana Dream Smoothie

A bit of an indulgence, but the extra energy in the chocolate will keep you active for longer. Just do measure your waist.

  • 1 ripe chopped banana
  • 2 scoops of chocolate ice cream
  • 10 chocolate buttons
  • 1 cup of milk

10. Banana and Peanut Butter Smoothie

This is possibly the ultimate in energy smoothies.

  • 2 ripe chopped bananas
  • 1 tablespoon of Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon spoon of peanut butter
  • 1/2 pint of milk

And there are our 10 favorite banana smoothies. Whether you are in need of a energy boost to aid your training, a high calorie smoothie to keep you going all morning, or a refreshing vitamin burst, our smoothies cater for all.

3 Comments on “10 Banana Smoothies to Keep You Running”

  1. mmm!!! delicious! Great write up.
    I will give you a site where I got real fruit on powder form, I mix it with milk and ice cream to go healthy. they have mango, soursop, apple, pineapple, etc. A lot of fruits and veggies. Enjoy guys! freshlydried.com

  2. MotleyHealth says:

    Mix dried fruit with ice-cream? It is not exactly healthy is it?

  3. Julie Groenewald says:

    My staple food is bananas, blended with water and ice. No milk needed, the bananas are creamy on their own if you are vegan. Almond milk can also be used.
    :)

    I love adding strawberries to the above base as it tastes just like yogurt for vegan option.

    Also LOVE adding a piece of fresh vanilla pulp or just blend above base with pears.

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