The 1300-calorie Sunwarrior Protein Weight-Gainer Smoothie

Lift weights and gain weight: muscle weight! Here’s where we learn that muscle building happens in the kitchen. So put your aprons on and bulk up!

As a weightlifter, I have spent almost a decade exploring how to most effectively build muscle. The most important lesson I’ve learned is, “muscle-building happens in the kitchen.” No amount of “pumping iron” will build the physique of your dreams if you are not giving equal attention to what goes into your body.

Over half of my time as a weightlifter has been spent juggling the restrictions of a gluten-free, grain-free, and most recently, vegan diet. The latest breakthrough in my weight gain saga is a recipe I like to call the Sunwarrior Protein Weight Gainer Smoothie.

Gaining weight and building muscle is often a daunting goal for those adhering to dietary restrictions. Whether gluten-free, grain-free, vegan, allergen-free, or all of the above in my case, the number one question I have received over the years is “How do you gain weight?”

While there are many answers to this question, the Sunwarrior Protein Weight Gainer Smoothie is my most recent solution. My need for this recipe arose not only from a desire to gain weight and fuel my workout recovery, but also from the need to increase my daily intake of fruits and vegetables.

The Sunwarrior Protein Weight Gainer Smoothie not only has a high caloric content for weight gain, but is also jam-packed with essential amino acids, vitamins, omega-3s, and other important nutrients. {z438wufu} This recipe is a huge timesaver, providing the caloric content of two meals quickly, easily, and deliciously. All of these benefits and every ingredient is vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, and easily made 100% organic by choosing organic coconut milk and Sunbutter.

Here is an approximate breakdown of the smoothie’s macronutrients:

Based on your needs, it is easy to add, remove, or substitute ingredients. Need less fat in the recipe? Remove a tablespoon or two of Sunbutter. Do you avoid refined sugars? Use unsweetened coconut milk and a sugar-free sunflower butter (I recommend Yumbutter Organic). Only need half the calories? Just split the recipe in half!

Along with a consistent workout regimen, incorporating this smoothie into your daily diet will put you well on your way to healthy, sustainable weight gain.