Cheap Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie: The 75¢ Breakfast That Actually Fills You Up
You’re staring at your empty wallet again, wondering how you’ll eat something decent this week without breaking the bank.
I get it.
When I first started EatHealthier.co.uk, I was living on £20 a week for groceries, desperately trying to find meals that wouldn’t leave me hungry an hour later or surviving on instant noodles.
This peanut butter banana smoothie saved my mornings and my sanity.
KEY INFO
Total Cost: £2.10-£2.85 for 4 servings
Cost Per Portion: 53p-71p per serving
- Banana: 12p-26p
- Peanut Butter: 10p-14p
- Milk: 13p-18p
- Optional extras: 2p-16p
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: None
Total Time: 2 minutes
Servings: 1 large smoothie
Difficulty: Foolproof
Dietary Tags: Vegetarian, easily vegan, gluten-free option, nut-free option
Price Level: Very inexpensive
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
Essential:
- Any blender (even a £15 one from the supermarket works)
- Measuring spoons
Cheaper Alternatives:
- Food processor if your blender died
- Immersion blender with a tall cup
- Fork and elbow grease (seriously, I’ve done this when desperate)
INGREDIENTS
Listed in blending order for smoothest results:
- 1 cup (240ml) milk – dairy or plant-based
Substitution: Water + extra half banana for ultra-budget mode - 1-2 tablespoons (15-30ml) peanut butter
Substitution: Sunflower seed butter for nut-free, any nut butter you have - 1 medium frozen banana (about 100g)
Substitution: Fresh banana + handful of ice
Optional extras:
- 1/4 cup (60g) Greek yogurt for protein boost
- 1/4 cup (20g) rolled oats for staying power
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- Pinch of cinnamon
- Handful of spinach (trust me on this)
METHOD
- Pour liquid first. Add milk to your blender, followed by yogurt if using.
- Add the sticky stuff. Drop in peanut butter, honey, and any spices.
- Banana goes last. This prevents your blender from having a meltdown trying to process frozen fruit at the bottom.
- Blend for 60-90 seconds until completely smooth. No chunks allowed.
- Taste and adjust. Too thick? Add more milk. Too thin? Chuck in some ice. Not sweet enough? Another piece of banana costs pennies.
- Pour and drink immediately for the best texture.
CRUCIAL TIPS
Money-saving hacks:
- Buy bananas when they’re going brown and freeze immediately – I get 10 for £1 this way
- Store-brand peanut butter costs half the price of branded versions
- Bulk-buy oats and freeze bananas in portions
- Use whatever milk is cheapest – I’ve made this with 30p long-life oat milk
Success secrets:
- Always use frozen banana – it makes the smoothie thick without expensive ice cream
- Liquid first, frozen last – your blender will thank you
- Start with 1 tablespoon peanut butter – you can always add more but can’t take it back
Common mistakes I see:
- Using room temperature banana (results in watery disappointment)
- Adding too much liquid at once
- Skipping the frozen step because “it takes planning” – it takes 30 seconds to slice and freeze
STORAGE & SCALING
- Make ahead: Prep smoothie packs by freezing banana slices with measured oats in bags. Just add liquid and blend.
- Storage: Keeps in the fridge for 24 hours in a mason jar, though it’ll separate slightly.
- Scaling up: Double or triple everything – perfect for meal prep Sundays.
Variations that won’t break the bank:
- Vegan version: Use plant milk and skip the yogurt
- Chocolate fix: Add 1/2 tablespoon cocoa powder (adds 5p)
- Green machine: Handful of spinach (you won’t taste it, promise)
- Protein powerhouse: Add a scoop of protein powder when it’s on offer
Why This Actually Works
I’ve been making this smoothie for three years now, and it genuinely keeps me full until lunch.
The combination of healthy fats from peanut butter, fiber from banana and oats, plus protein from milk creates the perfect storm of satiation.
When I was broke and studying, this smoothie cost me less than a cup of coffee but provided actual nutrition instead of just caffeine jitters.
The real magic happens when you:
- Buy ingredients on sale and freeze portions
- Make it part of your weekly meal prep
- Stop buying expensive smoothies from cafes (this one smoothie habit saves me £1,200 a year)
Nutritional bonus round:
Each serving gives you potassium, protein, healthy fats, and if you add the spinach, half your daily iron needs.
Not bad for something that costs less than a chocolate bar and takes two minutes to make.
Your wallet and your energy levels will thank you.
