Power Up Your Plate
Simple, protein-packed recipes to help support muscle health, energy and healthy aging
Protein has become one of the most talked-about nutrients in healthy eating (see our story here), yet many people — especially women and older adults — still may not be getting enough to support healthy aging. As we get older, our bodies become less efficient at using protein, making getting enough increasingly important for maintaining muscle strength and mobility.
In the New York Times bestseller The High-Protein Plate, registered dietitian and certified personal trainer Rachael DeVaux (aka the creator of Rachael’s Good Eats, rachaelsgoodeats.com) makes it easier to enjoy protein-rich meals without restricting your diet, complicating your menu or sacrificing flavor. The cookbook features 100 satisfying recipes, most with 30 grams or more of protein per serving, along with practical meal plans and simple strategies for building balanced plates that support energy, muscle health and lasting fullness using everyday ingredients.
DeVaux’s goal is simple: to help everyone make protein a natural part of every meal so eating well becomes effortless rather than overwhelming. This pumpkin pie smoothie is a fast, indulgent way to treat yourself.
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
SERVES 1 • TOTAL TIME: 5 MINUTES
PER SERVING: Protein: 38g; Carbohydrates: 47g; Fat: 19g
Here are all the cozy fall flavors you love, but without the sugar crash. It’s like pumpkin pie in a glass, only way more functional. Pumpkin, almond butter and warm spices come together for a creamy, spiced smoothie you’ll want on repeat, no matter the season.
Ingredients
- 1¼ cups almond milk (or preferred milk)
- 1½ servings vanilla protein powder
- ¼ cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1½ tablespoons almond butter
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ½ frozen banana
- 1 pitted medjool date, frozen
- 1 cup ice
- Granola, for topping (optional)
Instructions
- In a blender, combine the almond milk, protein powder, pumpkin, almond butter, flaxseed, pumpkin pie spice, banana, date and ice. Blend for 1 minute or until smooth. Serve immediately, topped with granola, if using.
Recipe excerpted from The High-Protein Plate by Rachael DeVaux, photography by Eva Kolenko (Simon & Schuster/Simon Element, 2026, 288 pages, $35)
Top image source: iStockphoto.com/bhofack2
