Decadent Healthy Orange Low Calorie High Protein Fluff Recipe

Ever since I dropped over 35 pounds, I’ve focused on healthy recipes that would make me feel full without being high in calories. I love Greek yogurt and cottage cheese, and I was eating them both in different ways, but it got boring after a while. Then I learned about the highly popular fluff recipes on Instagram and I came up with my own healthy low calorie high protein fluff recipe. It takes just minutes to make, I can change up ingredients and flavors without adding calories, it’s filling and it’s decadent enough to eat as a treat but makes a perfect meal.

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The recipe I’m sharing below is the Orange Julius style I’ve been making most frequently, as it adds vitamin c and a fun flavor reminiscent of that old mall treat many of us used to enjoy, but I’m also listing multiple alternative combinations, some using cottage cheese, that will ensure you never get bored!

This fluff recipe makes about 1.5 cups of fluff, and contains approximately 280-300 calories. That’s dependent on your type of protein powder, and if you alter the recipes, but I almost can’t eat the whole thing. As you can see, I used Premier Protein 100% whey protein powder, but that’s just what I prefer. It’s got 15 g of protein per scoop, adding 75 calories and it’s low sugar. I order it from Amazon for an affordable price and it’s a large container.

I also prefer Kirkland Organic Plain Greek Yogurt. It’s also affordable, comes in a larger container, and is lower in calories at about 150 per cup. (There are different labels and types.)

Fluff is like eating dessert for breakfast or lunch! If you want it even more like dessert, put it in a freezer-safe container and let it freeze for a couple of hours. It’s like ice cream!

Here’s the basic low calorie high protein recipe, and below it, I’ll share some different flavor combinations. I’m sure you’ll think of more when you start playing around! I used Ojai Pixie Tangerines from Melissa’s Produce, and these beauties are the hidden jewels of citrus. Easy to peel, sweet as can be and the perfect level of citrus. They are a low-cal treat to throw in your lunch bag, to eat after a good yoga session or a great nighttime snack. They’re also a perfect afterschool snack…but one won’t be enough, you’ll never want to eat less than two. Or three. You can get them from Melissa’s Produce online and they’re also available at high-end grocery stores.

Aren’t these beautiful? Thanks to Melissa’s Produce for sending them to me! I hid them in the back of the refrigerator. Well, one bag at least. The other I shared, under duress. I could eat these by the bag!

It’s light, fluffy, and does not feel like you’re eating something healthy. The Ojai Pixies add enough sweetener that you won’t want to add anything else, but if you’re trying another recipe combo and want to amp up the sweetness without adding the sugar, one-half teaspoon or so of Monkfruit will go a long way.

Here are a few different ways to make low calorie high protein fluff that everyone will love!

Chocolate: instead of the tangerines and vanilla, add up to one tablespoon of Hershey’s Dark Cocoa powder. It’s low-cal and adds a serious chocolate punch. It reminds me of chocolate mousse.

Peanut Butter: same as the chocolate fluff recipe, but use peanut butter powder instead of cocoa.

Reese’s flavor: add 1/2 – 1 tbsp of cocoa powder and 1 tbsp peanut butter powder to one cup Greek yogurt.

Berry: replace fresh blueberries or raspberries instead of the Ojai pixie tangerines. Omit vanilla. You can also add 1-2 tbsp of the sugar-free strawberry preserves.

The options are endless! If you like a particular fruit, you can almost always find some way to utilize it in a fluff recipe. The key is to not liquefy but to process long enough to make the fluff smooth. The freezing process can help if you do it a little too long — and sometimes it’s like frozen yogurt!

If you don’t like Greek yogurt, or you don’t have any, swap in cottage cheese! It’s also very high in protein, low in calories, and will hold up well to the whipping process. You may need to do it a little longer, and you may want to add a teeny bit of liquid. Vanilla extract works great as a fluid, but I’ve also added orange juice or almond milk.

A couple of tips! Drain the liquid out of the yogurt when you scoop. Too much liquid will thin it out. Add the protein powder in after the yogurt or it will mix less smoothly. Be careful if you use a blender! I tried it in both the regular blender, which turned it too quickly into a liquid consistency that I had to freeze for a few hours. I also tried it in the smaller smoothie container blender and it didn’t mix right, there’s not enough liquid to make it process smoothly in that smaller space. The food processor gave me the fluffiest consistency and truly blended any fruit or powder I added, as well as the chunks in cottage cheese.

Low calorie high protein recipes are all over, and I’ve been saving them on my Instagram account to pull out as needed. I am not actively trying to lose more weight, but I do still watch my caloric intake and I choose to save my calories on some days for special events. Recipes like this help me still enjoy food and I never feel deprived. No food is ‘bad’ food, in my opinion; I try to parse my calories out for the day and balance out my days so I’m not overindulging but I’m still eating things I really like. And I really like chocolate lately, so the chocolate and peanut butter mix is rich and makes my new sweet tooth happy without making the scale say ‘what the heck.’ It’s a win-win.