Recommended Tools For Making Smoothies
- Blender. I more recently purchased this high-powered blender, and it makes everything very smooth and creamy. This more economical blender optionis also great, though you may need to add more liquid or add the frozen fruit more slowly.
- Stainless Steel Straws. These stainless steel strawsmake everything you drink through them taste so refreshing. I try to keep some in my purse, so I dont need to ask for a plastic or paper straw when Im out. Theyre great for taking smoothies to go as well.
- Opaque Cup. A great way to make green-colored breakfast smoothies for kids.
Now, lets get to those healthy breakfast smoothies!
Blueberry Muffin Oatmeal Smoothie
With a dash of vanilla extract, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and a measure of oatmeal, you can transform a regular old blueberry smoothie into this delicious blueberry muffin oatmeal smoothie!
Ingredients
Feel free to substitute ingredients as necessary.
For example, instead of vanilla yogurt, you might try nonfat, lowfat, or Greek yogurt. Instead of almond milk, you might try 2% milk, skim milk, coconut milk, or even your favorite broth any liquid will do.
What Are The Benefits Of Oatmeal In Smoothies
A lot of smoothie recipes like adding oatmeal because of mainly three things:
First, let us talk about its health benefits. Technically speaking, oatmeal is the term used for the oat porridge popular in the United States, while oats are the small bits from the cereal grain plant. We will use oatmeal in this article to avoid confusion.
Oatmeal is naturally rich in a dietary fiber called Beta-Glucan or the heart-healthy fiber. It is a soluble fiber, meaning you can easily digest it. A cup of oatmeal has 4 grams of this fiber. It is known to reduce blood cholesterol and improve long term weight management. It is also gluten-free.
Adding oatmeal in smoothies keeps your digestive up and running smoothly. This means there will be lesser cases of constipation or loose bowel movement. If you are losing or maintaining weight, eating oatmeal keeps you feeling full and curbs your appetite.
Second, oats in smoothies make your breakfast smoothie thicker and creamier. Oatmeal is a coarse flour, so it becomes pasty when it mixes with any liquid ingredient. If you are a fan of a dense drink with a creamy texture, oatmeal smoothies are perfect.
As you can see, adding oatmeal to your smoothie may be one of the best decisions you make in the kitchen.
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Tips To Make A Healthy Oats Smoothie
For quick breakfast ideas with oats, you can check
Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothie For Weight Loss 718 Calories
Did you know that blueberries are among the healthiest fruits on the planet? Theyre very low in calories but high in nutrients. A whole cup of blueberries contains only 84 calories but 24% of your recommended daily Vitamin C intake.
Blueberries are also among the best sources for antioxidants. They may help you fight free radicals and slow down aging. Free radicals are molecules were all exposed to on a daily basis like tobacco smoke or toxins.
I love the combination of blueberries and vanilla. If youre not a fan of protein powders, you can switch it for some organic nut butter and ½ teaspoon of natural vanilla extract.
What Youll Need:
- 1 ½ cup blueberries, frozen
- 1 scoop protein powder, vanilla flavor
- 1 tsp chia seeds
How to Prepare:
Simply add everything to your blender jar and blend for 60 seconds. I like using frozen blueberries in smoothies since my blender tends to liquefy them more easily. If you prefer using fresh blueberries, add ½-1 cup of ice and blend for up to 2 minutes.
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What Are The Pros And Cons Of Oat Milk
Its honestly hard to think of any cons of oat milk but there are a few depending on your personal needs and preferences. Lets start with the pros!
Pros:
- It has a subtle flavour
- It contains a great amount of calcium and vitamin D
- It is relatively low in calories
- It is plant based, which makes it great for those who have dairy intolerances or allergies
- It is creamier than most dairy-free milks
Cons:
- Unless the carton states it is gluten free certified it can contain traces of gluten so may not be suitable for those with gluten allergies
- While subtle, it does have a distinct oat flavour, so if you do not like oats, you will likely not enjoy oat milk
- It contains more natural sugar than nut milk alternatives
Which Smoothies Are Good For Weight Loss
Low-calorie smoothies, that contain filling ingredients are the best smoothies you can drink to lose weight.Remember, the only way to lose weight is by burning more calories than you consume.Smoothies can be quite filling, however, be careful what you add to them. As often, people accidentally go overboard and end up drinking 600-calorie smoothies.
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How To Make Oats Fruit Smoothie
1. Rinse rolled oats with lot of water and drain completely.
2. Pour luke warm water and then 1 tbsp of lemon juice for 1 cup of water. You can replace lemon juice with orange juice.
3. Allow to soak for 8 to 12 hours. Experts suggest leaving it at room temperature overnight, but I prefer to refrigerate. I also prefer to discard the juice or water the next morning.
4. Add it to a blender along with any fruit of your choice. Here I have used 1 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice and 1 medium sized ripe banana. Try using ripe & sweet fruits and avoid sweeteners. Avoid sour fruits to prevent your stomach from getting bloated.
5. Blend until smooth and transfer to a serving glass. You can add more juice to bring it to the consistency you desire. You can also add some soaked almonds and cashews. I garnished with cinnamon powder.
Calories In Oatmeal Smoothie
These nutrients come with 189 calories, from 4 g fat, 36 g carbs, and 5 g proteins, and no added sugar since the fruits are already sweet.
Note that the calories are calculated based on cooked oats. The actual amount of calories can range from 120 to 189 since the percentage of resistant starch in oats can vary.
Also Check: How To Make Vegetable Smoothies Taste Good
What Is The Benefit Of Oatmeal In Smoothies
A lot of smoothie recipes like adding oatmeal because of mainly three things:
First, let us talk about its health benefits. Technically speaking, oatmeal is the term used for the oat porridge popular in the United States while oats are the small bits that come from the cereal grain plant of the same name. We will use oatmeal in this article to avoid confusion.
Oatmeal is naturally rich in a dietary fiber called Beta-Glucan or the heart-healthy fiber. It is a soluble fiber meaning it is easily digested. A cup of oatmeal has 4 grams of this fiber. It is known to reduce blood cholesterol and improve long term weight management. It is also gluten-free.
Adding oatmeal in smoothies keeps your digestive up and running smoothly. This means there will be lesser cases of constipation or loose bowel movement. If you are losing or maintaining weight, eating oatmeal keeps you feeling full and curbs your appetite.
Second, oats in smoothies make your breakfast smoothie thicker and creamier. Oatmeal is considered to be a coarse flour, so when it is mixed with any liquid ingredient, it becomes pasty. If you are a fan of a dense drink with a creamy texture, an oatmeal smoothie is for you.
Can I Make It Ahead Of Time
I recommend making oatmeal smoothies just before serving. If you let the mixture sit, it will get thicker as the oats absorb the liquid. If that happens, just pour it into a bowl, top with fresh fruit, granola, or nuts and serve as a smoothie bowl.
To save on prep time, you can freeze portions in ziploc bags and just place the mix in the blender when ready.
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Oatmeal Smoothie Recipe For Weight Loss 330 Calories
Who doesnt love the combination of sweet tropical fruits and oats? This oatmeal smoothie recipe for weight loss tastes like a dessert. Its rich in good for you nutrients but only has 330 calories. If you prefer to use fresh mangoes, just add a few ice cubes to make this tropical smoothie more delicious.
What Youll Need:
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- ¼ cup rolled oats
- 1 cup mango chunks, frozen
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
How to Prepare:
Add the oats to your blender and pulse a few times to a flour-like consistency. If you have a Vitamix or another high-powered blender, you can skip the first step.
Place everything to the jar and blend for 1-2 minutes until smooth and creamy. Enjoy!
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How To Make Ahead + Store Smoothies
- No time in the morning to whip up a smoothie? NO PROBLEM. You can make most smoothies the night before and store them in the refrigerator.
- To Store. Store blended smoothies in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. Place the smoothie in an airtight jar the less air touching the smoothie, the better. Stir before serving.
- To Make Ahead. Prepare the smoothie as directed, then pour into an airtight freezer-safe mason jar and freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
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Why Oatmeal Smoothies To Lose Weight
Oatmeals are so popular as a weight-loss food that theres even a diet around them: the oatmeal diet. While the oatmeal diet does get results, its way too restrictive for my taste. The healthier and better way is to supplement an already balanced diet with freshly made smoothies.
A good diet plan should incorporate a wide variety of nutrient-dense foods including fruits, vegetables, as well as healthy sources of protein and fat. If youre restricting yourself to only oats and nothing else, your body wont get the full range of nutrients it needs.
Oatmeal and oatmeal smoothies can be a perfect weight-loss food if you use them the right way. When youre trying to lose weight, its important to lose it in a healthy way.
Im not a fan of counting calories.
Replacing empty calories with nutrient-rich foods is the way to go. This way your body gets all the nutrients it needs. Youll naturally eat less and feel better at the same time all without starving yourself.
Your body craves healthy foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Oats are whole grain and therefore should be a part of a healthy, balanced diet. Theyre rich in nutrients but relatively low in calories.
Oats are complex carbohydrates. They can keep you full for longer than simple carbs and sugar. They also have a healthy dose of satiating protein.
In fact, oats have twice the amount of protein than brown rice. On top of that, oats are rich in essential minerals like iron, magnesium, and zinc.
Difference Between Oatmeal Varieties
If youre standing in front of your grocery shelf, youll find a wide range of different oatmeal varieties. Ill shortly explain the different varieties and tell you which type I prefer using in weight loss smoothies.
The main difference between the three varieties is how much the oat groat has been processed. This gives them different textures and health benefits as well.
Instant Oats -Youve probably grown up with Quacker. Instant oats are also known as quick oats. This variety is the most processed of the three varieties. They are cooked, dried, and then pressed. Quick oats, as the name suggests, require less cooking time than other varieties. They should also be the least desirable when it comes to nutritional content and health benefits. Theyre thinner and have a softer texture than rolled oats. Their taste is mild and they work out well in smoothies.
Steel-Cut Oats These oats are sometimes referred to as Scottish oats or Irish oats. Theyre less processed than rolled oats. Although all oats varieties are healthy, steel-cut oats are the least processed and therefore healthiest oat variety out there. They have a chewy consistency and take longer to cook. Steel-cut oats almost look like rice. If you want to use them for smoothies, its best to soak them beforehand.
Now that we know the difference between the most common oatmeal types, its about time for some delicious smoothie recipes.
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Should I Cook Oats Before Adding Them To My Smoothie
A big question a lot of people ask is do I need to cook my oats before adding them to my smoothie? The debate of cooked vs uncooked oats in smoothies is a long standing one.
The answer is that oats are completely safe to eat raw, you do not need to cook oats first. That being said, uncooked oats have chewy kernels still attached so can be quite unpleasant if used raw. Best cook first or soak overnight to allow these to soften.
If youâre using Scottish oats or rolled oats raw then letting them sit in the smoothie for 20-30 minutes before drinking allows them to soften adequately.
Instant oats will soften very quickly in the smoothie so are a good option if youâre in a rush.
If you prefer a very smooth texture to your smoothie you can grind the oats in the blender into a fine oatmeal and then cook them. This will give a creamy paste that will seem to disappear once blended into the smoothie whilst still packing in all those health benefits.
Dairy Vs Nondairy Smoothies
Since I have no problem with dairy, I make this smoothie with yogurt, but you could substitute almond milk for the yogurt if you want to avoid it.
Add a few drops of lemon or lime juice to replicate the tanginess of the yogurt if your smoothie isnt tart enough for your taste. You could also use any other non-dairy milk or yogurt interchangeably here.
Sally Vargas
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Is Oatmeal Good For Weight Loss
A serving of ½ cup of dry oatmeal contains 150 calories, which is fewer calories than a couple of slices of bread. It is rich in fiber, which contributes to feeling full long after youve eaten it.No wonder experts support oats as a classic ingredient for weight loss.Just be sure to buy only plain oats. Packaged flavored oatmeal sounds tasty, but its usually loaded with sugar, which adds calories but doesnt contribute to the oats nutritional value.In any case, the great flavor will come from the other smoothie ingredients.So, with that out of the way, here are my top ten oatmeal smoothie recipes.
Pro-Tip
If youre not a big fan of how raw oats taste, theres a way to make them a really delicious addition to your smoothie!
Thats it be sure to try this trick with one of the recipes below, and youll see how it upgrades your smoothie!
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Apple Oats Smoothie For Weight Loss
Apple and oats what a great combo. And if you are looking at losing some extra inches you may have, even better.Oats can satiety you because they are broken down slowly, which in return will make you feel fuller for longer. As for apples, they contain a high amount of fiber, which again will keep you satiated for longer.
This oats, and banana smoothie for weight loss is totally dairy-free and suitable for a vegan diet as well!
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Apple Oatmeal Smoothie For Weight Loss 315 Calories
This smoothie has it all. Great taste, healthy ingredients, and a good dose of energizing nutrients to keep you going. It tastes like a dessert, but is 100% guilt-free!
You can add a scoop of vanilla protein powder and plain nonfat or low-fat yogurt to make this a healthy meal replacement smoothie. The combination of vanilla, cinnamon, and sweet fruits can only be described as heavenly.
Although I love using unsweetened almond milk in my smoothies, any nut milk will do fine in this recipe. Try to stick with the unsweetened, preferably organic version though. Creamy coconut milk mixed with some water will taste great as well.
What Youll Need:
- a hint of cinnamon
How to Prepare:
Peel the banana, slice and freeze it the day before. Rinse the apple, you can leave the skin on. Deseed the apple and cut it into chunks. Place the oats and pulse them a few times. Add everything else to your blender jar and blend until well combined. You can add a few ice cubes to make this smoothie even more refreshing. This recipe should be enough for two glasses.