Healthy Smoothie Recipes For Dinner

Are Smoothies Good For Kids

“Smoothies can be a nice option for kids since they’re simple to make and give parents the opportunity to incorporate foods that their child may otherwise not eat,” says Sassos. Even if your kid makes a face at even the idea of spinach, he’ll probably love a “green monster smoothie” , especially if there are a few banana chunks in there to naturally sweeten it up. Another reason smoothies are great for parents is that you can make them ahead of time , or take the along in a spill-proof cup for a healthy between-games Saturday snack.

How To Keep Dessert Smoothies Healthy

The line between smoothies and milkshakes can be blurry, but there are some simple ways to make sure your dessert smoothie doesn’t venture into straight-up dessert territory:

• To satisfy your chocolate cravings, add unsweetened cocoa powder instead of sugary chocolate syrup.
• For a rich, creamy texture that’s packed with nutrients, throw in some avocado, banana, or yogurt .
• To cut sugar, whip up your smoothie with naturally sweet fruit, dates, or a little maple syrup or agave if you really need a sweetness boost.

Transitional Day Fast Aka Smoothie Day For The 17 Day Diet

If you havent heard by now, the 17 Day Diet was updated back in 2014 and to include several additions for fat-burning and optimal weight loss.

One of those changes includes an optional Transitional Day Fast or better known as the smoothie day

In a nutshell, the Transitional Day Fast is a special day of fat-burning smoothies in place of your regular three meals.

You can read more about the Transitional Day Fast for the 17 Day Diet.

Read Also: Immune Boosting Smoothies For Colds

How To Blend The Perfect Smoothie

If you have a high-quality blender, achieving a perfectly blended smoothie probably isnt too tricky. But if youre working with an older or budget-friendly model, you may need to use a few tricks.

If youre freezing fruit for smoothies, chop it into small pieces and freeze it on a baking sheet in a single layer. Then transfer the frozen pieces to a freezer bag. This helps prevent the fruit from sticking together and the smaller pieces will be easier to blend.

If youre adding protein powder or greens, such as spinach or kale, blend the powder and/or greens with the liquid before adding the frozen ingredients. This will give you the smoothest texture.

Paleo And Vegan Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

A smoothie so decadent, it’s just ad if you’re drinking a pumpkin pie. Even more, it’s hard to believe that it’s healthy. This checks off all the boxes for both paleo and vegan dieters, so everyone can enjoy this seasonal healthy treat. A dollop of coconut yogurt on top resembles the whipped cream of a pie, it’s very festive!

• 6 Tbsp canned pumpkin, frozen overnight in an ice cube tray
• 3/4 cup coconut milk
• 1 Medjool date, pitted

by Isabel Smith, MS, RD, CDN

“I really love this weight loss smoothie because it tastes super-decadent, but in reality is just loaded with a ton of natural, unprocessed, and healthful ingredients. The cocoa powder is a good source of flavonoids that are both brain and heart-healthy, and also makes the smoothie taste like I’ve added a ton of chocolate. In addition to the healthy cocoa, this smoothie also has other healthy ingredients like raspberries which are a source of immune-boosting vitamin C, and spinach that’s a source of energizing B vitamins. If I have this smoothie post-workout, I’ll also add a plant-based protein like sprouted rice or pea protein to help my muscles recover more quickly.”

by Kristin Reisinger, MS, RD, CSSD, founder and owner of IronPlate Studios

• ½ cup frozen mixed berries
• Handful of spinach
• 8 oz unsweetened Silk almond milk
• 1 scoop plant-based vanilla protein powder

NUTRITION: 230 calories / 2.5 g fat / 20 g carbs / 5 g fiber / 7 g sugar / 26 g protein

by Cassie Bjork, RD, LD of Redefined Weight Loss

Recommended Reading: Fast Metabolism Diet Phase 2 Smoothie

Ingredients For Weight Loss Smoothies

• Coconut water for hydration and natural electrolytes.
• A little avocado provides creaminess and healthy fats to keep you fuller longer. Learn How to Freeze Avocados. I also use them in this Chocolate Avocado Smoothie.
• Protein from a scoop of pea protein powder and hemp seeds .
• Ginger , like in our Ginger and Turmeric Shots recipes, is great for immune support.
• Greens like spinach or kale add loads of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
• Lemon and frozen peaches for flavor and vitamin C.

Store Bought Vs Homemade Almond Milk

While almond milk has come a looong way since first appearing on grocery store shelves, making your own almond milk is a great option too. Reading labels is important, yet when you make your own milk, you know exactly what goes into it… plus, it’s super easy!

I’ve got a no-fail homemade almond milk recipe, plus my team’s also done the research to find the best store-bought almond milk brands as well. Either way, you can’t go wrong with a good plant milk and a great almond milk smoothie recipe like the one below!

Read Also: Keto Options At Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Is It Healthy To Have A Smoothie Every Day For Breakfast

That depends on what’s in it. “As long as your smoothie contains some protein and isnt loaded with sugar, it can be a convenient and healthy breakfast option that allows you to pack in a variety of nutrient-dense foods,” says Stefani Sassos, deputy director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab. So keep the advice above about sugar in mind, and if you’re dying to try out a smoothie recipe that doesn’t have protein, you can still add one of the protein boosts above, or even a spoonful of a good-quality protein powder.

You don’t have to have a smoothie daily, of course. But as long as you’re keeping an eye on your total sugar content for the day, and being reasonable on the serving size of your smoothies, there’s no reason not to have one each day. Remember that even if you’re not adding sugar to your smoothie, the sugar fruit and dairy both add to your daily sugar intake, as do add-ins like maple syrup.

Pro Tips On Making Your Healthy Smoothies

If you want versatile and easy ways to boost your bod with extra nutrients, these healthy smoothies will do the trick.

Now that you know our faves, here are a few tips to make your smoothie taste even better:

• Pour in liquids first and add ice last.
• Start with the lowest blender speed and work up to higher speeds once the mixture smooths out.
• Divvy up leftovers into an ice cube tray for easy blending the next time.
• Top smoothies with fresh fruit, seeds, chopped nuts, or shredded coconut for a texture change.
• Freeze fruit for a thicker consistency. Chop first for easier blending.
• Try your smoothie from a bowl if youre not in a sipping mood.
• All recipes above serve one.

Happy blending!

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Smoothie Diet Shake Recipes

Choose three shakes from the below for the day, add all t ingredients into a blender and blitz for 30 seconds until smooth.

Green extreme 200g low-fat Greek yogurt handful of ice cubes ½ cucumber 1 carrot, sliced 1 kiwi, peeled 2 handfuls of washed baby spinach

Breakfast booster 30g protein powder 1 banana handful of sultanas handful of almonds handful of porridge oats 200ml skimmed milk

Mediterranean magic 30g protein powder ½ avocado 2 large tomatoes 1 red pepper, plus a handful of fresh basil handful of ice cubes

Blue velvet 200g low-fat Greek yogurt 2 handfuls of blueberries 2 stoned plums 1 banana, a handful of spinach handful of ice cubes

Summer cooler½ cucumber 1 stick of celery ½ avocado 30g protein powder handful of fresh parsley handful of ice cubes

Berry bliss 1 kiwi, peeled 200g low-fat Greek yogurt 2 handfuls of strawberries, hulled 2 handfuls of raspberries handful of porridge oats ice cubes

Also Check: Banana Almond Milk Smoothie Recipe

What Are Some Great Smoothie Recipes

Alright, now that youre fully versed on how to make a great smoothie, let me share with you some of our absolute favorite combos! Click on any image to jump over to that specific smoothie recipe.

Classic Simple Smoothies

These smoothies are a great place to start. No weird ingredients that you have to special order, just fresh, real food that you can find at any typical supermarket.

Wild Blueberry Lemon No Banana Smoothie

Recommended Reading: How To Make Breakfast Smoothies For Weight Loss

Recipes For Weight Loss Smoothies You Need To Try

Packed with essential nutrients and vitamins to keep your skin, bones, and heart healthy, smoothies can be an excellent addition to any weight loss regime. With a combination of exercise and healthy eating choices, these quick and easy to make weight loss smoothies can help support healthy and sustainable weight loss.

Chocolate Smoothie With Peanut Butter

Ive been drinking this smoothie for years and still love it. Its been my go-to dinner smoothie. You can easily add organic cocoa powder to make the chocolate flavor even stronger. If you hate bananas you could substitute with peaches or mango. Sprinkle some dark chocolate on top and youre in for a healthy treat that tastes as good as it looks.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 2 bananas, sliced and frozen
• 1 scoop organic chocolate protein powder
• 1 ½ tbsp organic peanut butter

How to Prepare:

These were my favorite meal replacement smoothie recipes. I hope these dinner smoothie recipes can benefit you on your health journey. Smoothies can provide you with energy, help you regain strength, and make you look and feel better. Let these smoothie recipes be your starting point to living a more vibrant, happier, and healthier life! Do you have any smoothie recipes youd like to share? Any questions about smoothies? Ill be happy to help you out in the comments section below. Always stay vibrant, happy, and healthy!

Read Also: Do You Need Yogurt To Make A Smoothie

They’re Great For Breakfast Or An Afternoon Pick

The Spruce

Smoothies are a convenient and colorful way to start your day, but some recipes can be filled with added sugar and fat. For a healthy meal or snack, stick to the basics: fruit and veggies.

Every successful smoothie contains two main ingredients: fruit and/or vegetables and a liquid, such as fruit juice, vegetable juice, or milk. Other possible ingredients include yogurt, nut butter, seeds, spices, herbs, and more. Many smoothies also include a few ice cubes to keep the mixture nice and cold. Often, recipes can be tweaked to meet different dietary requirements or tastesfeel free to swap out dairy products for non-dairy ones or change up the spices and juices.

All of these smoothies recipes are loaded with good-for-you vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, and protein. They’re made with only natural ingredients and range in flavors from mango to chocolate to veggie. You’re sure to find a breakfast smoothie for every day of the week.

Are You Looking For Even More Smoothies No Worries Weve Got You Covered:

• Clementine Avocado Smoothie. If youve never added avocado to your smoothie before, you are missing out! The flavor is so mild, that you cant taste it, but the texture is dreamy, creamy smooth, and the healthy added fats help keep your fuller longer.
• Cold Buster Smoothie. When youre feeling under the weather and your throat is sore, this smoothie for colds is soothing and nourishing.
• Coffee Smoothie. Get a jolt of caffeine and your breakfast all in one cup! This is packed full of coffee flavor.
• Persimmon Smoothie. Packed full of autumnal flavor, this spiced smoothie is creamy and sweet!
• Spinach and Pear Smoothie. Bright green and fresh in flavor, this smoothie is a perfect light breakfast.
• Sweet Potato Smoothie. Sweet potato in a smoothie? YUP! It tastes like a delicious pie. Youll love it!
• Apple Smoothie. This smoothie is packed full of healthy spinach, but tastes like apple pie!
• Pumpkin Pie Smoothie. This pumpkin smoothie is perfect for the weather is still warm but your heart wants fall to show up.
• Dark Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie. This smoothie is rich and dark, and it tastes decadent enough you could sip on it for dessert!
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie. All the flavors of your favorite sandwich in a tasty smoothie! Pick your favorite jelly to add to this peanut butter smoothie.
• Tart Cherry and Spinach Smoothies. We show serving this cherry smoothie as a light breakfast in a bowl, but you could easily pour it in a glass and sip away!

Also Check: What The Best Smoothie To Lose Weight

Strawberry Banana Nutella Smoothie

Is there anything that chocolate-hazelnut spread doesn’t improve? It certainly makes this strawberry banana dessert smoothie even more delicious.

“This is a quick and easy breakfast that even kids will love,” says Maggie T. “With Greek yogurt, it’s got a decent amount of protein to keep you full until lunch. Most blenders work best with solid ingredients closest to the blade and liquids added last.”

The Nutritional Profile Of These Weight Loss Smoothies

To make sure we included only the healthiest smoothies, the recipes had to meet a strict nutritional criteria:

Each of these smoothies has less than 15g overall fat, including less than 5g saturated and at least 5g of fibre.

Furthermore, we chose smoothies with the highest protein levels and avoided smoothies that used sweeteners, sticking instead to the natural sugars in fruits.

And all this in less than 500 calories a portion!

How do these things help with weight loss?

Foods with high fibre content keep you full for longer. More bang for your buck!

Low fat content keeps the food at a lower overall calorie count and high protein levels make a food energising and satisfying.

The perfect combo for keeping you fuelled and full while remaining in a healthy calorie deficit!

If, after trying out these recipes, you fancy branching out and making your own easy weight loss smoothies, make sure you know just what constitutes a healthy smoothie!

Enjoy!

Also Check: Smoothie King Center Virtual Seating Chart

Vanilla Bean Coconut Yogurt Smoothie

You won’t believe the amount of flavor or nutrients packed into this five-ingredient smoothie. Vanilla-infused honey lends a touch of aromatic sweetness, Greek yogurt adds a little tang and coconut-water ice cubes create a refreshing, tropical finish.

Get the Recipe: Vanilla Bean Coconut Yogurt Smoothie

What Is A Smoothie

A smoothie is a cold, blended drink made up of frozen fruit, liquid such as juice or milk, and other nutritional add-ins such as nut butter, protein powder, and protein powder.

Smoothies are a great way to pack in the nutrition without a lot of effort. There are many varieties of smoothies such as green smoothies, fruit smoothies, smoothies bowls, and more.

Three

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Sweet Potato Cinnamon Smoothie

• 1 cup soy, pea, or dairy milk
• ¾ cup full-fat Greek yogurt
• ½ cup cooked sweet potato or butternut squash
• ¼ tsp. cinnamon

Sweet potato adds a subtle touch of sweetness to this satisfying smoothie, and the cinnamon gives it a kick of heat. Perfect for when the weather is cooler, this protein-packed smoothie will fill you up for a few hours.

Are Smoothies Effective For Weight Loss

Yes, you can lose weight drinking smoothies but it needs to be part of an overall diet plan. Read more about meal prep and weight loss here.

If you are drinking smoothies in an effort to lose weight, make sure to keep these points in mind:

• Not all smoothies are healthy. Drinking smoothies alone will not help you lose weight. Healthy smoothie recipes can contribute to your weight-loss plans, but only if youre choosing low-fat, low-calorie, low-sugar ingredients.
• Use portion control. Smoothies can contain more vegetables or fruit than you would eat raw and that means you are taking in more calories, carbohydrates and sugar than you think. Keep your smoothie at around 10 oz . If you make too much, freeze the extra portion for later.
• Smoothies can leave you feeling hungry. Make sure your smoothie contains the right balance of ingredients. Adding protein and healthy fats will help make you feel full longer. But be careful as these additions can also make the calorie count go up. If you feel the need to add healthy fats or protein, then consider adding a quarter of an avocado , half a cup of Greek yogurt or a tablespoon of peanut butter .

Recommended Reading: Banana Honey Almond Butter Smoothie

Almond Banana And Flax Smoothie

Almonds are some of the healthiest plant-based proteins Mother Nature has to offer. They are packed with antioxidants, are known to lower cholesterol and are high in vitamins.

Bananas are known for their fiber, sweetness, antioxidants and aiding in weight loss. They add flavor and creaminess to any smoothie as well as improve the taste.

Flax seeds contain Omega 3 fats, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of developing certain cancers.

So if you are an almond and banana lover, this is one of your must-have breakfast or lunch smoothies.

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp honey or maple syrup

Directions:

• Combine all ingredients in a blender until well mixed and serve chilled.

Benefits Of A Whole Food Diet

In a 2014 analysis by Yale University, they concluded that a diet of minimally processed foods close to nature, predominantly plants, is decisively associated with health promotion and disease prevention.

A diet rich in fruit and vegetables or other high-fiber foods like whole grains and nuts is really important in maintaining good long-term health and preventing health problems like diabetes and cancers. These kinds of foods also help our bodies to cope and control the effects of inflammation.

In fact, one review from 2019 stated that diets high in plant foods could potentially prevent several million premature deaths each year if adopted globally. This is a big endorsement for a whole food diet.

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