A highly nutritious and refreshing banana berry smoothie made with kefir! It’s creamy, thick, sweet and tangy – and makes for a refreshing snack or even a well-balanced breakfast. Kefir is comparable to a drinkable yogurt that tastes great in smoothies with 12 different probiotic strains!

Two banana berry smoothies in glasses on a counter next to a banana and a bottle of kefir.

If you haven’t tried kefir yet, smoothies are a great introduction to it. Kefir is a fermented beverage or a “probiotic food” with 12 probiotic strains as compared to about 6 strains in Greek yogurt. It actually adds a lot of flavor and the live, active cultures help to create a more diverse gut microbiome.

This smoothie is lactose-intolerance friendly as Lifeway Kefir and Fairlife milk are both 99% lactose-free! I am not always a smoothie lover but this one provides so many nutritional benefits and is a great way to fill in nutritional gaps during the fall and winter months.

Reasons to Try This Smoothie

Refreshingly Delicious. Slightly tangy kefir is combined with the sweetness of the banana and mixed berries. Add a little bit of honey to make it sweeter or drink it as is if you don’t mind the refreshing taste.
So Nutritious. This smoothie offers so many nutritional benefits I honestly don’t even know where to start. There is 22 grams of protein with no protein powder, 12 probiotic strains, 12 grams of fiber, vitamin D, calcium, potassium, and it’s packed with antioxidants. The fiber acts as food for the probiotics so it’s a great way to improve the composition of your gut microbiome.
Easy Snack or Even Breakfast. If you don’t have time to make breakfast in the morning, this is a great option because it takes less than 5 minutes to make. This smoothie is also ideal as a healthy mid-day snack.

Ingredients

This recipe provides two 12-ounce smoothies. Both Lifeway kefir and Fairlife milk are 99% lactose-free, so this is a lactose-intolerance friendly smoothie.

Fairlife Non-fat Milk (1 1/2 cups). Feel free to sub with a higher fat percentage or your preferred milk. Fairlife milk is more concentrated – so it’s higher in protein and 99% lactose-free.
Lifeway Mixed Berry Kefir (8 ounces or 1 cup). Sub with your preferred kefir. Lifeway kefir also has a strawberry flavor that is really good, too!
Banana (1 medium ripe banana). I used one medium-sized fresh banana. If you use a frozen banana, it will result in a thicker smoothie. Add more liquid or opt for fresh berries.
Frozen Mixed Berries (1 1/2 cups). You can drink this smoothie any time of year when berries are not in season by using frozen! This also makes the smoothie thick and creamy without adding ice cubes.
Chia Seeds (2 tablespoons). Why not add a little bit more fiber to your smoothie? If you aren’t used to consuming high fiber smoothies or meals, decrease to just one tablespoon to start and gradually increase to prevent any digestive upset.
Spinach (1 cup), optional. Adding the spinach makes it a little deeper in color. The more you add, the more brown it will be. Spinach is a nutritious addition with no noticeable taste in flavor, however, I often omit it – which is why I say it’s optional.
Protein Powder, optional. A vanilla or unflavored protein powder would be a delicious add-in if you want to increase the protein content.
Honey, optional. If you prefer a sweeter smoothie, add about one tablespoon of honey. However, this is a very refreshing, slightly sweet and tangy smoothie without it.

All the Nutritional Benefits of This Smoothie

Kefir is one of the BEST probiotic food sources. Plus, it’s affordable and convenient because you can find it at most grocery stores. It contains a wider variety of probiotic strains than yogurt and also in a higher amount. Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host. To be considered a probiotic, the live microorganism must be a characterized strain with health benefits that have been scientifically proven.

This smoothie also contains prebiotics which is the food for that good bacteria in our gut. Prebiotics and probiotics work together to create a more adaptive, resilient and diverse microbiome. A healthier gut microbiome is associated with better digestive health, mental health, immune function, and potentially lower risk of some cancers. Yes, that’s right – a happier gut can lead to improved mood and decreased symptoms of depression and anxiety.

OK, so moving on from the gut health benefits. This smoothie provides 22 grams of protein which is considered “ideal” in promoting feelings of fullness and to help reach a higher overall protein intake. Plus, 12 grams of fiber which also assists with satiety and blood sugar stabilization.

The banana, mixed berries and spinach provide antioxidants which help lower inflammation and boost our immune system. Lifeway Kefir and Fairlife milk increase the vitamin D content of this smoothie – a nutrient that is is very important in the winter months. Low levels of vitamin D are linked to increased risk of depression and anxiety!

Banana Berry Kefir Smoothie Instructions

This smoothie is a bit on the thick side but can be adjusted if you prefer a thinner consistency. Just add more liquid (water or milk) or a little less frozen berries.

Add all ingredients to a blender.

Combine all the ingredients in a large blender, starting with the liquids first for easy blending. Blend until smooth. If the consistency seems too thick, add a little bit more milk or water. Taste test – if you prefer a sweeter smoothie, drizzle in some honey, agave, or monk fruit sweetener.

Pour into glasses.

Pour the smoothie into two glasses. This smoothie is best if consumed immediately. Enjoy!

More Recipe Ideas:
— Kefir Chia Pudding
— Lemon Berry Smoothie Bowl with Kefir
— Lemon Berry Overnight Oats
— Peach Pineapple Kefir Smoothie

Tips for Success

Add the liquid ingredients to the blender first so it’s easier to blend.
Leave out the spinach if a darker smoothie color turns you off or stick to 1/2-3/4 cup portion.
Drink this smoothie at least 2-3 times a week for all the gut-healthy, immune and mood boosting benefits.

Different Variations

To Make It More Sweet: Add more banana or incorporate honey (or preferred sweetener). You may need to increase the liquid content if adding more banana.
To Make It Less Thick: Add less of the frozen berries or 1/4 cup of water or milk.
Higher Protein: Blend in 2-3 tablespoons of peanut butter or a 1-2 scoops of protein powder. You could also add hemp hearts.
To Make It Lower in Calories: Use almond milk, however, this will decrease the protein content.

Also Read:

— Improving the Gut Microbiome: A Guide to Probiotics and Prebiotics
— The Best Food Swaps for Gut Health
— 8 Proven Strategies to Improve Gut Health
— 30 Breakfasts with 30 Grams of Protein
— 120 Grams of Protein Vegetarian Meal Plan