10 Substitutes For Banana In Smoothies

Bananas are a favorite ingredient in smoothies. Not only do bananas add delicious creaminess and sweetness, but they also go very well with almost anything you want to put in your smoothies. Yet, why do people tend to look for banana substitutes for smoothies? 

While many people love bananas, some are allergic, and some do not like bananas. And, it wouldn’t be fair to have to avoid smoothies altogether just because you cannot eat bananas. You can get your smoothie on with or without bananas. 

No matter what your situation with bananas is, there are some great banana substitutes, let’s take a look! 

What Can You Substitute For Banana In Smoothies?

So, do you need a substitute for bananas for your smoothies? Let’s take a look at what you can use instead!

Cashew Nuts

Cashew nuts are a great and versatile food if you soak them in water they can turn into really awesome creamy, smoothie ingredients which contain protein, and heart-healthy fats for those who need to limit carbs, or for those who count their macros. 

Aside from this, cashews also contain traces of magnesium and iron as well. However, the downside with these is that they contain more calories than bananas, and this can lead to weight gain if you are not careful with portions. 

Soaked cashews will also not be quite as sweet as bananas, so you might want to add additional ingredients to make your smoothie sweeter. 

Nut allergies are also very common, so ensure you do not have an allergy to these nuts before you choose to use them.

 Mango

If you are not a banana fan, why not go with a mango? Mangos are creamy and dense, and not just watery and fruity like many other fruits. Besides, just a single cup of mango will contain more vitamins A, C, and potassium than bananas! 

They are even high in fiber, mangoes and bananas contain about the same amount! 

If you do choose to use frozen mangoes for smoothies, use 1/2 a cup per single medium-sized banana.

Cauliflower

Smoothies tend to not include cauliflower, but it works as a healthy substitute. Cauliflower is very healthy,  many people replace potatoes and rice with cauliflower when trying to be health conscious. 

While it is not exactly commonplace, frozen cauliflower can provide the creamy texture that you would usually get from a banana in a smoothie. However, it will not ruin the taste of your smoothies as cauliflower barely has any taste. 

It also has a lot of vitamins K, and C as well as being rich in biotin.

Avocado

If you wanted to get the creamy texture that a banana provides in your smoothie without actually using a banana, avocadoes are your best replacement. Most smoothies have a lot of sugar in them, and to cut down on this, avocadoes are a lifesaver. 

Avocadoes contain a lot of healthy fats, and consuming them helps you to control your blood sugar, however, be cautious with avocado portions. 

Avocadoes are highly calorific, so you might way to use around a quarter to 1 1/2 avocadoes. 

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is very rich in protein and it can help you go on to survive a very busy day at work, or, if you are working out at the gym it can help you to build your muscles up after a straining workout. 

As greek yogurt has a thickness to it, this ingredient will supply your smoothie with the creamy smoothness you are hankering for. Choose plain yogurt if you are sugar-conscious, then add fruits to naturally sweeten up your smoothie.

Beans

Beans are a great choice alternative to bananas in smoothies, they taste-neutral and are creamy. Furthermore, beans are also a well-known good source of protein and fiber. 

As there are so many types of beans, we would suggest garbanzo beans or cannellini beans, these taste the mildest. When you use these beans, always wash them and check they do not include salt before you add them to your smoothies, you do not need the extra sodium!

Chia/Flax Seeds

When you use flaxseeds or chia seeds you should always soak them in water for a while beforehand. Soaking the seeds can help make your smoothie creamy and thick in texture.

You can use either of these seeds, both of them are high in omega-3 and protein, but, they are not sweet. So, if using these seeds, consider adding in some frozen berries so your smoothie has a natural sweetness to it! 

Cottage Cheese

If you are on a hunt to get yourself some extra protein and some lower sugar than most dairy products traditionally contain, and if you still want to feel satiated by your smoothie, we recommend adding cottage cheese to your smoothie. 

This is important if you are starting the day on your smoothie and have an empty, hungry belly! Chewing helps you feel full and satiated so cottage cheese can be a real help!

Silken Tofu

Are you vegan? No problem! For those who want a dairy-free smoothie, try silken tofu! This awesome plant-based food can provide your smoothie with the creamy goodness that many of these other choices do, as well as give you the protein you need, just minus the dairy! 

Silken tofu is also without any taste, so your smoothie won’t suffer any flavor taints due to it, you could add frozen fruits if you wanted a natural sweetness to it though! 

Oats

We could ramble on about oats all day, but we won’t. However, we will say they are a great alternative to bananas, they are creamy, filling, and an absolute god-food for fiber! 

Always ensure you have a high-powered blender to crush up your oats well, nothing ruins a smoothie like chunks of oats. If you lack a high-powered blender, try grinding up the oats first and make them into a powder before you add them to the smoothie!

Frozen Squash

Squash is not always available, it’s only available in fall, and it is not everyone’s choice food, however, you could freeze squash to preserve it. Adding some squash to a smoothie gives you more veggie goodness, and it helps with thickness too! 

Squash is a great vegetable for hiding the fact that something contains vegetables too. So if your kids refuse to eat their veggies, make a smoothie, and hide a squash in there! 

They’ll never know ;). 

Frozen Zucchini

Frozen zucchini is a great idea if you want to substitute a high-calorie food as it is low in sugar, carbs, and calories! However, it is also jam-packed with nutrition such as vitamins A and C, as well as potassium. It might not taste awesome, but it does help your health. Hide some frozen zucchini in your smoothies and reap the benefits! 

Overall

All these ingredients are a viable way for you to replace bananas in a smoothie without them ending up lacking anything. Choose cauliflower, squash, silken tofu, or beans if you want to conceal flavor, and prevent your smoothie from having any unwanted flavors. 

That being said, there are also plenty of options that taste great! Mangoes taste awesome and will give your smoothie all it needs. 

We would recommend trying a smoothie with both squash and mango in it,  we just know that it will be delicious and so good for you! If you are also enjoying the fall season, why not try a bit of pumpkin? Just make sure you soak it first so that it doesn’t end up beating up your blender! 

The Best Smoothie Recipe Without Banana

To end this guide and to make your life easier and save you time looking for smoothie recipes without bananas, here’s our best recipe:

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FAQs:

What Fruit Is Similar To Banana?

Plantains and bananas share a lot of genetic similarities, however, plantains are usually only eaten when they are cooked. Bananas and plantains also share their origin, as they both originated in Southeast Asia. If you wanted to add this to your smoothie, we won’t say don’t try it, but do cook them first!

Why Do All Smoothies Have Bananas?

Most smoothie recipes include bananas, this is very popular for a reason, bananas supply a natural creaminess and sweetness to smoothies. Bananas are also really nutritious and so they are not only delicious and creamy but also extremely good for you!

What Is A Good Substitute For Bananas For Potassium?

If you are not a banana fan, legumes, beets, and sweet potatoes also share their high potassium content. White beans, yams, and swiss chard are known to have around twice as much potassium in them per cup as a single medium-sized banana!

Substitute For Banana In Protein Shake

Want a banana substitute in your protein shake? try beans, cauliflower, cashews, yogurt, flax seeds, chia seeds, or even silken tofu! There are so many options, you needn’t suffer a banana if you do not like them!